Best procedure when using Norton Removal Tool

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

Hi all, it's been a while since coming on here.

Please could someone tell me which of the following is the best when wanting to completely remove NIS, (I have the latest fully updated version).

 

1) Use the "uninstall NIS" option from the start menu in the Norton folder (ie. the apps own uninstaller) then run the removal tool after (for any leftovers etc)

 

2) do a Windows uninstall from control panel, then run the removal tool for leftovers etc

 

3) either of above but using Revo uninstaller 1st for more thorough initial uninstall, then running removal tool or

 

4) just double click on the removal tool in the 1st instance and let it take care of everything

 

Any replies greatly appreciated

2
icekool wrote:

Hi all, it's been a while since coming on here.

Please could someone tell me which of the following is the best when wanting to completely remove NIS, (I have the latest fully updated version).

 

1) Use the "uninstall NIS" option from the start menu in the Norton folder (ie. the apps own uninstaller) then run the removal tool after (for any leftovers etc)

 

2) do a Windows uninstall from control panel, then run the removal tool for leftovers etc

 

3) either of above but using Revo uninstaller 1st for more thorough initial uninstall, then running removal tool or

 

4) just double click on the removal tool in the 1st instance and let it take care of everything

 

Any replies greatly appreciated

hi

 

 

i would this ues Norton removal tool  right a way so that way it can get rid of any  life overes   so that way you can get a nic clean install of norton  when you re install it

 

 

3
icekool wrote:

Hi all, it's been a while since coming on here.

Please could someone tell me which of the following is the best when wanting to completely remove NIS, (I have the latest fully updated version).

 

1) Use the "uninstall NIS" option from the start menu in the Norton folder (ie. the apps own uninstaller) then run the removal tool after (for any leftovers etc)

 

2) do a Windows uninstall from control panel, then run the removal tool for leftovers etc

 

IMHO, there is no difference between #1 and #2.  Both program uninstalls are standard uninstalls in that choosing to uninstall through the standard way lets you decide whether you want to retain certain customization or remove the product completely.

 

3) either of above but using Revo uninstaller 1st for more thorough initial uninstall, then running removal tool or

 

I have never had to use the Revo uninstaller, nor any other uninstaller to get Norton removed from my systems.  That said htere is another method to emove items if you believe you have a corrupted installation and the NRT does not work.

 

4) just double click on the removal tool in the 1st instance and let it take care of everything

 

Once again, I have seen where this in itself can cause problems.  I beleive the standard uninstall removes the programin  amanner that stops the srivers and other functions (processes) used by Norton, where as the NRT does not do this first and basically rips the Norton program from the system with no shut down of anything prior to doing it.  Thus I do not do things this way.

 

Any replies greatly appreciated

Hi icekool,

 

Very interesting question - and this one has been beat to death in the past between what the Norton employees states in the Knowledge Based Articles and what the users have found in actual use over the years - and that is where the biggest hangups come in - "over the years", as it seems the function of the NRT has changed.

 

From here: 

It states: "Download Norton Removal Tool to remove a failed installation or a damaged Norton product."  That tells me it could be used on it's own and also if you are just doing a reinstall for troubleshooting, does it in fact clear any left over registry etc entries as was believed in the past?

 

Looking at addtional info,

  •  When a Norton 2012 product cannot be uninstalled through the recommended ways and has not expired,
    you should first use Norton Remove & Reinstall tool before using the Norton Removal Tool.
  •   Norton Remove & Reinstall Tool was developed to uninstall the compatible Norton products, and
    reinstall their latest version automatically. In most of the scenarios, this tool can reactivate the compatible
    Norton products. The tool is intended to become a recommended solution for the customers for an uninstallation and a reinstallation scenario, and requires a minimal user intervention.
  •   The Norton Removal Tool can be used for a Norton product that has expired and cannot be uninstalled through recommended ways.
  •   It is important to understand that the Norton Removal Tool should not be run more than once and it should
    be used as a last resort to remove supported Norton products. Earlier in a few scenarios, running the NRT
    twice was a help. However, it is no more the case and running it once does a complete uninstallation of the
    detected products.

