How can I fully uninstall Norton Internet Security 2006?

Question

Our subscription for NIS 2006 has run out and we have decided to go for AVG this year instead. I need to be able to completely erradicate NIS before installing AVG. Is there a way to do this, I've heard it's very tricky to completely uninstall? Also, we have a Dell and the program was pre-installed before we received it, and this will make it harder to uninstall I think. AND...I can't find the software disc for NIS 2006!! Do I need it?

Answer 1

You shouldn't need the software disc... Uninstalling a program can simply be done through clicking Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.

However, that's not the whole story... knowing Norton, certain things will "hang around" after the uninstall. First, the Norton folder in your Program Files directory will probably still be there. Click My Computer, C: (if that's the drive that Windows is installed on), Program Files, and look for Norton. If you don't have any other Norton products that you use, then just delete the whole folder if it's there. Remember, uninstall first and then delete the folder if its there... if you delete the folder first, it won't let you uninstall it because the uninstall program will be gone from the Norton directory.

That would be sufficient for most people... however, if you're looking to eradicate all traces of Norton, you'd have to eliminate its registry entries as well. For the goal you have in mind (just installing a different AV program), what was mentioned above will be sufficient. Definitely don't dive into the registry and start removing things in you're not very computer savvy.

Oh, and as a final note... make sure your startup entries for Norton are gone after the install by clicking Start, Run, type "msconfig" and Press Enter. Click the Startup tab and look for anything listed that was in the Norton folder in Program files. If there are any Norton entries, just uncheck the box.

That should do it... not really difficult, just not single-click action. :-)

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You can use Norton uninstaller - but this will not remove the program completly. Best to use a removal program like "Your Uninstaller" which removes everything. If you are going to reload Norton then the Norton Uninstaller should be fine. :)

Answer 4

Go to Norton site click on support look for and download "NORTON REMOVAL TOOL" That is the easy way. The other way is go to RUN type in MSCONFIG click on start-up, go down the list and uncheck anything that resembles Norton or semantic. Then reboot your computer a window will come up check the box to not show again. Now go to add/remove programs and unistall all the norton and semantic programs.

Answer 5

Try going to Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel and see if it's there. If it is, then remove/uninstall it. If it's not, go to Start...Programs...and look for Norton there. There might be an uninstall option there. I think these are the best ways because if you just try and delete it, it will leave lots of things in your registry etc

Answer 6

I uninstalled Norton using add and remove programs and installed another virus program with no problems.It was an earlier version of Norton though

Answer 7

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:

1. Go to Start --> Control Panel --> Add/Remove Programs.

2. Scroll down to your Norton program

3. Click Change --> Remove All.
You will be asked to restart your PC. Do so.

4. Now go to Start --> My Computer --> Program Files. Right click on each Symantec folder and select Delete.

5. 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.

6. 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.

1. 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.

2. Once again, go to Start, then click on "Run". Type in "regedit"

3. 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".

4. From there go down to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and repeat step 3. Restart your PC.

5. Click (+) next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, now: Click (+) next to Software, Click (+) next to Microsoft, Click (+) next to Windows and Click (+) next to CurrentVersion.

6. Select the Run folder. Right-click and delete each Symantec entry you see (if present). Restart your PC.

or you can download the norton removal tool:

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

Answer 8

Norton's unstall programme does not uninstall all of the software it leaves files behind.download ccleaner at cnet.com,great free litle reg cleaner,as,its own unistall page clears all old registry's left by other soft ware try its free

Answer 9

Norton makes a removal tool called RNIS or RNAV. You can download it from their website. What it does is it completely removes the files on the computer plus the registry entries. Search symantic's website for RNAV or RNIS.

Answer 10

Go to the symantec website and download the program to uninstall norton.
I managed it so i could install McAfee