Troubleshooting Virex 6.0

★ wanayoo — archive 1999 http://macfixit.com/extras/virex.shtml

Troubleshooting Virex 6.0
October 4, 1999

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Virex 6.0 is out. Information, of sorts, is at both the Dr. Solomon and NAI sites. Neither site clearly mentions the 6.0 version. It is only because of messages from our readers (and a posting to Version Tracker) that we are aware that there is an update to be had. Apparently, you must be a registered user to access the update download. Call 801-492-2600 or 408-988-3832 for help.

Note: This page is where you actually download Virex 6, after obtaining a license.

Download problems and issues

Downloading Virex A Dr. Solomon web page provides a link to Virex 6.0 (as we mentioned above). If you try to download the file from here using Internet Explorer, it will likely fail. However, it downloads just fine with Netscape. This likely is due to the unusual ftp URL, which Explorer must not handle correctly.

A few readers report problems even with Netscape. The download starts, but then stops and the file vanishes from the desktop. However, I (and several other MacFixIt readers) have had success using Netscape.
Other readers reports success by eliminated the "licensed:321@" tag from the ftp URL: <ftp://licensed:321@ftp.nai.com/licensed/antivirus/mac/virex/virex6.hqx>

This same URL is provided by Download.com for downloading Virex. Surprisingly, although all relevant postings state you need to pay to obtain Virex 6.0, this download is free and appears to be a fully functional version of the software.

More on downloading Virex Regarding the previous items on problems and success downloading Virex 6.0, numerous (unhappy and annoyed!) Virex users continue to report problems getting the file or (in some cases) even accessing the link (getting a "no such file or directory found" error) - even with Navigator. I keep re-trying and have no problems with it. I have no sure explanation but I do use a cable modem; Jefferson Le Blanc believes that the problem may be restricted to slower dialup connections.

Several readers suggested the old stand-by alternative of using an ftp client instead of a web browser.
Another reader offers: "Download problem My solution? Telnet into my university UNIX box, use the ftp command to download it to a temporary directory there (7.7MB took 57 seconds), then ftp it to my Mac at 56K. Worked with no problems at all."

A reader observes; "The problem with the direct link to the Virex download is that it includes the 'username' directory ('licensed' I think) as part of the path. However, they seem to have their FTP server set up so that when you log in with a username, it automatically dumps you into that 'username' directory. So users and/or (some?) FTP clients think they need to CD into that directory, but they're already there, so there's a 'no directory found' error. If you remove 'licensed' from the path to the file, it should be found there."

TechTool? Stephen Neale found that after virex6.hqx disappeared from the desktop at the end of a Netscape download, he could still retrieve it from the invisible folder •TP2•TrashCache folder.

Actually, as Gordon Alley points out: "A user can retrieve one of these cached files by opening the TechTool Protection control panel, selecting 'Trash Cache,' selecting 'Display Cached Files,' and then dragging any file or files to the Desktop or a folder."

The cost of Virex As to the fact that at least some people can download Virex for free, several readers claimed this was intentional. The plan now is to charge an annual fee ($34.95) for updates. Others suggest this "freedom" is an error and may soon be corrected.

Statements from Network Associates (1) Regarding whether or not Network Associates condones the "free" download of Virex 6.0, John VanKammen received the following statement from a Network Associates sales representative:

"Virex is not a free product. The links are only to be used by those people who are licensed for the product. We use the same user id and password on a continual basis, so many people have access to download the product. However, if they are downloading the product and not in license compliance then they would be subject to an audit and fines. This is due to the fact that they are stealing the software. Please let me know if you have any additional questions."

And, of course, the Dr. Solomon web page states:

"The software updates shown on this page are not shareware or freeware. They are commercial products and may only be downloaded by those users who have purchased a licensed product and/or the equivalent software update subscription."

Statements from Network Associates (2) If you go to the ftp site that has the October update for Virex, you will find the following "rules and regulations of installing this software" (thanks, David Ericsson):

The customer shall not disclose the results of any benchmark test to any third party without Network Associates' prior written approval.
The customer will not publish reviews of the product without prior consent from Network Associates.

Note: Here is another link to get the October update.

Miscellaneous other issues

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Timbuktu Julian Koh writes: "The bug where File Exchange with Timbuktu Pro fails if Virex is active is still present. If you have "Scan Files when Opened" set in the Virex Control Panel on the destination machine when you start a File Exchange in Timbuktu, the file transfer fails." NAI had previously indicated that this update would fix the bug.

Meeting Maker Steve Mase writes: "If the Virex 5.9.1 control panel was turned on, you couldn't successfully install the Meeting Maker 5.5.x client. It would stop with an 'unexpected error.'" Meeting Maker is now up to 6.0.2. This version would run successfully with Virex 6.0b5. However, it fails again with the final version of 6.0. Virex Support indicated to Steve that a fix for this was not likely until Virex 7.0.

Virex scan glitch; Scheduler problems Steven Rodoletz reports: If you use Virex's Schedule Editor to schedule a Scan Before Shut Down and then select Restart from the Finder, the Mac will Shut Down rather than Restart. This may only occur if you also have TechTool Pro 2.5.1's Protection extension installed (and set to scan at shut down). A work-around is to use Virex's Scan After Startup option instead. Also, make sure that Virex loads before TechTool's extension. Bob Bousfield reported a similar problem with scheduling an eUpdate.

Marty Fender had the Shutdown instead of Restart error, but he does not have TechTool installed.
Michel Tavir adds: "Following the installation of Virex 6.0 on our PowerMac 8600/OS 8.6, I experienced delays of up to 1 second or so when clicking the mouse, using the keyboard or related operations such as macros. The system went back to normal when I disabled the new Virex Scheduler extension. Strangely enough, there were two copies installed, one in the Extensions folder and one in the Extensions (Disabled) folder."

Michel adds: "With Virex Scheduler enabled, not only does Virex run when you Restart your computer even if you have set Virex to run at Shutdown, but it also causes your computer to shutdown instead of restarting!"

Rob Homuth had system crashes related to the presence of the new Virex Scheduler extension.

Scanning compressed files and MRJ software I tried to do a scan with Virex with the "Diagnose compressed files" option enabled. When it hit "JDKClasses.zip" in Extensions/MRJLibraries/MRJClasses, it seemed to take forever to scan this 9MB file! I eventually gave up and turned off the option. [What exactly is in these MRJClasses files anyway?]

Heads up Here are some scattered (unconfirmed as of yet) problem reports:

Running an Italian version of Mac OS 8.5.1, a reader found that Virex prevented ATM Deluxe from activating fonts at startup, leading to an error message.
Another reader found that if he halted a download in progress, with Virex set to scan all downloaded files, Virex would launch to scan the half-downloaded file and then freeze.

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