I’ve read and followed your instructions about how to remove the dreaded Norton Anti-Virus from my Microsoft Windows XP computer, but somehow the $#$@ thing isn’t fully removed yet. Dave, this is driving me batty! Is there some additional or updated instruction you can share with us? I hate Symantec!!
First off, you’re right, the older article Removing Norton Antivirus from your System is a bit, um, long in the tooth. The problem is that companies keep releasing new versions of software, new solutions to prevent exploits, and everything is basically unendingly complicated!
Norton does have some tools on its site to help with uninstalling the application fully (see Commonly Used Symantec Tools but if you’re like me, you’d rather do it yourself.
Well, I like to know how to do it myself, but we’re all quite fortunate that PC fixit guy David Rice has made his very detailed Norton removal instructions available, and that’s what I’m including here…
- Go to Start –> Control Panel –> Add/Remove Programs.
- Scroll down to your Norton/Symantec program
- Click Change –> Remove All.
Upon completion of the Remove All process, you will be asked to restart your PC. Do so. - Now go to Start –> My Computer –> Program Files. Right click on each Symantec (or Norton) folder and select Delete.
Restart your PC. - Go back in to Program Files. Except now go to the Common Files folder at or near the top of the Program Files window. Delete every Symantec (or Norton) folder there.
Restart your PC. - Go to Start –> Search –> All Files and Folders –> More advanced options. Check each option except for Case sensitive
Now type Norton in the search box.
Delete each Norton folder from the search results (Again, right click, choose Delete)
Restart your PC. - Repeat step 6 except type Symantec in the search box.
- Now let’s go into the Registry. Be Careful here. First thing to do is Back up the Registry. I’ll be saying more about the Registry later, but suffice to say the presence of uninstalled security software in the Registry can conflict with newly installed security software and cause system freezes. For that matter, so can folders of “uninstalled” programs. Once again, go to the Start menu, but this time, you want to click on Run then type in regedit.
- Go to the top of the Regedit window. Click the + next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER to open the section (Hive). Go down the thread until you see Software. Click on Software and scroll down until you see Symantec. Right click on Symantec and choose Delete.
- From there go down to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and repeat step 9.
Restart your PC. - Again, go to Start, click on Run. Type in regedit
Click (+) next to HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
Click (+) next to Software.
Click (+) next to Microsoft.
Click (+) next to Windows.
Click (+) next to CurrentVersion.
Select the Run folder.
Right-click and delete each Symantec and NAV (Norton Antivirus) entry you see (if present).
Go To HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and do the same thing.
Restart your PC.
There is more we could do in the Registry but for now these steps are sufficient.
[Not quite done. David includes the following important update that explains some additional litter that Norton drops into the registry and nees to be deleted –DT]
I was a little hesitant about adding additional steps in the registry when I first put this procedure up on the net. I didn’t want users to spend too much time in the Registry given how dangerous it can be to make even a tiny mistake therein.
Upon further reflection, though, I think adding one more step to this procedure does not really constitute any more of a risk for users than following (carefully!!) the steps I outlined above. The benefit of taking another step to remove Norton from your Registry outweighs any possible risk to your system. It’s critical that you follow my instructions to the letter to avoid risk!
The additional step I want you to take is to go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT is the top section (Hive) of the five sections in the Registry. It’s on top of HKEY_CURRENT_USER which is on top of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Click on the little + to open the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT hive. Scroll way down until you get to the Symantec entries. Now just right click on each Symantec entry and hit Delete (making sure not to delete anything that isn’t explicitly listed as Symantec!!)
Restart your PC.
Last Step: If you don’t already have it on your PC, I encourage you to download a copy of CCleaner. It’s a good disk cleaner that gets rid of leftover program files. Upon completion of installation, open CCleaner and hit the Run Cleaner button in the lower right of the CCLeaner window. After CCleaner has finished, keep CCleaner open and click on the blue square icon on the left panel with the word Issues under it. Hit Scan for Issues. When it’s doneyou should click on Fix Selected Issues in the lower right hand corner of the program window. Follow each prompt, clicking on “yes” for “Do you want to backup changes to the registry?” Then click Save to save the backup to disk, and click on the Fix All Selected Issues button. Click on OK when asked “Are you sure you want to Fix all selected Issues?”. Click Close and…
Restart your PC.
Done.
From everyone who reads this entry, a hearty thanks for your help with this thorny problem, David!!
AD, a great question! I suggest that you check out AVG antivirus. I’ve had good luck with it…
Once Norton is removed, what anti-virus software would you suggest installing?
Thanks.
