A More "Proper" & "Thorough" Removal of AV Program?

Yet another in the long line of wacky questions from OL' grc123:

"If" one were to have allegedly "removed" a Symantec/Norton Trialware Anti-virus program from a Laptop (a Laptop which is not yet 18 HOURS-old, by-the-way), however, only after-the-fact realized, that there are actual "Removal TOOLS" for this very purpose, might one be well-advised (?) to perhaps run a System Restore to the point just prior to the initial attempt at removal, and more properly (and more thoroughly) remove it with THIS --->

https://support.norton.com/sp/en/us...ect_pubweb&product=home&pvid=f-home&version=1

 

1st if this is a new Laptop the Norton program would have a free trial offer, why not just use it till your trial expires. At that point you can remove it by using add /remove programs and running the correct Norton removal tool for your product. then you may install whatever AV program that floats your boat.

 

Thanks for the reply, but the Symantec-Norton program is/was a "Suite", and these Suites are notorious for being bloated (& causing s-l-o-w-downs).

 

Hey again grc123, try this, it's a trial version of Revo Pro, the free version does not have forced uninstall. Use the forced uninstall phase and type in the name of what you're trying to remove.

http://www.revouninstaller.com/

 

Actually the Norton/Symantec program does not remove all traces, so this is where the utility that Symantec has created, to remove all registry entries from the system.

 

AppRemover might be helpful, but try Revo first, as Nick T suggested.

 

Hi my friend , you can try this

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Norton_Removal_Tool_d4749.html

even you can go to

C:\Program Files\ Symantec ( eset )

removing all files , in case you have a problem to remove the files you have to use this tool

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Unlocker_d4660.html :wave

 

There is an excellent free application called "everything"

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Everything_d7787.html

If you type "Symantech" in the search bar it will find ALL files with "symantech" in the name and allow you to delete them but unfortunately it will not find registry items, you will have to search for those individually.

 

Thank you all so very much - I'm a bit overwhelmed by your collective response!

It appears the "Everything" program has found what Revo did not (these were the only two I have tried on this issue, in no scientific order), so now I must ask (in order to not screw-up again by my own crude understanding) :

Am I to simply go down this list one by one, and just "delete" these entries? Something tells me that won't totally suffice removal (I think there would still be remnants in the registry, yes?) . . . .

PS - UH-OH! I just ran "Everything" again, using the word "Norton", and it found more!?!

 

Agree, "Everything" is great for this kind of work. I would note that you might try adding "Norton" to your searches as well. I don't what version you have installed, but earlier versions had files such as NPROTECT.EXE, NPFMntor.exe, sdntc.exe...

...which is why the removal tool is the best option here, a manual clean may leave things you don't even know to look for...

 

When using Revo only delete the registry leftovers that are in bold lettering. In Everything you can delete the Symantec and Norton files.

 

Yes, Nick thanks, I have used the "basic", free version of Revo (more times than I'd want to admit I'm sure!), and am well-versed in ONLY removing the emboldened items, but as I already ran the version you pointed me to, I'm not sure how I would find any bold items to remove...? Maybe by typing them in manually somehow?

Cipher I appreciate your reply here, and I was actually doing just as you said (adding "Norton" to the the search inside of Everything - please see my edit/ #2 screenshot addition, below) as you were typing your message to me (I stepped on your toes - sorry!).

I did try the three examples you mentioned (NPROTECT.EXE, NPFMntor.exe, sdntc.exe), and the result was nil (nothing)...so I "think I may be "safe" with that, perhaps because I never used (never ran) the Free Trial/Adware program..?

 

grc, have you ever tried, Run, Regedit to manually delete registry keys ?? Also I would run Ccleaner too.

 

Nonsense, no toes stepped on... Just a variation of the Newton/Liebnitz Effect at work! (I flatter us both :cool)

They were just an example from an older version. There is no telling what is in there, which is why I would rely on a removal tool. And unless the registry remnants were in Run or Run Once, I might ignore them until they became problematic for me...

 

cipher buddy, that's why I asked if it was ever done before, because if it wasn't or he is unsure, "Leave It Alone".

