BleepingComputer.com: How To Remove Your Norton Products

I thought I should contribute with a little something to help you get rid of those pesky Symantec home user products.

Using the SymNRT removal tool

Use SymNRT only if you have tried to uninstall the Norton program using Windows Add/Remove Programs. Even if this works, you should run the tool anyway.


Programs that SymNRT can remove
SymNRT removes these--and only these--Norton programs:

* Norton AntiVirus 2004/2005/2006
* Norton AntiVirus Professional 2004
* Norton AntiVirus 3, 5 and 10 User Pack 2004/2005/2006
* Norton SystemWorks 2004/2005 Professional Edition
* Norton SystemWorks 2005/2005/2006 Premier
* Norton SystemWorks 2006
* Norton SystemWorks 2006 Basic Edition
* Norton Password Manager 2004
* Norton Internet Security 2004/2005/2006
* Norton Internet Security 5 and 10 User Pack 2004/2005/2006
* Norton Personal Firewall 2004/2005/2006
* Norton AntiSpam 2004/2005/2006
* Norton Ghost 2003/9.0/10.0

All you need to do is to download the tool by clicking here.

Removing NAV/NIS 2003 and earlier products

Download the following tools:

Rnav2003.exe
RnisUPG.exe
SYMCLN.exe

Now, after you have ran the tool(s) and rebooted your computer, go ahead with the following steps:

To remove program folders manually

Browse to the following locations and delete the folders in bold.
C:\Program Files\ (Delete all folders beginning with Norton or Symantec.)
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Symantec

Deleting registry entries

Go to Start>Run and type regedit.
Click OK.

Browse to the following locations and delete the folders in bold:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Symantec
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Symantec
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Symantec OLS Tools

Now that this is done, go to Edit, and do a Find for symantec, and delete whatever folders that comes up. CLSIDs etc should get removed by the tools.

Reinstalling your Norton products

Delete your temporary files by going to Start>Run and type %temp%.
Click OK.
Delete all the items in the folder, if some of them can't be removed - don't worry about it.

Now, if you are installing a Norton 2004 program, download and run the following tool:

LRSetup.exe

You might get a "Publisher cannot be verified" message from the SP2 Security Center. Just Run it.

Now, you can reinstall your beloved Norton product ;)

Should not a warning and instructions on backing up the registry
be included?

I love you for posting this.

Scarlett, on Jan 2 2006, 07:49 PM, said:

At your request...

Use Extreme Caution!!

Modifing your registry can damage your operating system beyond repair!



Before proceeding, backup your registry! NOW!!

Although SymNRT is still available for download the old link for the SymNRT removal page is now redirected to the Norton Removal Tool which uninstalls ALL Norton 2008/2007/2006/2005/2004/2003 products from your computer. (skip step 3 if your not going to reinstall your Norton product)

Note: Previously, there were two options available for this tool: On line removal using Internet Explorer and Manual File Download. Symantec has incorporated these two removal methods into one which simply involves downloading and running the tool.

Also see: Manual uninstallation documents for Symantec Client Security products
(including Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition and Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition)
Document ID:2002031914291648
Last Modified:06/06/2006

why we removing norton? is it a bad program? i just download a trial of its antivirus i didnt install yet but should i just delete it?

It is obviously a good program. If not they would be out of buniess. Some system do not run it very well for different reasons. Some it's software conflicts. For me it uses too much of my system's resources.
There are several very good freeware antivirus, antispyware, and firewall programs that are as good if not better than the subscription versions. As a matter of fact all of the freeware AVs have subscription versions also.
I use the Free Edition of AVG Antivirus. In the following link you will find several more to choose from.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic3616.html

bryan123456789.
I used to use Norton (2002) and didn't have any problems with it.
My only complaints, was the cost, and that it uses so much of your system resources.
In 2002, it was only an antivirus, and didn't include all of the other junk (firewall, etc.) it comes bundled with now.
It seems the more they add to the program, the more problems people are having with it.
That's why, in my opinion, it's better to use programs that are dedicated to one job, instead of trying to do everything.
You'll have fewer problems in the long run.
Do a search on this site for Symantec, and Norton, and you'll see what I'm talking about.

The last time my subscription was due, I didn't renew it, and switched to AVG.
To me, it performs as good, if not better (uses less resources), than Norton.
Not to mention that Symantec's products can be a real pain to remove, sometimes.

The link acklan provided, list several alternatives that work just as good as, any paid program.
Also, why pay a lot for something (Antivirus, Firewall, Anti-Spyware), that you can get for free, that will do the same job, if not better.

Just my $.02 worth.

I agree with acklan and tg1911. The information I provided about the Norton Uninstall Tool was not a recommendation to remove the program. It was "How To" information for those needing help with removing Norton. Symantec products can be difficult to uninstall if a user wants to remove it and the On line removal or Manual File download are two of the options offered to assist.

I tried to use the uninstall Tool.
It came up that I had to unisnstall through add/remove programs a program that I use ...ACT2000 which also seems to be by symantec.
The problem I have is that my subscription has expired, and there does not seem an easy way to renew it. ( subscription date reported as 12/30/1899), and following all the comments on this site, I am more than happy to get a free antivius program ( AVG?)
If I just remove the Norton Internet security 2005 in the system.. add/remove .. will that be enough?
I run windowsXP professional.
Any help would be really appreciated.. I hope that this post makes some sense.
cheers

Install AVG free, and then Uninstall Norton.

Make sure you have a firewall (like Zonealarm free) running too.

AVG:
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/289/lng/us/tpl/tpl01

Software firewalls with freeware versions
(Run only one and disable the ineffective Windows XP firewall)

ZoneAlarm (freeware) V. 6.1.744:
http://www.download.com/ZoneAlarm/3000-10435_4-10039884.html
(you can have only one software firewall running. More than one will conflict)

Comodo firewall (freeware)
http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Hm.. i like how ppl suggest AVG free.....

Since in my experiance its the worst freeware out there.
it dosent remove 90% of what norton does.....

And almost everyproblem can be solved by searching the symantec website...
ppl are just way to lazy, and btw... LRsetup should be used when installing any "newer" version of norton like 2004, 2005,2006,2007


Edit:
just wanted to inform you, that SymNRT also now removes these products.

Norton AntiSpam 2004, 2005 & 2006
Norton AntiVirus 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006 (includes NAV Pro)
Norton Ghost 2003, 9.0 and 10.0
Norton Internet Security 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 (includes NIS Pro, NIS essentials)
Norton Password Manager
Norton Personal Firewall 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006
Norton SystemWorks 2003, 2004, 2005, & 2006

has anyone just used the link on the Symantec website to remove Norton Security programs?

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgen...v_lvl=&seg=

The instructions for uninstalling the Norton Security programs seem a bit incomplete. For instance, how do I backup my registry and how do you delete the registry folders (ending in symantec). For a newbie like me, the instructions seem a bit complicated. I'm sure it has helped a lot of people though.

Quote

Used it about a month ago.

Quote

All that is required are the instuctions under Step 2.

Quote

If you are using XP, create a System Restore Point. For all others, go Here or Here .

As far as I can recall, the tool itself also removes the registry folders as well as the program folder itself; so you won't have to worry about it. You can doublecheck if you wish. Please make note of the quote below:

Quote

If you are uninstalling Norton security programs, are you having trouble downloading the program: symnrt.exe from their website? I've tried but all I get is a message that I have a firewall, etc...or the target computer wouldn't let me d/l the program.

I can download anything else on the next, cept this. thanks.