In Windows, how do I safely upgrade to the latest Symantec Endpoint or AntiVirus software?

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To best protect your Windows computer from viruses, you should use the latest version of protection software available for your computer. At Indiana University, both Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) and Symantec AntiVirus (SAV) Corporate Edition are freely available to students, faculty, and staff via IUware. Symantec Endpoint Protection is the newest Symantec AntiVirus product, combining technologies from the previous Symantec AntiVirus and the ability to protect via behavioral analysis, thus allowing Endpoint Protection to stop some threats without an actual virus signature.

Important note: When you upgrade your Symantec software, it is very important that you follow the procedure outlined below. If you simply uninstall your current antivirus software and then reinstall the newest version while your computer is connected to the Internet, your computer will be vulnerable to a virus or other malicious attack during the time it is connected to the Internet with no antivirus software. It can take mere seconds for your computer to become compromised while in such a state. Thus, UITS strongly recommends that you use the procedure below to update your antivirus software; you will find that it is not difficult to follow:

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Note: If you are running SAV Corporate Edition 8.01 or 8.1.1, you need to upgrade immediately due to a vulnerability. See the Symantec announcement.

Download the software from IUware

Visit IUware at: http://iuware.iu.edu/
If the product you want is not on the main page, click the Security link on the left and choose the product of your choice.
Log in with your Network ID credentials, and then click Download.
If you're using Firefox, in the download dialog box, choose Save to Disk, and then click OK.
If you're using Internet Explorer, in the File Download box, click Save. Then, in the Save As window, choose the folder where you want to save the file, and then click Save.

Download the latest virus definitions

Visit Symantec's Virus Definitions & Security Updates.
Under "Download Definitions by Product", mouse over Select Product, and then choose either Symantec Endpoint Protection or Norton Antivirus for Windows 2000/XP/Vista.
On the next page, you'll see a number of file download options, each with its own filename, creation date, release date, and file size. Find the appropriate update file for your version of the Symantec product and click the filename. If you mistakenly choose the wrong file, the updater will generally tell you this during the install and will usually give you the name of the updater you need to download.
If you're using Firefox, in the download dialog box, select Save to Disk, and then click OK.
If you're using Internet Explorer, in the File Download box, click Save. Then, in the Save As window, choose the folder where you saved the antivirus software and click Save.

Disable your network connection

For the next part of the upgrade process, you need to disconnect your computer from the network. For the instructions below, if your computer is connected to the network with an Ethernet cable, your active connection is the one labeled "Local Area Connection". If your computer is using wireless Ethernet, your active connection is the one labeled "Wireless Network Connection".

Windows 7

From the Start menu, open Control Panel.
From Category view, click Network and Internet, and then Network and Sharing Center. Alternatively, from the icons view, click Network and Sharing Center.
On the left, click Change adapter settings.
Right-click the icon for the active network connection, and choose Disable.

Vista

From the Start menu, select Connect To.
Click Open Network and Sharing Center.
On the left, select Manage network connections.
Right-click your active connection, and then select Disable.

Windows XP

From the Start menu, select Control Panel, or Settings and then Control Panel.
Double-click Network Connections. Right-click your active connection, and select Disable.

Uninstall any antivirus software (including previous versions of SAV)

Before installing the new Symantec product, you must remove any and all existing versions of antivirus software on your computer (i.e., any programs with the name of your antivirus software in them, such as Symantec/Norton, McAfee, or PC-Cillin). For complete instructions for Symantec/Norton removal for Windows, see Information about uninstalling Symantec/Norton AntiVirus in Windows.

After removal, your computer will likely prompt you to restart; do so before continuing.

If you have any problems uninstalling the old antivirus software, contact the UITS Support Center before proceeding further and a consultant will assist you.

For advanced users, Symantec offers manual removal instructions for 8.x.

Install the new antivirus product and the latest virus definitions

When your computer has restarted, open the folder where you saved the new antivirus product installation program. Double-click this file to begin the installation.
When the installation is complete, you will be prompted to download the latest virus definitions. Click Cancel, because you have already done so.
Find the virus definitions file, and double-click its name to install the latest virus definitions.

Note: Be sure to configure your software to schedule regular LiveUpdates and virus scans. See:

Re-enable your network connection

To re-enable your network connection:

Windows 7

From the Start menu, open Control Panel.
From Category view, click Network and Internet, and then Network and Sharing Center. Alternatively, from the icons view, click Network and Sharing Center.
On the left, click Change adapter settings.
Right-click the icon for the active network connection, and choose Enable.

Vista

From the Start menu, select Connect To.
Click Open Network and Sharing Center.
From the left, select Manage network connections.
Right-click your connection, and then select Enable.

Windows XP

From the Start menu, select Control Panel, or Settings and then Control Panel.
Double-click Network Connections. Right-click your connection, and then select Enable.

Run LiveUpdate and restart your computer

To retrieve the latest scanning engine updates, run LiveUpdate at least twice. For instructions, see the LiveUpdate section of For Symantec virus protection software, what are my options for updating the virus definitions?

To finish the update process, restart your computer.

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Last modified on November 10, 2009.