Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus

[WinFaxExpert]

Frequently, I get requests from my customers to re-install (and restore data,settings from) Symantec WinFax PRO because they had to completely uninstall it to fix some other Norton (likely unrelated) issue.

Why does Norton Removal Tool require that WinFax be uninstalled (from Add/Remove Programs) before it will run? 

[reese_anschultz · Accepted solution]

WinFaxExpert, I'm not a Norton Removal Tool expert but it is intended to clean up machines only when normal product removal via Add/Remove Programs doesn't work. When it is required, it's because there is some inconsistency between component references preventing everything from be removed via the normal methods. SymNRT takes a fairly heavy handed approach and disregards all of these references and removes everything that it knows of related to the Norton products, regardless of references.

The problem arises that 'newer' WinFax implementations (post Delrina acquistion) use some common technology such as LiveUpdate and LiveReg that is also used by the Norton products. When SymNRT runs, it removes those components, thereby preventing WinFax from operating correctly. Since SymNRT doesn't have the knowledge about how to remove WinFax before breaking it, it prompts the user to remove it via Add/Remove Programs.

Message Edited by reese_anschultz on 05-01-2009 09:52 AM

[WinFaxExpert]

Thanks for the clarification, I assumed the reason behind the uninstall was linked Symantec shared components.

From my understanding WinFax doesn't require LiveUpdate/LiveAdviser or LiveReg to function properly.  Those functions (if removed by NRT) would just cease to function. (Click on Help, LiveUpdate and nothing happens)

[reese_anschultz]

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WinFaxExpert wrote:

Thanks for the clarification, I assumed the reason behind the uninstall was linked Symantec shared components.

From my understanding WinFax doesn't require LiveUpdate/LiveAdviser or LiveReg to function properly.  Those functions (if removed by NRT) would just cease to function. (Click on Help, LiveUpdate and nothing happens)

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That is probably correct, but there may be other areas of shared components that I'm not aware of.

[mijcar]

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reese_anschultz wrote:

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WinFaxExpert wrote:

Thanks for the clarification, I assumed the reason behind the uninstall was linked Symantec shared components.

From my understanding WinFax doesn't require LiveUpdate/LiveAdviser or LiveReg to function properly.  Those functions (if removed by NRT) would just cease to function. (Click on Help, LiveUpdate and nothing happens)

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That is probably correct, but there may be other areas of shared components that I'm not aware of.

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Additionally, WinFax may automatically try to run a LiveUpdate or LiveAdviser, or to invoke LiveReg; and its inability to do so might result in a chain of events leading to some aberrant behavior.

I fondly remember Winfax as a cherished but testy part of my computer set-up.  It is because of that testiness that I decided a month ago while setting up a client's machine to replace her fax machine that I would only use the MS Windows Fax tool.  Verrrrrry basic, but good enough for her needs.

Message Edited by mijcar on 05-01-2009 04:14 PM