 

As is per seemingly the usual with me and new computers, a rather morbid depression is settling over me now, not 36 hours into owning this brand new machine.

It seems now, even after having run the Norton removal tool (my latest "attempt" at dealing with this), not only are the references to "Symantec", and "Norton", etc. not removed, but thanks to me having associated them with this "Everything" ... "Tool" (and the Symantec/Norton "Removal Tool") I now have even more references to Norton, and Symantec, on my brand new machine.

I really don't know what to do next. I'm already struggling painfully in "attempts" to get "happy" with Windows 8.

I have successfully used Revo before (removing only the bold items), and I have gone into the registry (on more than a couple of occasions) - both with online help and on my own - to VERY carefully delete/remove items that I KNEW were not supposed to (or didn't need to) be there.

 

...PS - whenever I "find" ccleaner (which I have downloaded) on this new machine, in this GOOFY Windows 8 (nightmarish) OS, I will run it.

"ETF" (Estimated Time to "Find") ANYTHING (program or app such as ccleaner) : 10-15 minutes . . . . .

 

Hey buddy, after you run Ccleaner check Everything again and let us know what's left.

 

Thanks Nick T. (screenshot below..and yes, there was also [is still?] a program named Norton "Studio" included with the purchase of this machine, which I suppose is some sort of "Cloud-based" Storage program sales-pitch)....

 

The only thing goofy about 8, is the metro interface at the beginning of using the Operating system.

 

I think I misunderstood you on this earlier...these screenshots are after running ccleaner, file and registry cleaner both.

 

grc123, do you have any Symantec software still installed ?? Maybe you can try this for help.

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Belarc_Advisor_d1385.html

 

Thanks Nick T., and please forgive my delay here. . .

I have utilized Belarc Advisor for a good number of years..in XP, Vista, and 7...however, I apparently breathed too hard on this "8" screen, and the file association has been set to something other than what Belarc needs to display...therefore, I am now approximately 10-15 minutes in to ATTEMPTING to change the file association, so that I "may" be able to once again utilize this fine, Belarc Advisor program.

Perhaps this DAMNED "8" OS will assist with that today...or maybe tomorrow, or next week......maybe it will be next month, or perhaps, it will just, simply, never be . . . . . . . . ?????!!!!!!!!!!?????

Thanks to Microsoft for selling this cartoon-like JOKE, which was CLEARLY designed for 4 year-olds, who won't need to UN-learn any previous MS platforms.

 

I thank you, Sir cipher Newton! (though flattering me with either of THOSE names is perhaps the overstatement of the MILLENNIA!!! hah)

It appears at this point, that this is my only option (?). I am simply not wanting to go down the same old "path" that I've always seemed to go down...clogging-up a perfectly good new machine with absolute useless garbage (which really is exactly what anything, that "exists" on a machine, for no reason, is). I don't want to have to "wade-through" references to Symantec/Norton (or any non-installed program) two, three, and five YEARS from now, when attempting to "find" other, actually useful pieces of data.

"Less is more", is rapidly becoming my philosophy /mantra!

 

My point in asking if Symantec software was still installed was because I once used corporate version of Symantec antivirus and when I removed it I still had leftover files, that were totally useless which made them safe to delete, them I went into regedit and under Current User and Local Machine, I went to Software and found the Symantec key and deleted it. All traces seemed to be gone and never ever gave me a problem.

 

Gotcha..and thanks again Nick T. . . . I hope I didn't come-across as angry at you (?), I certainly do apologize if I did...it's surely not you (not anyone)...it's SIMPLY "the tech"...I get SOOOOO upset (incensed and irate!!!) with the technology not "doing" what "I WANT it to do"!!! hah...I used to point out to folks here that my username was NO mistake...my 3 initials followed by the first 3 numbers that rhymed - AKA: "simple" ! hahahaaa

Thanks again...the setting-up and ongoing maintenance of my new computer will necessarily be something I will have to approach (and reproach and re-approach!) again and again...s-l-o-w-l-y, over time . . . . :zzz :confused :cry :major

 

No offense taken in any way buddy, I just get alittle irked too when it seems like I can't find that "quick fix" for you. Good luck, and remember,,, we're here when you need us.