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Home / How to Install Symantec Antivirus on Windows 7

How to Install Symantec Antivirus on Windows 7

Introduction

Computing Services and Systems Development recommends that all students, faculty, and staff with Windows computers use Symantec Endpoint Protection for Windows to protect their computers against viruses and other security threats. Symantec Endpoint Protection can be downloaded using the Software Download Service at My Pitt.  Faculty and staff can also download it from the Secure Your Data portal community at My Pitt (my.pitt.edu).

This document explains how to download and install Symantec Endpoint Protection on a Windows-based computer, run Live Update, and run both manual and automated virus scans. Before you begin the download and installation process you should use the instructions provided to determine whether your computer uses 32-bit or 64-bit processing.

Important: Please be advised that CSSD recommends uninstalling any existing anti-virus software on your computer, including previous versions of Symantec AntiVirus, prior to installing Symantec Endpoint Protection.

Check Your Computer's Processing Speed

Use the following instructions to determine whether your computer uses 32-bit or 64-bit processing:

Windows XP Users

Windows Vista Users

Windows 7 Users

Windows 8 Users

  1. Click the Start buttonSymantec for Windows Screenshot 1
  2. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
  3. Select the General tab and look at the System information.
  • If you don't see "x64 Edition" listed, then you are running the 32-bit version of Windows XP.
  • If "x64 Edition" is listed, then you are running the 64-bit version of Windows XP.
  • Close any open windows.
    		•
    1. Click the Start buttonSymantec for Windows Screenshot 2
    2. Right-click Computer, then click Properties.
    3. Under System, you can view the System type information. This will tell you if it is a 32-bit or 64-bit computer.
    4. Close any open windows.
    1. Click the Start buttonSymantec for Windows Screenshot 3
    2. Right-click Computer, then click Properties.
    3. Under System, you can view the System type information. This will tell you if it is a 32-bit or 64-bit computer.
    4. Close any open windows.
    1. From the Win8 'tiled' desktop, simply start typing the words "System Settings."
    2. In the resulting Search column, click Settings.
    3. In the resulting Settings that appear, click System.
    4. The System window will appear within the classic desktop mode, containing your System Type information. This will tell you if you are running a 32-bit or 64-bit computer.

    Downloading Symantec Endpoint Protection for Windows

    Students, faculty, and staff can download Symantec Endpoint Protection using the Software Download Service at My Pitt.

    1. Log in to My Pitt (my.pitt.edu) with your University Computing Account username and password.
    2. Click My Resources at the top of the page and select Software Downloads.
    3. Click the Software Download Service Login link.
    4. Depending on your computer, click the EndPoint Protection 32-bit or EndPoint Protection 64-bit link under the Featured Software heading.
    5. Click the Download All Files button.
    6. Select a location to save the file and click Save.
    7. A Download Complete message will display. If you downloaded the file to your desktop, an icon will be displayed there.Symantec for Windows Screenshot 4
    8. Close any browser windows that are open.

    Uninstalling Existing Anti-virus Software

    Before installing Symantec Endpoint Protection, you must first uninstall any existing anti-virus software on your computer, including previous versions of Symantec AntiVirus.  To uninstall software, complete the following steps.

    1. Click the Start menu and select Control Panel, then click Add or Remove programs. (Win8 users: From the Win8 'tiled' interface, simply start typing the words "add or remove".  Click Add or remove programs from the resulting Settings that appear on your screen.)
    2. In the Add or Remove Programs window (Programs and Features window in Win8), locate any existing anti-virus software. Click on the software title to highlight it, and then click Remove (Uninstall in Win 8).  The program will be uninstalled.
      Symantec for Windows Screenshot 5
    3. After uninstalling the existing software, you may be asked to restart your computer. If you are, click the Yes button. Proceed to the instructions in the next section.
      Symantec for Windows Screenshot 6

    Installing Symantec Endpoint Protection for Windows

    To install Symantec Endpoint Protection, complete the following steps:

    1. Double click the Symantec icon on your desktop.
    2. You may see an Open File – Security Warning window indicating that the publisher could not be verified.  If this window displays, click Run to install Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.  It is safe to run this file.
      Symantec for Windows Screenshot 7
    3. Follow the instructions to install Symantec Endpoint Protection. Note: Some Symantec users may see a window containing a message about old virus definitions and should click Close. Click Finish to exit the installation wizard when it is complete.
    4. A Live Update window should open automatically. New anti-virus definitions and/or application updates will be downloaded and installed. Click Close when finished (you may need to restart your computer). Once installed, you should be able to view a Symantec icon in your task bar.

