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!!
I always read your maximum article. And in this article, you will step by step discuss with us. Thanks for the post.
Just want to thank you for finally removing norton 10 update pop up. The tool removal never worked. After countless attempts to remove the annoying pop up that had taking over my PC slowing the speed and repeating the pop up every few minutes. I come to despise Norton coming to terms that it itself was a virus. On the verge of putting my fist through the screen and beat the hell out of it, just like the xerox jumping in Office Space, I came upon this site last night. I printed off the steps and then walked away. I went through the steps word for word and im so glad i walked away the night before. So far Norton is gone and Mcafee which stays out the way sucures my pc.
Thank You for saving the destruction of my pc
What’s all the fuss about?
Just use Norton’s own removal tool:
https://support.norton.com/sp/en/uk/home/current/solutions/kb20080710133834EN_EndUserProfile_en_us
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe
I would be inclined to follow this route for a COMPLETE un-install………
I would use Revo Uninstaller (free) to uninstall the product, because at it’s most intensive setting, it should rather quickly find all the left over folders and registry keys which would cut down on your time regarding manually searching. Then to put the hatchet into any possible remains, use the Norton Removal Tool as was also mentioned above.
In case anyone’s having trouble removing the trialware of NIS from an HP machine, and can’t kill the service or delete the Norton Internet Security from the machine even in selective startup mode, try running gmer (gmer.exe) and go to the startup tab. Look for any Norton or NIS entries in the far right column. Delete those entries from the registry entry in the left column. Then restart. Then you can delete the Norton folder in program files (x86).
Thanks a lot!!!
Thanks, your article should also tell about SymSilent.exe which is left after removing the Norton Antivirus.
Why is this garbage is preinstalled on computers?!! Even if it would save me $5 I would like to opt-out!
90% of users only need clean OS without this spam (but maybe with some codecs preinstalled 🙂 )
I’m amazed that people put up with this shit – what an amazingly frustrating and time-consuming set of instructions! The Symantec folks who make Norton are sadly just getting people used to the abusive way that malware and spam and the like works. It’s all about making money….
The safe, easy way to both avoid both malware and these kinds of messages is simply to use an operating system that doesn’t do that to you, one that is designed by users for users, rather than being controlled by marketing folks.
Thankfully, the Linux operating system is just that. And it has already beat out Microsoft and Apple for the hearts and minds of most people, since there are far more Linux devices in people’s hands than any of the alternatives in the form of Android phones, and there are far more Linux servers running the infrastructure of the web than any other operating system. And malware is far far less of a problem on Linux.
For laptops and desktops, try Ubuntu Linux. It includes driver support for more hardware out-of-the-box than any Windows system, it integrates updates to all software in one highly secure update system, and it doesn’t pester you with abusive shit like Norton. And it integrates over 30,000 different free software packages to do everything most anyone needs, for one-touch installation.
I’m running the Ubuntu “Trusty” release, and was just hoping that for the rare occasion when I want to boot Windows and see how it works on my new laptop, I could avoid Norton. But it’s just not worth it, so I’ll just stay away from Windows.
HI Dave Taylor
I am sooooo very very grateful for your information on website, I remove the this monstrous Norton scan battling me the whole day, a lot of other sites tells me to download Norton removal tools, it never worked, just make me go in circles, download em and it was never removed. Ever since that monster Norton scan was installed to my pc without my consent, it was a nightmare, for days on end my pc was frozen, pop ups ads all over, I was so exhausted, until I found your site. Some step by step instruction to open files and rid em one by one, like disgusting pest, I am sooo happy now, seem my pc is function fast and normal like before.
gratefully,
Flora
10x!!
I recommend never to use norton again, ever!!
it slowed my computer, and when I removed it, I had a super computer again, I’m talking about *10 faster.
again – thank you.
My first time was today on your site and Dave….YOU’RE A ROCK STAR!!! And I just became your groupie!!!! ha Seriously, I just had one of those sessions with my PC and you guys….you know, when it feels like a brainfeast and your body’s doing that happy dance inside?, I couldn’t (didn’t want ) to stop reading…people asking “my” questions and then you with your answers … like “holy crap! This guy really wants us to solve our issues. HOW COOL IS THAT?!”…just so much good stuff to learn..I’m excited! So thank you Dave…I haven’t really explored your website yet but you’re a blessing–like one of those supernova, can’t -be- topped gifts from God Himself! ha (I’m really on a Dave-high now, right?) But reading the replies to you last night, I see I’m not the only one doing a happy dance.
Way to go, rock star.
