BleepingComputer.com: Can't Completely Uninstall Symantec Antivirus 9

I am running Windows XP, and I have been using Symantec Antivirus 9. Recently, I decided that I wanted to get rid of Symantec, and use the free AVG software instead.

I have uninstalled Symantec via the Add/Remove function. In addition to this, I deleted all Symantec folders from my Program Files. After doing this and restarting the computer, I tried to install AVG. When I did this, AVG said there was still antivirus software running on my computer, and that I should uninstall the old software before installing AVG on my computer.

I've heard that my next step might be to go into my registry and manually edit out all of the Symantec entries, except I have no experience with registry editing and wouldn't know where to begin. For all I know, that might not even be the right place for me to start.

How can I completely remove Symantec Antivirus 9 from my computer? Any help would appreciated, thank you.

The method used to remove the Norton 9 involves making changes in the registry. You will want to backup your registry before making any changes. Any errors made in the information that you enter in the registry could result in a fatal error in you operating system. How to backup registry.

this article has all of the nasty details. If you didn't dislike Norton before now, you will after seeing this.

I can't believe how many steps are involved in removing this program completely from my computer, damn.

After all of following the article, I tried installing AVG again....and again, AVG said that there was another antivirus program still on my computer!

There was one part of the instructions from that link that I may have messed up. The directions were:
Go to the following key:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services

Delete the following keys:
Delete the SymEvent keys only if Symantec Client Security is the only Symantec program installed.

ccEvtMgr
ccPwdSvc
ccSetMgr
DefWatch
Intel Alert Handler
Intel Alert Originator
Intel File Transfer
Intel PDS
NAVENG
NAVEX15
SavRoam
SAVRT
SAVRTPEL
SNDSrvc
Symantec AntiVirus
SymEvent
SYMREDRV
SYMTDI

Go to any existing "ControlSet*"\Services keys and delete the same entries like in the previous step."

When it says go to any exisiting "ControlSet*"\services keys, is there supposed to be a folder in my registry that is labeled "ControlSet*"? Or is that a short hand symbol for something?

If I followed these instructions and deleted the program from my registry (and restarted my computer), why would AVG still think I have an antivirus program on my computer?

Any more help would be appreciated.

Did you try the Norton Removal Tool? Also you can download the Windows Intaller Cleanup Utility See if anything Norton is listed there. If so check the box and run the application