How to fully remove Norton Anti-virus?

[p12]

I recently purchased a new PC. An Acer model. It came with Windows XP Media Center. Also came with Norton AV.

I activated Norton and began to notice it was doing a Live update even though this function was turned off. The live update would download from 1M to 2.5M every time I log in. With me being on dialup this REAAAALLLLY slows me down.

So I went into Norton and turned off all functions. It still did it.
I uninstalled Norton. It still did it.
I downloaded the program to uninstall and ran it. It still did it.
I Googled for how to remove all files. Followed some instructions I found which including changing the registry. It still did it.
I found that the included IE browser had a Yahoo toolbar which included a pop-up blocker that had the little shield on the button which matched the little shield that would come up in the active tray during the down load. So I uninstalled the toolbar. It still does it.

Can some one PLEASE tell me how to get this function to shut down.

It is driving me crazy. Tonight it downloaded over 4M of something.

[280plus]

Burn your computer? 

No, J/K, I'm no expert but a wipe and reload might work.

[Firethorn]

Examine your startup functions, make sure that it's not in the startup folder of the start menu.

In the registry check Software\Microsoft\Currentversion\Run, RunOnce, etc...  For both user and Local Machine.  Don't start IE, but connect.  See if it trys downloading after that.

It may not be symantec at this point, but a different piece of software.

[280plus]

I'll tell you, that's what I hated about Norton, it was always doing stuff and always at the worst possible moment. 

[Sindawe]

At one point in time it was possible to get rid of Norton, I did it on my current primary machine.  But I have no recollection of how I did it.

Best advice at this point is take a look at the running processes on the box and see if you can spot the Norton dog-end to kill and remove.

[Loucks]

There are more drastic solutions available..

[client32]

Do a google search for rmcompt.exe

It is from one of their competitors, and it has worked for me.


This post is distributed with no warranty or guarantee of any kind.  In other word try at your own risk 

[StopTheGrays]

Remove Live Update from the add/remove programs?
Disable it or any Symantec sevices found in the Services folder?

[roo_ster]

Gather your OS CDs, application CDs, and all your device drivers (burnt on to a CD).

Also, write down all your network connection data and save off any data you want to keep.

Then, wipe the drive and re-install everything you actually want on the box.

You'll likely save time versus hunting down every last trial and crap-ware loaded on your machine from the manufacturer.

[MN_Strelok]

Check out this page: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

Skip step three.

The recommendation to nuke it from orbit and start over again is good, if you know what you're doing. The performance difference is usually night and day.

[p12]

Thanks for the replys thus far.

I did remove the live update program. Doing a wipe and start over really will not work because the install disc was made from the pc. It will just re-install Norton again. Therefore making no progress.

When I get home I'll try what client32 said.

MN_Strelok, did it. That was the page I found when I googled for instructions.

Loucks, that site is blocked at work. What is the page talking about?

[auschip]

I have an online support chat whth Symantec that I saved, where they had me run this utility, then boot into safemode with networking, and search for anything with Symantec or Norton (making sure to show all hidden files).  Then delete those plus the %temp% files. 

www.symantec.com/nrt

If that doesn't make sense, I can send the directions to you.

[roo_ster]

I did remove the live update program. Doing a wipe and start over really will not work because the install disc was made from the pc. It will just re-install Norton again. Therefore making no progress.

You've got to be sh!tting me.

You are paying for their machine and paying for software licenses...but they won't give you proper OS & application install media?

Acer's demise can not come soon enough.

[Iain]

Loucks, that site is blocked at work. What is the page talking about?

It's a linux operating system (that I use sometimes). A little drastic perhaps. Zealous blocking at work?

[brimic]

Good luck, you'll need it. I had Nortot on my computer once, and it will be the last time, ever. McAfee is just as bad. They are as bad or worse than some of the viruses they protect against.

[InfidelSerf]

Get yourself a bootleg copy of XP Home *edit-oops meant media center*(look on torrent sites for one called " XP-stripped to the bone version")
Back up any data and information you need and then wipe the HDD and install from the downloaded copy.
Use your key that you legitimately own.

You will now have a version of XP that is worthy of actually being called an operating system.

You will also be operating a completely legal copy of XP.
Since you do not pay for the OS you pay for the key. period.

Good luck and then go get grissoft's AVG free version antivirus.

[lee n. field]

Go to Symantec's web site and search for "Norton Removal Tool".  It may or may not work.  Usually does.  If it does not, you're looking at deleteing files and manually scouring the registry.

There are more drastic solutions available..

Yup.  For a real solution.

[p12]

Thanks everyone for the help.

It was the damn windows automatic update.

Went through all of this when all that was needed was to flip a damn switch.

 

[Thor]

I had Norton a long while ago. In order to remove it from my system, I did the typical uninstall and then went into regedit and searched for "Norton" and deleted any keys referring to Norton. (Norton AV was all I had ever installed). I then, went back through regedit and searched for "Symantec" and deleted those keys. Rebooted and everything was fine. I run AVG Free and Avast! simultaneously. So far, no problems for a couple of years. 

[Firethorn]

Thanks everyone for the help.

It was the damn windows automatic update.

Had the thought it wasn't symantec/norton at this point.

Of course, it's turned off automatically at work, and I turn it off at home as well...

[lee n. field]

You are paying for their machine and paying for software licenses...but they won't give you proper OS & application install media?

Par for the course, has been for a long time, for many vendors.  You'll get a "restore disk", or worse, a "restore partition" (and what if your hard drive dies?). 

(Dell (for one) does not do this -- part of their bundle is a proper OS install disk.  HP and IBM do.)