Fix for Intego Virus Barrier X processor hogging issue

MacFixIt reader Brian Morrison and several others are experiencing a processor overloading issue after attempting to install Intego's Virus Barrier X, where the system becomes totally unresponsive and refuses to start up properly from that moment forth.

Intego's technical support department says the issue is fixed by a March 2003 virus definition release. The only problem is, if you have already installed Virus Barrier X and are experiencing the processor hog issue, you may be unable to download and apply the update. In that case, the company recommends the following workaround:

Step 1: Installation; Install VirusBarrier, along with NetUpdate. Follow the directions provided on-screen.

Step 2: Bypassing VirusBarrier at startup, immediately after the restart; Once the installation is complete, you are prompted to reboot the system. Click the 'Reboot' button, and immediately after you heard the startup chime, hold the Shift key down, until the startup screen reads "Safe Boot". NOTE: for more information about this procedure, please read Apple Technical Support document #107393.

Step 3: Isolating VirusBarrier; Once the startup is complete, open a new Finder window, switch the presentation into columns and navigate from the boot drive to Library -> StartupItems and move the VirusBarrier folder out of it (drag it onto the desktop). Now, restart the Macintosh, without the Safe Boot procedure.

Step 4: Updating the virus definitions; once the restart is complete, drag the VirusBarrier folder back to its' original location ([hard drive] -> Library -> StartupItems). Open System Preferences from the Apple menu, and choose NetUpdate. Provide your e-mail and a password as requested and click "Check now..." to launch NetUpdate: you should see the latest virus definitions listed and available for download.

Resources