BleepingComputer.com: How To Completely Remove Norton Security Products

How to Fully Remove Norton 2004 and newer

Guide Overview

This guide will explain a way of completely removing Norton security programs. You may need the removal tool if the norton uninstaller that came with the product fails.

Tools Needed

• SymNRT.exe

Instructions

• Please download and save SymNRT.exe to your desktop.
  
• Close all programs and double click on the tool.
  
• Follow the on-screen instructions.
  
• Restart the computer if asked.
  
• Then delete the SymNRT.exe tool from your desktop.
  
• Open the Program Files folder on your local disk ( normally C: )
  
• Find and delete the following folders (if present):
  • Norton AntiVirus
    
  • Norton Internet Security
    
  • Norton SystemWorks
    
  • Norton Personal Firewall

The removal program can get rid of the following Norton Programs:

• Norton AntiVirus 2004/2005/2006
  
• Norton AntiVirus Professional 2004
  
• Norton AntiVirus 3, 5 and 10 User Pack 2004/2005/2006
  
• Norton GoBack 3.1/3.5/3.6/4.0/4.1
  
• Norton SystemWorks 2004 Professional Edition
  
• Norton SystemWorks 2005/2006 Premier
  
• Norton SystemWorks 2004/2005/2006
  
• 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 Internet Security 2005 AntiSpyware Edition 8.2
  
• Norton Personal Firewall 2004/2005/2006
  
• Norton AntiSpam 2004/2005
  
• Norton Ghost 2003/9.0/10.0

[sDavid, hi, and thanks for that info. Ive already uninstalled NORTON 2004 INTERNET SECURITY apart from this one file
can I still use all that info even if there is nothing on my pc, apart from this one file? it wont do any damage will it?
Where will this file be hiding away as IVE LOOKED FOR IT EVERYWHERE?
Surely it wont be still on the registry after all this time? if that is where it is.
THANKS VERY MUCH. CYCLOPS (TED)

Is Symantec Anti Virus not part of Norton? As far as I am aware, Norton is one of the best security programs.

Or have I mixed them up?

I have or rather I sort of have Symantec on my computer and was using is for a long time. Now, it's not available. The short cut that was always there now says that the VPC32.exe shortcut is missing. Also, can't open it from programme files.

Any ideas?
Thanks
Nat

Symantec is the company that develops and distributes Norton products.

If you are not using Norton anymore,it is advisable to d/l and run the SymNRT.exe utility.
There are alot of free Anti Virus programs that are just as good and not near the resource hog that Norton is. Have a look at Freeware Replacements For Common Commercial Applications.

Hi TMacK

Thanks for your reply. Your Freeware page is very helpful.

I have the following installed. Can you tell me if it's enough and whether you would reccommend deleting some and adding others.

I see that I only have one antivirus. Is antivirus the same as anti malware?

AVG Antispyware
AVG Antivirus
SuperAntispyware
AdAware SE Personal
BFU (never used, don't know how!!)
Spybot
Spyware Blaster
Windows Defender
CCleaner

Thanks
Nat

BFU= Brute Force Uninstaller
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php#bfu
( sorry, probably not much help )
it's not advisable to run two different AV's at the same time. McAfee AVERT Stinger is handy to have as a backup .
"Stinger is a stand-alone utility used to detect and remove specific viruses. It is not a substitute for full anti-virus protection, but rather a tool to assist administrators and users when dealing with an infected system. Stinger utilizes next generation scan engine technology, including process scanning, digitally signed DAT files, and scan performance optimizations."
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
other than that, keep every thing updated , CoU is a good place to look for updates

Anti virus programs and anti malware programs are two completely different things.

Have a look thru This topic called Virus & Malware Resources.

Hello Folks! I've just experienced what I assume is the usual result when trying to uninstall Norton products. I tried using the instructions presented in this thread and repeatedly get the following message: "The version of Norton Removal Tool you are using is expired. Please click the following web link for help. http;//www.symantec.com/nrtexpired" Clicking the link takes me to a Symantec site telling me that the system date and/or time on my PC is incorrect and to change it. Only thing is, it's already correct. An alternative listed was to remove a Symantec registry key, which I did (after backing up the registry...) After rebooting and running SymNRT.exe again, I still get the same error message. Argh!

I'm so thoroughly fed up with all things related to Norton/Symantec that if I still had all my original disks handy, I'd go ahead and dedicate a day (or two...) to reformatting and reinstalling everything. That's a step I'd like to avoid though. It rarely goes as smoothly as it should.

Any further suggestions on how to get rid of all things related to Norton/Symantec, other than a complete R&R?

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions!

I hope you were patient.

Norton has a newer removal tool that doesn't give the expired message.


ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_...emoval_Tool.exe


Why the old tool doesn't link you to this new one, I can't guess.
Bad business.

I hope it works for you like it did for me!

FWIW, Symantec has the removal tool expire, as it is is updated to include new products, and new locations in the registry, and possible new files and folders.

I came across the updated removal tool a couple of days after posting here previously. I meant to post the information here, but forgot... Sorry!

All is well now without Norton/Symantec products and I'm doing just fine with freeware. I know there are many that would argue "you get what you pay for" and I wouldn't argue to strongly against, but I was never satisfied with either McAfee or Symantec products and the freeware products I've chosen are highly rated, amazing easy to install and configure and so far have worked without fail on numerous PC's I own and/or support, so I'm satisfied.

Thanks for the replies and good luck with yours!

Windowguy, what freeware products do you use? I know about AVG Anti-virus. My sister-in-law has Norton Internet Security 2006 on her PC and it is up for renewal. I told her that she shouldn't renew and that there are lots of free products that are just as good and don't take up as much room. I'm going to try to convert her to ThunderBird and FireFox as well. She uses Outlook Express and Internet Explorer.

Thanks for your help.

Ken

Ken,
You can find a list of freeware security programs in our, Freeware Replacements For Common Commercial Apps topic.

The best place to get the Symantec/Norton removal tool is the FTP site, here: ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_...a/removal_tools

this normally changes at every update.

when I used it for norton 2007 trial that came with my computer, it left the symantec core service running on my computer but it was easily removed with hijack this.