I have a MSI Home Premium A500/ Windows 7 / Internet Exp 10. In 2010 Norton antivirus came with the package…free 30 days..then i did McAfee ,Avast, AVG and settled with Iola System Mechanic… just uninstalled them all with Control panel, uninstall program. Took my laptop back to factory settings recently.because of freezes and just it was acting all confused and slow.. then I installed AVG 2013 I’m concerned thats what is happpening with my pc it has too much stuff like “UNinstalled” programs still there. Shouldn’t returning it to factory wipe all that out? My laptop is acting worse than ever…like its all clogged.. I keep the fans clean.
Iola came back as a reallly light icon in my program files but not in control panel
AVG 2013 is in both places . i tried to uninstall it after the trial period was over…it won’t go but it won’t turn on either. i deleted a couple avg folders from c drive/ progr. files.
should i be taking avg and iolas things off my registry also? or one thing at a time? In fact avg won’t uninstall like the others. you were saying something last night about i might have to reinstall it again to get it uninstalled? Does this have to be done before I kick Norton out? —or can i go ahead– i backed up registry already and I had a peek in registry…there is alot of norton Help! Am i making sense?
Sorry for such a long letter
Step 4 and 5 My program files only lists folder name, date modified and size of the folder. Will it say something like sym or nav or do i open up each folder also?
Step 6 I have no case sensitive option.. Also have been trying to get my search folders to work…i just upgraded to explorer 10
Next time i’ll be shorter and sweeter….kay? Thanks Dave
I would like to say thank you for your information on removing the Norton 360 off of my sons computer. It was very informative to get into the details of this program off of the computer. Excellent Work. There was one thing you left out. The Norton 360 back-up files. It was very easy to delete though. I just went into My Computer, then to Local Disc, then to Norton 360 Backup folder, then I DELETED the Norton Backup folder. Not going to need that anymore. And in the process I got back over 22 gigabites back on my hard drive. Thank You.
Thank you. My son installed by accident because it popped up on his game. I have spent ages trying to delete until I did a search on google and found your article. So easy to follow for a noncomputer savvy person like myself. I think I have done it – here’s hoping!! Thank you. There should be more people like you in the world. THANK YOU!!
Hey Dave. When i purchased my Vista computer a couple of years ago it already had Norton on it. I uninstalled it and put Kaspersky software on it. It was time to renew a couple of days ago so when I did it told me that it could not continue due to being incompatible with Symantec LiveUpdate. I went to uninstall it but there is nothing to uninstall. It is just a file sitting in my Control Panel folder. I cant even simply delete it. I have tried everything explained in ALL of the messages above and nothing seems to be working. How in the world can I get this off of my computer so i can download the new Kaspersky software? So frustrating! Thanks!
Thanks Dave. I followed all your directions as per the first description…and it worked…thanks a lot
Hi Justin: I had the System Restore Issue also.
Check out the Post by DavidCG and then my post( JayD_2011) at
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/84122-45-restoration-incomplete-computer-restored#t881337
I followed Dave Taylor’s steps (Thanks Dave!!!) from this article but had none of the Reg Keys he mentioned , only a different Key – which I deleted – and this allowed System Restore to work properly. However,
the system restore thing is also a bit of a “Catch 22” as I highlighted in my post!!
Hope it helps!
JayD
sorry i neglected to mention i have tried to delete the symantec and it keeps giving me the error directory not empty $¿¡+. thank you.
I have some what of a unique problem, i need norton gone so that i can system restore to a date before my internet options where hijacked by a trojan virus. so with that said does anyone know how to remove it without the use of the internet. thanks for the page its very usefull.
hey dave,
thank you for your help, but in my case it’s very complicated! indeed my neighbour’s laptop is very messed up, her only browser “internet explorer” is broken because of norton is broken, and i couldn’t remove/delete it using the contorl panal and add/remove programs. so what can i do? i can’t even download norton removal tools “since internet explorer is broken” and i can’t go to account on norton’s menu, it’s also broken, any help please? thank you.
In win 7 64bit, home premium:
I cannot delete 3 or 4 entries in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\Root\LEGACY_SYMDS\0000
any ideas why?
Had a problem deleting files & found 2 were part of some Toshiba application setup thing and uninstalled it and got rid of them.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS. NEED SOME JACK DANIELS!
Norton has made it so my Sunbelt Vipre does not work correctly. AArrgh.
