I’ve been having various problems working with chat boards and other sites, and a couple of people recommended to me that I remove Symantec’s Norton Antivirus from my PC. That’s fine, but I don’t know exactly how to do that. Can you help me out?
Generally, you remove applications by using the Windows utility for the task, but Norton Antivirus tends to get in a bit deeper into the system, so it’s tricker to remove it completely. Here’s how you can do that:
- Go to Start –> Control Panel –> Add/Remove Programs.
- Scroll down to your Norton program
- Click Change –> Remove All.
You will be asked to restart your PC. Do so. - Now go to Start –> My Computer –> Program Files. Right click on each Symantec folder and select Delete.
- While you are in Program Files go to the Common Files folder at or near the top of the Program Files window. Delete every Symantec folder there. And, again, restart your PC.
- Go to Start –> Search –> All Files and Folders –> More Advanced Options. Check each option except for “Case sensitive”
Now type in Norton and delete each Norton folder from the search results (Again, right click, choose
“Delete”). One more time, restart your PC. - Repeat step 5 except type Symantec in the “Search” box.
The next step is trickier: go into the Registry.
- First thing to do is Back up the Registry. I’ll be saying more about the Registry later. But suffice it to say that the presence of uninstalled security software in the Registry can conflict with newly installed security software and cause system freezes. So can folders of “uninstalled” programs for that matter.
- Once again, go to Start, then click on “Run”. Type in “regedit”
- Go to the top of the Regedit window. Click (+) next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER. Go down the thread until you see Software. Click on Software and scroll down the thread until you see Symantec. Right click on Symantec and choose “Delete”.
- From there go down to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and repeat step 3. Restart your PC.
- Click (+) next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, now: Click (+) next to Software, Click (+) next to Microsoft, Click (+) next to Windows and Click (+) next to CurrentVersion.
- Select the Run folder. Right-click and delete each Symantec entry you see (if present). Restart your PC.
That should completely eradicate Norton Antivirus from your system!
Note: Symantec offers an uninstaller for NAV (Norton Antivirus) 5.0/2000/2001/2002/2003 which they say removes Norton from your Program Files and the Registry, but commentary on various discussion boards suggests that it might not work too well.
How do I contact Norton/Symantec to request that they stop debiting my Visa for Norton, a product I have not used in two years. I have searched many Norton sites but cannot find a mailing (snail) address. I did find a telephone number, but it requires a password, etc. which I do not have. Frustrating to say the least.
Let your bank deal with it. Seriously, call the company that issued your credit card — like Chase — and file a fraud complaint and request that they freeze that particular transaction. That’ll get Norton’s attention. Good luck!
Customer Care Symantec-Norton
Telephone:
800.721.3934 or 541.335.7023
When connected press #3 for Norton products
THIS IS THE MAIN REASON I HATE NORTON ! ! ! !
It is obnoxious, rude and as hard as a virus to remove.
I found this product call AppRemover, which worked great, it supports many OS and I need something to remove my AV from my Mac and this is one of the few that I found that worked well.
After 20 years or so in personal computing, and owning/using no less than 15 computers over that period, here are the reasons that I have absolutely no use for any Norton anti-virus, and why I dissuade anyone that will listen not to use it:
1) Once it’s installed, it’s there forever — unless you jump through flaming hoops to remove it — or pay an “expert” to jump through the hoops. By definition, it’s an infection — a bad rash that never goes away.
2) Like any Norton product that has an expiration date, as that date nears, the program is designed to bug you endlessly about purchasing again/renewing — always at full retail price. At least once a day, you are encouraged to believe a nuclear detonation in your computer is imminent unless you renew your Norton product.
3) Norton’s definitions and terminology to describe any number of features or actions within the installation process and in its use are thoroughly counter-intuitive. I don’t have time to take a 2 week course to understand the absurd, self-important language.
4) Forget customer service. Get it out of your mind, it’s not going to happen. Try it once, twice, three times — only then will you realize that help from Norton is a pipe-dream and inside joke.
I totally agree with Mike. Everybody I know that has tried Norton has had nothing but trouble with it… A friend told me about AVG quite a few years ago & that’s all my family & friends use now. There is a version U can buy, there is also 1 called AVG Free. That’s what we all use.. When I get a new computer, the first thing I do is remove Norton if it’s on it & it does come on new computers. Then I Install AVG as soon as I get Norton off…
DITTO!
also, my norton av expired and BROKE several programs that i could not easily repair.
1) restored an earlier partition backup (EVERYONE SHOULD DO THIS) while DISCONNECTED FROM THE INTERNET so that norton could not interfere with the restore system. took an hour. rebooted>created a restore point
2) used norton removal program which still left traces> rebooted>created restore point
3) search for files with “norton” and “symantec”, deleted them
4) finally, searched the registry for norton and symantec and deleted them.
antivirus programs should not just be tested for blocking threats, but also how easily they can be deleted. as an analogy, i had to perform chemo and radiation therapy on my computer to get rid of norton.
HERE IS HOW TO DELETE ALL NORTON FOLDERS!
uninstall it normally than
turn on show hidden folders in your explorer settings than reboot in safe mode than once in safe mode delete away! i did this and it works just go into your files explorer in safe mode and delete all the norton and symtec folders, for some reason a virus keeps poping up in those folders so i had to get rid of them
Hi, i wanted to uninstall Microsoft office professional 2010 to install another version, but before removing finish i clicked in cancel, so its not removing and even the other version is not installing. it tells there are another groove installed, first remove it then install the other.
what can i do
you mean i must totaly un install norton before i reinstill the norton proudct well that hell lot of work
hi
i buy norton antivirus to remove cooki from my pc
i setup my antivirus and update it and i make full scan to my pc and i well found cooki and trojan , norton removed they .
the problem cooki and torjan returen to my pc .
what i do ????