Just removed Symantec’s Norton Internet Security from our pc, having become weary of it being such a mem-syst-pig.
cd
I too tried to download AVG as I was told it was a good anti-virus program and, my McAfee had an error and went haywire, so,I deleted it. But, the AVG would not install until I removed my Norton. Er, I do not have Norton. I have Windows Defender. Are Windows and Norton together on this (I didn’t think they were)? So, I have no idea what to do. Does Norton go by any other name. I read the other posts, but, I am sort of an idiot wwhen it comes to understanding alot of “technological” jargon. Help!!!!!!!!!! Please 🙂
Dear David,
Thank you so much for the instructions!! After 4-5 hours of removing Norton Internet Security, Norton SystemWorks & LiveUpdate I think I am finally free!! (Your instructions cover all of them right?)
Thank you so very much!! I had started to panic!!
One question though: Is there a difference if you unistall all Norton $ Symantec components manually (following your instructions) with downloading the Norton removal tool from the Symantec website? Is one way better than the other?
Wow! After 3-4 hours of painstakingly trying to uninstall Norton from my son’s new HP laptop without getting the BSOD I found DAVE! Your instructions were spot on. Thank you so much. As a result of this trouble I am now in the process of removing Norton 360 from our primary desk-top and moving to another more friendly Anti-Virus program. Never again will I buy another Symantec product.
Thanks again Dave.
Hey guys, I haven’t read all of the comments, but why not just use the Norton Removal Tool?.. service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039
Hey Dave,
so i started without reading your explanation steps by uninstalling NAV 2010 from Start->all programs->norton. i uninstalled it there. then on step 4 i couldnt find any norton/symatec items in my program files. then on step 6 i couldnt find all those search options bc i have Vista home premium so when i clikc on start i jsut get a normal search at the bottom. the rest went well until the htkey_machine where i couldnt find anything either not even in htkey_root. when i try and instal AVG 9.0 it STILL tells me that it would b recommended to uninstall the following programs and it shows Norton Anti Virus.
please please help me bc the reaosn i want to delete norton and install avg is because i read that i allways had CPU 100 on task manager because of Norton and it was recommended to use AVG. after all my steps i restarted btw. thank you again
Greetings!
Thank you for providing a wonderful service! First, let me state that I’m not very tech-savvy. My question concerns step 6. My “Norton” search rendered 480 results! Some have Norton or Symantec in their titles, but most don’t. There is a whole section highlighted in blue saying “spuninst”, what is that? Your page saved in my favorites came up also. Norton has dragged my PC down to a crawl, so I’d be fine deleting all 480 if that’s what you advise. I just don’t want to delete something, in my ignorance, that I’m not supposed too.
Thank you,
Hi, Dave,
Happy new year! It seems you have been bombarded with questions… Now, I followed all your instructions. I also did a search (Edit > Find…) on Registry Edit for the entire My Computer with keywords Norton and Symantec. I found several hits (related keys) in MUICache (HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1855425724-849780619-593837108-1007\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache) and Installer\Folders (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\Folder) as well as an HP folder (since I have an HP Pavilion computer) called IS (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Hewlett-Packard\cpc\LocalApps\IS). Are they save to delete as well? These are results for Symantec only. There are a few more for Norton as well. Thanks!
Hi Dave,
I bought a laptop and it came with norton antivirus, I followed all your instructions but I’m still having one symptom. Every once in a while I will get a norton pop up asking for permission to allow a program to run which makes me believe norton is still on my laptop. Any ideas?
Dear Dave, you are genius, but probably know this already. I got rid of Norton thanks to your advice. I have another problem every time I try to sear my computer my Internet Explorer shuts down. Can you help me. Tjhanks Walter
A previous employer installed symantec antivirus on my laptop and it won’t allow me to uninstall without a password. Is there anything I can do to get around this? I hate Nortons products they worm their way into everything!
dear dave:
i run linux so i have no need for an anti-virus app. if you use firefox for your browser in conjunction with linux you are practically 99% immune.
thank you, MIKE…
to add on the file i found is
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Symreader.dia
should this one be deleted?
I have followed the steps and have used CC. When I ran the issues, and fix issues. The last message I get is delete registry value. Does this mean, I still have some NIS or NAV file to remove? If so, now what is my next step. I want to install Avast asap since now I am without any antivirus protection. I am also more comfortable with Avast but I have seen post where people have been getting problems with it with Vista Basic, probably complicated with not being able to get rid of the preinstalled Norton AV on the computer. Anyway Help is appreciated. You are the best.
First of all, thank you for the great article. I normally would have just uninstalled this from my control panel and considered it to be completely removed. WOW, what an insight.
I have run into one small problem however. Everything has been remove except for “AluSchedulerSvcRes.loc” I cannot remove this. I keep getting an error message that says, “Cannot delete AluSchedulerSvcRes.loc: Access denied”. Any suggestions?
Kudos for an extraordinarily helpful piece of work.
