Norton Internet Security / Norton AntiVirus

[Tywin7]

I personally support using the Norton removal tool to remove all traces of the Norton software. I think that those traces can bother you or cause problems in the future. What do you guys think? Is there a divide between Norton removal tool supporters and overinstallers?

[AllenM Norton Fighter]

Hi Tywin7,

We find that most users would prefer an over the top installation and in general this usually works provided the following criteria is met:

Previous Norton product is working OK.

Previous Norton product is only 1 year old

You are doing an over the top installation such as NAV 2009 to NAV 2010, etc. Changing products definitely must use the NRT.

Both methods are correct and is really down to personal preference. Some like using the NRT to absolutely ensure (to the extent possible) that the installation goes smoothly, while others (including myself) prefer an over the top install and revert to the NRT only if it proves necessary.

NRT is always recommended under certain conditions such as trying to resolve significant problems with the current installation or changing products like between NAV and NIS, etc.

If you prefer using the NRT, by all means you should do so. There is nothing wrong with this approach.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes.

Allen

[floplot Norton Fighter]

Hello Tywin7

The Norton Removal Tool should only be used when there is a problem with your Norton program or if you are upgrading and skipping at least a year between versions like going from NIS 2009 to NIS 2011. It should also be used if you are changing Norton products like going from NAV to NIS. Otherwise, a removal using add/remove or equivalent is good enough. The NRT should also be used if you are going to another security company also.

The more recent Norton products have been cleaning up after themselves  better lately with just add/remove and an overinstall if just going from one year to the next of the same product and no problems with the previous year and no changing of different programs.

[AllenM Norton Fighter]

Hi Floplot,

I think Tywin7 feels more comfortable with the NRT approach. I think one thing which has not always been consistent is that the NRT should be used only after doing a conventional uninstall.

I think there has been a case or two where use of the NRT without first doing a conventional uninstall has led to problems.

I know of no cases in which a conventional uninstall followed by use of the NRT has caused problems. So with that procedural "change" in mind I don't see any problem with using the NRT if someone is more comfortable doing so.

And I do certainly agree that the more recent Norton products do a better job with over the top installs.

Allen

[Tywin7]

actually I was hoping to see how many people is pro nrt and how many just prefer overinstallation

[AllenM Norton Fighter]

HI Tywin7,

Yes understood. If you get a fair number of responses you will likely find that this particular question is quite mixed in terms of people's opinion of both approaches.

Best wishes.

Allen

[SendOfJive Norton Fighter]

Hi Tywin7,

I used to advocate uninstalling the old version, running the Norton Removal Tool if desired, and then installing the new program.  I do not think this approach is necessary any longer.  As you may know Symantec developed its own installers when the 2010 products were introduced.  The installation process is now designed to be carried out in a way that allows the new version to gracefully replace the old and even retain the previous settings.  The overinstall method is now clearly the way the product is intended to be upgraded.  I think this year's surge of upgrades via the Norton Update Center, with virtually no problems being reported, highlights just how reliably and effectively the new process works.  The whole upgrade procedure amazingly takes only a few minutes.  Technology changes and, though I never thought I'd say it, we really have reached the point where uninstalling via Add/Remove Programs and use of the NRT are totally unnecessary prior to an upgrade, and should only be considered in cases where an installation has failed.

[Bombastus]

The NRT doesn't really remove everything, either. It leaves both folder, files and registry keys behind. A Norton folder in c:\programdata that contains a number of files, drivers in the the System32\drivers\ folder, and a number of registry keys. These leftovers doesn't affect a new Norton installation, but I guess an install of another AV or security suite could object.

[elsewhere]

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Tywin7 wrote:
actually I was hoping to see how many people is pro nrt and how many just prefer overinstallation

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An important consideration to take into account is that running the Norton Removal Tool will remove a range of Norton software, not just Norton Antivirus or Norton Internet Security (see the full list of Norton software that it removes here). People who use other Norton products, say Norton Ghost, will be less inclined to use the NRT before installing a new version of NAV/NIS simply because they know it will remove the Norton Ghost software in the process. Using the NRT would result in them having to reinstall their Norton Ghost software after they've installed the new version of NAV/NIS. This factor will have an influence on the responses to your question.

[Phil_D Norton Fighter]

Let me first offer my congratulations to Tywin7 for posting such an interesting and timely topic!

My views and observations of using the NRT have been eloquently stated by others and do not bear repeating.

You can count me in favor of the “overinstall” method.

If anyone would like to read about my recent bad experience running the NRT for the so called “clean installation” check here.