Switching anti-virus

[Guest]

This might be a dumb question, but I'm not taking any chances! My Norton
anti-virus subscription is about to expire and I want to switch to AVG.
Should I uninstall the Norton, then d/l and install AVG, or uninstall Norton
AFTER getting AVG, or doesn't it matter? Should I disable my ZoneAlarm
firewall?

Thanks!

 

[M and D]

Completely uninstall Norton Antivirus first.

Never disable your firewall.

Steven

 

[mikkl]

Completely uninstall Norton Antivirus first.

Never disable your firewall.

Steven

IMHO, software with system hooks should only be installed or uninstalled in
a clean boot. Since this means that all of your internet security software
will be disabled during this exercise, you need to take special
precautions--assuming you are not sitting behind a NAT router.

Here is how I would do it:

Once you have everything downloaded, physically disconnect the computer
from the internet and reboot into a clean boot
(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310353) and
uninstall Norton. IME, you stand a better chance of having Norton
uninstall properly this way.

Reboot while still in a clean boot and then install AVG. You may have to
tell the installer not to connect to the internet for the first update.

AVG will want to reboot. Let it. You should still be in a clean boot
mode. Using MSConfig, reset the computer to a normal startup and shutdown.
Physically reconnect your computer to the internet. Restart the computer.
Now let AVG download updates, once you have configured Zone Alarm to permit
the access.

If you are behind a properly configured NAT router and using Zone Alarm
only for outbound protection, you do not need to physically disconnect from
the internet. The firewall function of a NAT router is sufficient to
provide you the protection you need while switching antivirus software.

HTH,

mikkl

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Download AVG first, but do not install it until you have removed Norton (if
you can remove it).

Pull the plug on your modem before you try to uninstall Norton, so that no
nasties can get on your machine while you have *no* antivirus protection.

Be sure to update AVG immediately after you install it and run a full system
scan.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Leythos]

This might be a dumb question, but I'm not taking any chances! My Norton
anti-virus subscription is about to expire and I want to switch to AVG.
Should I uninstall the Norton, then d/l and install AVG, or uninstall Norton
AFTER getting AVG, or doesn't it matter? Should I disable my ZoneAlarm
firewall?

First, download AVG, don't install it, then download the update file if
you still can.

Second, uninstall NAV, reboot, make sure that all Symantec and Norton
directories actually removed from "Program Files" folders. If not, see
if you can go online to Symantec.com and find the removal tool. Don't
visit ANY other sites while the AV software is removed.

Make sure that you remove Live Update and any other Symantec/Norton
products that show in Add-remove-programs.

REBOOT,

Install AVG, install the update, now run an update online.

 

[Guest]

Thank you to all that have posted. I'm getting the impression that Norton is
difficult to completely remove from my computer -- is that true? Has anyone
had success with Norton's removal tool? I appreciate all the responses -- I
will wait to hear more and then print out all advice and go from there.
Thanks again.

 

[M and D]

Correct - Norton products can be very difficult to remove from your computer. Symantec has an article in their knowledgebase that says it can take as much as 30 minutes. That's because Symantec installs so many components with Norton software, and they integrate so tightly into Windows that it's tough to remove them. Your uninstall will hopefully go well, but you may end up with weird problems due to the uninstall.

Steven

 

[Leythos]

Thank you to all that have posted. I'm getting the impression that Norton is
difficult to completely remove from my computer -- is that true? Has anyone
had success with Norton's removal tool? I appreciate all the responses -- I
will wait to hear more and then print out all advice and go from there.

Some norton products are problematic to uninstall, it's caused by
several factors.

In my experience, uninstalling NAV 2004, 2005, 2006, 2001, 2000, they
all removed without any issues.

In my experience, uninstalling NIS any version, it was a pain and was
best done hacking the registry manually by a skilled reg hacker.

I find that the Symantec branded AV products for Corp/Enterprise use
don't have these issues.

Just make sure you uninstall the NAV program first, then go back and see
if you need to uninstall Live Update and Live Reg.