I’ve done everything, and still seem to have a symptom — I’m hoping you’ll tell me I can ignore it.
I’m running WinXP/professional. When I open the “security center” from the control panel and turn *off* the Windows Firewall, the security center tells me “Norton AntiVirus is currently ON”.
PLEEEEEEZE tell me it’s lying — is there a way to determine whether the security center is reporting that status incorrectly? As far as I can tell, I see no other indications from the system behavior that any Norton firewall is running.
I don’t think I have *any* Norton/Symantec files or registry entries left.
Thank you so much! I found your article incredibly helpful. No more Norton now…
Thank you for your instructions on removing Norton. I forgot to add that I ran the Norton removal tool and then, used you instructions to ferret out the rest.
I also didn’t say that I have a Toshiba laptop. Don’t buy a Toshiba! Their restore media creates more problems than it solves! They are worse than Microsoft. The fix for the disappearing CD/DVD is on their website. The issue was caused by their restore software.
Since I cannot use the ZA security suite which we paid for, I am using Windows firewall with AVG and Spybot.
Maybe my next computer will be a Mac. I’m sick of Microsoft.
I have faithfully followed all of your instructions to remove Norton360 that came on my Vista laptop.
I still cannot install zone alarm (either free or the security suite) and have it work. My laptop came with SP1 on and I added SP2. Perhaps my problem is something other than Norton.
Another website suggested using MSconfig to check on services because he found symantec service running months after he removed Norton!
I check on my firewall at grc.com, using the ShieldsUP! utility.
…and then I had to uninstall the Symantec Live Update as well. Thanks, Dave. The uninstall went smoothly!! And now my CPU isn’t pegged and the computer starts/restarts in SECONDS not many many minutes and… life is good! : )
Just one additional step I had to go through – in the Windows Control Panels was another Symantec control panel for turning on/off live updates. I had to turn off “automatic” updates so that I could uninstall Norton.
i am trying to remove norton antivirus, i only get to the first part. It doesn’t end. what should i do.
very frustrated
i have to say that I generally just use the free AVG Antivirus application and haven’t had any problems with viruses or other malware on my PCs. You can find them at http://free.avg.com/
Hello Dave:
After several hours, with the help of your very clear instructions, I have removed the many tentacled Norton octopus from my computer.
The Symantec removal tools did not even come close to getting it all… It was insane how many Symantec and Norton files (some of them huge) were dumped onto my machine, slowing it down incredibly.
Now that my computer is back to it’s old self, I am wondering what is the best antivirus software to install. Any suggestions?
I’d like to delete nav because after having my laptop for a day, it already has caused problems. Will this page work on Vista as well? Thought I’d ask before I caused any problems. And thanks for all your answers. You are awesome!
I have a question about Norton Anti-Virus.
I have a program that I used when I was at work. Yesterday I did some damage to the PC. I was able to get everything up and its good, except Norton! I have the original cd. When I insert it it does not run. On the pc I went into control panel and thought I was able to do it. Nothing… I am frustrated and went on the internet thinking that Norton would have a tool. They have tools 2003 and up. Mine I think is 2001. They don’t say.
What do I do?
Thanks
Hi Dave, i am trying to remove Norton, when i am on step 4, there is a Symantec Shared folder, that i cannot delete, it come up with ” cannot delete ccEvtMgr.exe: Access is denied. Make sure the disk is not full or write protected and the file is not currently in use” i cannot delete this folder,what should i do? Thanks a lot!
Hey Dave, everytime I try an delete Norton from the add/remove programs, a box pops up and says that it is gathering error information. Halfway through it exits out and Norton is still there, any ideas?
hey dave… ive tried to use the add and remove program to get rid of my norton and does not work,. plz HELP!!!
dude your a genious im a sandman i followed all the steps you said and i was able to delete everything just like you said. took me like 4 or 5 hours but i got it done and it works. thank you very much.
I have found that if you call 1 866 200 0892 You will contact norton and they will remove all programs in your computer within minutes. With out a lot of hassle and very little work. Thank You. Sherry
Hi Dave.
I have been trying to install McAfee 2009 but I kepp getting an error window saying I need to “remove norton rescue disk”.
I have followed all your steps in this thread, but I cannot find/delete this issue. Do you know how i can search and destroy?