    Run Scans with Symantec Endpoint Protection for Windows

    Symantec Endpoint Protection requires frequent updates and can be used to run scans that are manually completed or set to be performed as part of a maintenance schedule.

    Note: When Symantec Endpoint Protection is installed on your computer, it is automatically configured to scan for new definitions every four hours and performs the installation of any available updates. Please remember that updates may not be released between each four hour check. To perform a scan, launch Symantec Endpoint Protection and complete the following steps.

    1. Open Symantec Endpoint Protection by clicking its icon in the Taskbar Symantec for Windows Screenshot 8 or tile in in the Start screen for Win8. Symantec for Windows Screenshot 9
    2. Click Scan for Threats.

    To Schedule a Manual Active or Manual Full Scan

    1. The Scan for threats window displays. To manually perform a quick scan of your computer, click the Active Scan button. To manually perform a complete scan, click the Full Scan button.

      Note: Active Scans scan the most commonly infected areas of your computer and only take a few minutes to run. Full Scans take much longer to run as they scan the entire contents of your computer. Please allow sufficient time to run a Full Scan.Symantec for Windows Screenshot 10

    2. Depending on your choice, an Active Scan or Full Scan window appears and the scan runs. Any files that are viewed as risks by Symantec Endpoint Protection will be displayed in this window.
    3. When the scan is complete, you may choose any files to delete by holding down the Control key and single left clicking on the file names to select them. When you are done, click Remove Risks Now. If no files are displayed in this window or you do not want to delete any displayed files, click Close.

    To Schedule an Automatic Scan

    Note: A weekly scheduled scan is automatically set to run every Monday at 4 a.m. If your machine is typically powered off at this time, you may want to schedule your own scanning time using these instructions:

    1. The Scan for Threats window displays. Click Create a New Scan.Symantec for Windows Screenshot 11
    2. Select an Active Scan, Full Scan, or Custom Scan, then click Next >. If you chose Custom Scan, you must place a checkmark in the directories and folders that you would like to include in the scan.
    3. A Create New Scan – Scan Options window displays. You can make changes to the file types or make certain files exempt from the scan. Once you make changes, click Next >.
    4. A Create New Scan – When to Scan window displays. You can select At Specified Times or On Demand. Once you make changes, click Next >. Symantec for Windows Screenshot 12

      Note: If you selected On Demand,you will need to manually run the scan from the Scan for threats window. If you chose At Specified Times, you must select how often you wish to run the scan from the Create New Scan – Schedule window.

    5. A Create New Scan – Scan Name window displays. To identify the Scan, enter information into the Scan name and the Scan description text fields. Make sure that Enable the scan is checked. Click Finish.
    6. The scan is added to the list that will be run on this computer.  You can view this list from the Scan for Threats window.

    Run LiveUpdate for Symantec Endpoint Protection

    LiveUpdate downloads and installs the latest virus definition updates. It automatically checks for new definitions every four hours and performs the installation of any available updates. The following instructions are provided for you if you wish to perform your own LiveUpdate checks.

    1. Open Symantec Endpoint Protection by clicking its icon in the Taskbar Symantec for Windows Screenshot 13 or tile in in the Start screen for Win8. Symantec for Windows Screenshot 14
    2. Click LiveUpdate. A Live Update window appears and LiveUpdate downloads and installs the latest virus definition updates.  The LiveUpdate window closes once the updates are installed.

      Symantec for Windows Screenshot 15

    3. Close the Symantec Endpoint Protection window.

      Note: Closing this window does not turn off Symantec Endpoint Protection. The application is still running and can be accessed through your Windows taskbar.

    How to Install Symantec Antivirus on Windows 7

    Source: http://www.ieee-iri.org/technology_subdomain/support/installing-and-configuring-symantec-endpoint-protection-for-windows.html