Uninstalling Norton AV 2001

[mhr]

I have Norton anti-virus 2001 on my computer. It's part of Norton's System
Works. It is no longer supported Symantec won't furnish new virus
definitions, even if you pay for it. I've decided it would be better to
install some other anti-virus and uninstall Norton AV. I have a number of
viruses in quarantine under Norton AV. What happens to them if I uninstall
Norton AV? At this time, I will not uninstall the other programs in System
Works such as Norton Utilities or CleanSweep.

 

[badgolferman]

I have Norton anti-virus 2001 on my computer. It's part of Norton's
System Works. It is no longer supported Symantec won't furnish new
virus definitions, even if you pay for it. I've decided it would be
better to install some other anti-virus and uninstall Norton AV. I
have a number of viruses in quarantine under Norton AV. What happens
to them if I uninstall Norton AV? At this time, I will not uninstall
the other programs in System Works such as Norton Utilities or
CleanSweep.

The last time I removed a Symantec/Norton AV program it asked me what I
wanted to do with the quarantined items. I chose to delete them all.

 

[Virus Guy]

I have Norton anti-virus 2001 on my computer. It's part of
Norton's System Works. It is no longer supported Symantec
won't furnish new virus definitions, even if you pay for it.

With Norton Anti-virus (versions 2001 and 2002) you can simply
un-install and re-install it when your 1-year virus subscription
service ends. In other words, you don't have to pay Symantec to get
another year's worth of updates.

The trick is to delete all Norton and Symantec directories after you
un-install it. Some files are left behind after you un-install the
program, and unless you delete them, you won't be able to re-install
the program with another year's worth of free updates.

Go to control panel, add/remove programs, and remove LiveUpdate,
LiveReg, and Norton System Works. Re-boot. Do a search (file-find)
for norton*.* and symantec*.*

You'll probably find these (if running Windows 98):

c:\program files\Norton Systemworks\
c:\program files\symantec\
c:\program files\common files\symantec shared\
c:\windows\application data\symantec\
c:\windows\all users\application data\symantec\

Delete all the above directories.

The file that you probably want to kill is "catalog.livesubscribe",
which is located here:

c:\windows\all users\application data\symantec\

Once you delete all the above directories, re-boot for good measure,
and then re-install NSW 2001 from the original CD (assuming you have
it). You should end up with essentially a fresh install and another
year's worth of LiveUpdate service.

I have a number of viruses in quarantine under Norton AV.
What happens to them if I uninstall Norton AV?

I don't know, but unless you want to keep them as objects of
curiosity, I'd delete them from quarantine before you uninstall NSW.
I think that you will be asked if you want to flush the quarantine as
part of the uninstall process.

At this time, I will not uninstall the other programs in
SystemWorks such as Norton Utilities or CleanSweep.

If you have the original NSW 2001 CD, then the simplest thing to do is
to un-install the whole thing (including the utilities and clean
sweep), delete the directories, then re-install.

BTW, I never found a good use for Clean Sweep and hence I don't
install it when I re-install NSW (I have NSW 2002).

After you re-install NSW and you go to liveupdate, I think it's a good
idea to NOT download the re-director until it's the last thing left to
update.