Thanks again Dave,
Sue
Hi Dave, we spent 8!! hours last nite, running Microsoft Security Essentials..3,647,000 items were scanned and after 8 hours it said NOTHING DETECTED..we watched the computer screen for a long time and saw errors in script!! in tiny blue square. This all came about because we are trying to remove pre-installed Norton from our new computer! HP Pavilion DV 74270us Entertainment. Dave, we have tried everything!! All your suggestions.. to eliminate Norton, short of using the f10 or f11 key!!! We are at our wit’s end..Any suggestions..Thank you, Wil
Today (12/18/2010), I am considering purchasing a new laptop computer that comes with a 30-day free trial of Norton Internet Security (NIS) installed. In the past, the only way I’ve ever been able to entirely rid my PC of Symantec/Norton products was to reformat my hard drive and do a clean reinstall (because even the “complete uninstall” procedure on their web site left things not only still installed but still running). Unfortunately, the laptop PC I’m considering purchasing doesn’t come with the OS install disks, it just has a recovery disk that restores the computer to factory defaults (including re-installation of NIS). The laptop sales person I chatted with says that the latest version of Norton products fixes the uninstall problem (that NIS will uninstall cleanly) but, having spent hours of my life on the phone with Norton/Symantec support people (who seemed to have a “Why would you ever want to uninstall our wonderful software?” attitude), I’m not willing to believe that without confirmation by someone other than Symantec. Does the latest version of Norton Internet Security really do a complete and clean uninstall? Until I can confirm that, I don’t plan to purchase this new laptop.
I’m trying to install a new version of Norton 360 on my PC with a new product key. I can enter the new product key in, but Norton keeps referring to the old product key. I searched for the old product key in the registry and deleted it. But for some reason keeps telling me that my subscription has expired and refers to the old product key.
Hello,
Thanks for the help sofar, but I’m not able to remove de LiveUpdate files (in step 2). I’ve tried all sollutions mentioned above, but nothing seems to help.
Please help. Thanks
Hi Dave, Thanks for your informative article. Unfortunately, it hasn’t completely worked for me, as I’m unable to delete a number of Symantec files on my PC – specifically, 2010-05-06_Log.ALUSchedulerSvc, AluSchedulerSvc, AluSchedulerSvcRes.dll, MSVCP71.DLL, MSVCR71.DLL, AlertEng.dll, PifEng.dll, and PIFSvc. I keep getting the error message: “Cannot delete (file name): Access is denied. Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.” Any suggestions? FYI, I haven’t installed any other AV software yet because I wanted to completely remove this one first.
Hi Dave,
I have Vista and after Norton running out, i haveuninstalled it,however when trying to connect to the net (cable frombroadband) it comes as a message :
“Could not bound to localhost.plesae check you firewall setting”
any advice pls?????
Well, I tried installing 2010 nortonAV and then uninstalling again. after following these steps again and deleting everything else i could find, still alot left behind in program files and registry.
so i just installed ESET NOD32 with the reported conflict , and lo! it turns out the computer runs fine despite this conflict, and ESET seems to be powerful and light as reported. :),
i’d still like to know how to kill norton once and for all though
Hi Dave & Crew
Please forgive the addition to this tremendous thread! But i’m working as a favour on my friends XP french edition, which has turned into huge headache.
(norton came with computer 2006, had already for a long time been partially uninstalled)
After following all your steps to the letters, I have been able to install AVG, and also Kaversky. However they have both ground the computer to a near halt. I had thought it was because they both (eventually) quarantined trojan svchost, temp1/2.exe, copy.exe files.
However restoring the files had not helped…
So trying install ESET NOD32 and it has detected Symantec is still inside the system (where the other programs didn’t detect this).
So i’ve gone back to the registry and destroyed symbinder in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. Using RegCleaner also to search the registry and Explorer Search Tool I have exhausted my ability to discovery the symantec bug.
(using MBantiMalware i’ve been able to quarantine the trojans without any issue, and CCleaner and TuneUp utilities has cleaned up all the mess left behind)
I’m one step away from formatting the disk (not with a baseball bat) but before i spend a whole week with a trickling internet cafe connection in remote Indonesia infecting all of every removable device, would you have any other ideas please?
I have successfully unistalled norton but after i restarted my computer i am unable to connect to internet explorer. I am successfully connected to my wireless connection. Even when i click diagnose connection problems it says windows did not find any problems with this computer’s network. I am able to connect to this wireless network via my laptop. Yet, when i open internet explorer or mozilla, it says internet explorer cannot display the webpage. It wont even connect to a feed. I did not change anything else on my computer or internet. After i restarted it, I had this problem immediately. help????
i have done all u have said.. still , while installing kaspersky 2010 , it says first remove norton/symantec from the system… i have also used the Norton removal tool.. Pls help.. what next to do?
PC1Stop is down but you can find this remove Norton page here:
http://removenorton.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-dont-mean-to-knock-symantec-here-but.html
THANK YOU BROTHER!!!! Went through process step by step had some patience and it paid off. I would not recommend this process for the anyone who is a beginner with xp etc. CLICK CAREFULLY IN THE REGISTRY FOLKS. Thanks again for the update, I found an extra 12-13 files still remaining heh go figure, Norton is complete crap!