Thanks a lot Dave. When I did a thorough search it found the Norton and Symantec folders. I never thought that they would be hiding somewhere as I manually deleted the ones i saw. But the nasty buggers were hiding! I couldn’t find any entry in my registry maybe because I used CCleaner a while ago. Thanks a lot again. Norton’s “00000082 folder” was coming up in my C:\ everytime I started my laptop and I was quite annoying coz I had to delete it everytime.
hey hi there! i need you to know that i can’t run any software installation on my hp dv6000 laptop with windows vista on it because i have installed NIS 2008 and now it won’t uninstall by any of the methods you have mentioned. i have been having problems on my pc since i installed it. any of the processes involving administrative consent is denied by norton and i mean any process like gor e.g. turn on password protection,turn on media sharing,etc. it just displays “the service cannot be started, either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled divices associated with it.” and creat association also doesn’t work. i want to know how i can get rid of it without formating my laptop and if thers no way out then tell me how i should format my laptop [steps]. also i don’t have a vista home basic dvd or cd but an activation number on the bottom sticker [legal]. which drivers will i be needing in case of a format. also tell me how do i get a setup app. of vista on the dvd in case of format or i will have to download it.
Hey Dave,
I’ve tried everything to uninstall Norton and his stupid Symantic side kicks…you have helped me tremendously.I’ve managed with your help to remove soooo many Norton and related files but there’s a few that will not let me delete.I’ll keep trying.
Thank you for your expertise,
Shirley
Hi dave, I am a window vista home premium user and I’ve followed your instructions to fully remove norton anti virus from my computer. But I still cannot connect to the internet.
I remove norton anti virus to install Kaspersky Internet Security 2009.
thanks!
One thing I noticed is that when you use windows uninstaller to uninstall Norton, it appears to be hosed up at several points. Don’t close it out. It is working on it. Go make a pot of coffee, jiggle your mouse to stop the screensaver, whatever, but I am guessing people who end up with a lot of the ‘leftovers’ are ones who closed the uninstall thinking it was hosed up. Which, it really looks like it is, and it took 2 hours to work its’ way through it for me.
Just what it looks like to me.
Patience is a virtue.
A word to the wise is sufficient.
Hey Dave, 🙂
Well, I am trying to install Kaspersky Internet Security, because it is the only free trial I ever used that removes the trojans and others for free without upgrading.. but it said I have Norton Internet Security 8 and must uninstall. Of course I did every step on your thread about removing NAV from the reg etc, and I also used ccleaner, and deleted the additional symantec and nav files using regedit. I used the Search tool and deleted any files that showed up even hidden, and Even went into my computer and program files and deleted everything in there. I restarted as directed, and anytime I made a change.
I then tried to install, and still am getting the message that Norton Internet Security 8 is present and must be removed, and I don’t know what else I can do.
This looks great to unistall 360 but do I have to be worried about also uninstalling Win Fax or crashing that program which I would like to keep in tact?
Hello to anyone who can help me on this matter. I need the product key code for the norton’s symantec system. The one that I had was only a trial, and now it’s expired. So if anyone out there can give me some insights on what to do in order to keep the anti-virus on my PC, please respond to me in the e-mail above. Thanks.-
thanks for your insight. i’m trying to delete this dammn thing, un-inst is being running for 3.5 hrs, not done yet. any hints.
thanks.
I followed your instruction on the norton/symantec
removal and when I got to “restart your pc” I did that and it didnt restart….it just went to “windows error recovery”…so I choose “Launch startup repair” and the screen just blinks and goes back to “Windows error recovery”..I dont understand what happened…I followed your instructions correctly..to the letter..
well I have a Dell Inspiron 1520 using Windows Vista Home Premium(32-bit).I have Drive c: Drive d : Drive e: ….I know Drive d: cannot help me because I deleted it by accident..and now I realize it was my recovery …what do I need to do to fix all this and get my windows running again.
Hi Dave thanks for the info worked a treat.
You the man
Gary in Australia
What I did was went to the Norton Website and downloaded the Norton System Removal Tool. Restarted PC. It pretty much puts you all the way at Step 8 on Dave’s Guide. Once there, I was done his whole guide within 5 minutes. Its very easy and his Guide worked like a charm! ACES!!!
some dude installed symantec end point protection version 11 on my system and ive been trying to uninstall it.ive tried doing that from the add/remove programs in the control panel but i dont even see symantec as part of the programs installed on my system.i cant install newer versions of norton because i have to manually unistall the symantec antivirus 11 and i dont know how to do that.i really want to get rid of it cuz it is not useful and is really pissing me off.any advice??
I used your method for some other peskt software I could not get deleted and it worked like a charm.Thanks for the helpt
I am tring to speed friends computer, I have followed the instructions but cannot delete the files, it keeps coming up Destination Folder Access Denied. Can you help?
Well, I’ve spent weeks trying to remove an old Norton Live Update from my p.c. Following Symantec’s detailed instructions and also the ones above (time and time again!) and it was still there sitting in my program list.
Eventually, I got some wonderful help on a forum and was able to install it EASILY by downloading REVO UNINSTALLER from the CNet download site. It took seconds and it’s now gone!
I’d recommend anyone have problems removing this (or anything else for that matter) to do it this way. I really don’t see the point of going through all the instructions above when it can be this easy.