Removing Norton

[ms]

I want to totally remove all references to Norton or Symantec from the hard
drive on this used machine.

Norton (System Works?) had apparently been partially uninstalled, as it
does not appear in Add/Remove, not in Start Menu Programs.

But in Search, there are Norton files all over the hard drive, including
Norton Antivirus.

Based on the above where it does not show, is it safe to just delete all
Norton entries, and go into registry and delete all Norton keys?

ms

 

[John John]

http://basconotw.mvps.org/SymRem.htm

John

 

[~~Alan~~]

John is correct in that Symantec has removal tools for its products on its
website. You may want to check the Symantec website as well as John's as
they update their tools every so often and an older one may not work. I
stand to be corrected but I think they update them every quarter or 6
months.

I am not advocating one do this, but after a subscription runs out, you can
run the removal tool, and reinstall your symantec product as if it were
brand new.

~alan

 

[ms]

John is correct in that Symantec has removal tools for its products on
its website. You may want to check the Symantec website as well as
John's as they update their tools every so often and an older one may
not work. I stand to be corrected but I think they update them every
quarter or 6 months.

I am not advocating one do this, but after a subscription runs out,
you can run the removal tool, and reinstall your symantec product as
if it were brand new.

~alan

Thanks to both of you. Reinstalling anything from Symantec is the last
thing I want. Norton Utilities for DOS, ver 6.0 is the last good program
from Norton, PC Tools 7.1 was the last from Symantec.

ms

 

[AJR]

Amen!!!

Thanks to both of you. Reinstalling anything from Symantec is the last
thing I want. Norton Utilities for DOS, ver 6.0 is the last good program
from Norton, PC Tools 7.1 was the last from Symantec.

ms

 

[Kayman]

I want to totally remove all references to Norton or Symantec from the hard
drive on this used machine.

Norton (System Works?) had apparently been partially uninstalled, as it
does not appear in Add/Remove, not in Start Menu Programs.

But in Search, there are Norton files all over the hard drive, including
Norton Antivirus.

Based on the above where it does not show, is it safe to just delete all
Norton entries, and go into registry and delete all Norton keys?

The retail version of Norton can play havoc with your pc. Uninstall it
using Norton's own uninstall tool:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039
As suggested on the site, you may wish to print out the directions before
proceeding.

If this doesn't work use this:
Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Remove unwanted programs and traces easily
http://www.revouninstaller.com/
and/or
RegSeeker
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
Then use NTREGOPT to compact the registry; Follow instructions.
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt

While Norton's removal tool usually gets the job done, you may also want to
go to:
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html
and download a copy of winsockxpfix just in case. Rarely, the removal of
NIS breakes the networking components in XP to the point where internet
access is impossible. This little utility will fix it back up.

Good luck

 

[Lil' Dave]

I want to totally remove all references to Norton or Symantec from the hard
drive on this used machine.

Norton (System Works?) had apparently been partially uninstalled, as it
does not appear in Add/Remove, not in Start Menu Programs.

But in Search, there are Norton files all over the hard drive, including
Norton Antivirus.

Based on the above where it does not show, is it safe to just delete all
Norton entries, and go into registry and delete all Norton keys?

ms

Even the Symantec removal tool does not remove the registry key responsible
for your antivirus defintion update drop dead date. (After that date, you
have to purchase another year's worth of software update access from
Symantec). The last 2 years, Symantec has also kept track of this with a
server as well.

Dave

 

[ms]

The retail version of Norton can play havoc with your pc. Uninstall it
using Norton's own uninstall tool:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/20050331081620
39 As suggested on the site, you may wish to print out the directions
before proceeding.

If this doesn't work use this:
Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Remove unwanted programs and traces easily
http://www.revouninstaller.com/
and/or
RegSeeker
http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
Then use NTREGOPT to compact the registry; Follow instructions.
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt

While Norton's removal tool usually gets the job done, you may also
want to go to:
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html
and download a copy of winsockxpfix just in case. Rarely, the removal
of NIS breakes the networking components in XP to the point where
internet access is impossible. This little utility will fix it back
up.

Good luck

Thanks, I already use Revo and RegSeeker, excellent utilities.

And that data on the winsock fix is really handy, I will have to set up
DUN on this machine, but know that some trash programs in a hidden manner
can screw up winsock, so it's best to be prepared.

ms

 

[ms]

I want to totally remove all references to Norton or Symantec from the
hard drive on this used machine.

Norton (System Works?) had apparently been partially uninstalled, as
it does not appear in Add/Remove, not in Start Menu Programs.

But in Search, there are Norton files all over the hard drive,
including Norton Antivirus.

Based on the above where it does not show, is it safe to just delete
all Norton entries, and go into registry and delete all Norton keys?

ms

Thanks to all, helpful data

ms