Cannot Uninstall (Or Do Anything Else)

dmbaer · ‎08-30-2008

My installation of Int. Sec. 2008 got most of the way through, then hung. I tried to uninstall with Start/Programs/Norton.../Uninstall, and that hangs. I downloaded the Norton Removal Tool and that hangs. Attempts to do anything else, like live update, hangs. The product did seem to work for a while, although I had the Norton virus protection turned off.

I am running Macafee virus protection. I had hoped to do a custom install and just use the firewall and spyware protection in Norton, but there was no such option and a full install was what happened. I registered the product, but a week later, it insisted upon being registered. I tried to register and ... you guessed it, the process hung. I attempted to contact Norton tech support via the chat feature. The chat window came up and sat there completed dead.

Please, can someone tell me how to get this thing off my system? Thanks in advance.

huwyngr · ‎04-13-2008

My first reaction until I read you had McAfee already installed was to say often when you cannot uninstall that running install again and then running uninstall works.

Now I would suggest you uninstall McAffee, then run the Norton Removal Tool.

I would not trust an older copy of SymNRT to be able to remove all the latest patches to the software. Since Norton are updating their products all the time, the Norton Removal Tool is constantly updated.

This link: Symantec Norton Removal Tool. will direct you to the current Symantec Norton Removal Tool.

Then if you really must you can reinstall McAfee but if you want the Internet Security of NIS 2008 you really need to forget about McAfee.

If you bought NIS 2008 you will get a free upgrade to NIS when it comes out -- scheduled for next month -- and it has many advantages over 2008 and the other manufacturers.

So please try the above and if you still have a problem in cleaning up come back and let us know.

Hugh

dmbaer · ‎08-30-2008

Thanks for the quick response. I did have the latest version of the removal tool (at least is was the same size as the one you pointed be to). But there's a much worse problem. I ran setup.exe on the install disk. I get a brief hourglass and then nothing. Setup refuses to run. This is with Macafee disabled, by the way.

huwyngr · ‎04-13-2008

<< This is with Macafee disabled, by the way. >>

Disabled or uninstalled? I think you need to uninstall Mcafee (or any other "parallel" device not knocking McAfee <s>)

I'd also look at running Disk Cleanup (BTW You haven't said what version of Windows you have and whether it is 32 bit or 64 bit?) to get rid of anything in Recycle, temp folders and so on.

While you answer I'll call for the marines! Don't know how many Norton Staffers are around this holiday weekend but they don't seem to take much time off.

Hugh

Vineeth · ‎07-31-2008

Did you receive any error message while installing the Norton product?? Can you tell me the stage at which the installation stalls?

Can you please open the temprary folder(Start>Run> In the Run dialogue box,type %temp% and click on OK.) ,and inside the temporary folder can you locate a URL.txt file?

Is the Norton Removal tool ran successfully???

dmbaer · ‎08-30-2008

Answers to two reponses. First, I'm running XP Home SP3. Running disk cleanup had no affect. Norton Removal Tool gives me a breif hourglass then sits there doing nothing. Setup.exe won't run (I get an hourglass for half a second and then nothing).

I do not know the exact time at which the initial setup stopped. It got very close to the end because all the pieces are there and the product largely seemed to work (although there's not way of knowing that for sure). All I know is that near the end, the processing appeared to just hang, possibly in doing a live update type check or registering the product, I just don't recall. But most if not all NIS2008 was installed and it appeared to be very close to wrapping things up.

I'd be willing to be there's some kind of registry entry that prohibits concurrent config. changes, installs, etc. that never got turned off. While I'm willing to complete uninstall Macafee (hardly happy about it, however), I'm hoping someone will have the registry tweak I can make that will make this issue go away. I somehow can't believe uninstalling Macafee is going to change anything. I could see it being a problem well into running setup, but I cannot believe it is the reason setup won't run in the first place. It did run the initial time, and Macafee was present for that run.

Thanks for all the help.

dmbaer · ‎08-30-2008

One other thing: there is no URL.txt file in the temp directory.

Vineeth · ‎07-31-2008

That was quick..... Can you try running the autofix tool Launch tool .You may have to restart the computer after running this tool.

If that does not work, Try running the Symantec License troubleshooter SYMLMTS .

After running this tool you will receive a window with a few observations ( Or I say a few things will be listed).Can you try to paste the information here? Same time you need to restart the computer and check whether the issue is resolved.

dmbaer · ‎08-30-2008

Thanks for the suggestions.

The first suggestion resulted in one response "audit mode enabled" or something to that effect. Rebooted, but Norton_Removal_Tool won't do anything (click setup, then it just sits there idle), and setup.exe still won't do anything apart from a brief hourglass.

Next I downloaded SymLMTS.exe. Brief hourglass, then nothing. No window, no on-screen instructions ... nothing.