I am sure you'll get more answers that may or may not agree with what I have said - as it seems everyone has their own opinions.

 

If I had to pick one of your choices, I would select #3 (omitting the Revo uninstaller).  Please also rememeber the Norton Remove and Reinstall Tool is an excellent choice when it is not necessary to do a cleaninstall - it works just ike an over the top upgrade, especially for those less tech savy users.

 

Hope this info helps.

4

My understanding is that the official route is to Uninstall using Windows Uninstaller (which uses the script provided by Norton that Norton menu item uses ...) followed by running the Norton Removal Tool a couple of times with a reboot inbetween.

 

[PS Well I thought the official route was "more than once" but I see it stated above that it is not necessary -- I wonder if it is considered harmful?]

 

I'm sure that this works fine for most cases.

 

I do use Revo Uninstaller from time to time (not necessarily on Norton <s>) and as a tool I like it because it does begin by doing the standard Windows Uninstall and then offers further stages where it documents what it thinks should be done and makes you opt in  to do those steps. So it is interesting to run it and see what is left after the normal uninstall even if you do not check the boxes to delete what it shows.

 

Unfortunately I have not found a way to run it after doing a normal uninstall since it's kicking off point is the entry in Installed Programs. I had hoped that the Hunter method it has would look for orphans but I've not found a way to make it do anything.

 

But what is not known is what the Norton Removal Tool actually removes. We do know even it leaves a little behind since Norton has to protect itself against multiple installations of a limited trial program to get protection without paying for it.

 

So for all practical purposes use the basic Windows Uninstaller / NRT route especially if you plan to reinstall the Norton Product.

5

@icekool

 

So far, I have not uninstalled NIS 2013 at all; neither through the CP nor through the linked removal tool. So, my experience is bit low. But I have (previously) created some installer/uninstaller packages.

 

I agree with yanks, normally there is no difference between method 1 & 2. But I have experienced, with some software packages, that the linked uninstaller provides the options Repair/Modify/Remove whilst CP offers Remove only. But that is up to the SW developer, I guess.

 

Revo Uninstaller: Before the standard CP removal, Revo performs two tasks: 1) Creates a restore point (if enabled in Windows) 2) Creates a full registry backup (if enabled in Revo), then runs the standard CP remove and at last (and that is the important step) searches for leftovers in the registry and in files/folders structure. The last point might be a bit unfair to the standard uninstaller, some deletions are set to “pending” (to be performed at next reboot).

 

To run the standard un-installation tool may be necessary to remove some registry items with regards to the installer package used (Install Shield or whatever).

 

Personally I would advice you to:

  • Run Revo uninstaller (eventually log the left-overs, perform a reboot and manually delete the leftovers reported by revo).

  • Run the special removal tool (in this case Norton Removal Tool); I should always recommend this step.

 

It seems like huwyngr and I have the same route...

 

6

I just removed NIS 2013 using the Control panel uninstall and then ran Norton removal tool. Then I ran CLeaner to cleanup the registry.

 

Then I installed NIS 2012 clean install and everything worked fine.

 

I was removing NIS 2013 so I could use a "Local Vault" with my Identity Safe logins which is available with NIS 2012. I was not able to log into my online Vault on two of my three computers so I went back to NIS 2012 until Norton sorts it out.

 

PS. I also don't like the "Share" button on the toolbar.

7

Thanks for all your replies, much appreciated. btw, I don't (currently) intend to re-install as I have just bought Kaspersky (KIS) very cheaply on Amazon, I fancy a change mainly due to the very annoying thrashing of the hd that Norton does far too much of the time with it's wretched idle scans. I have tried turning off most options, setting idle timeout to 30 mins etc etc etc not scheduling the wretched scans etc and i'm sick of shortening the lifespan of my precious hd.

 

Whether I regret this move, only time will tell, I guess I'll be back at some stage as i do prefer the paid versions of security software for windows, to be honest I much prefer several distros of Linux and would use it full time if I didn't do video editing + a couple of other thngs that I far prefer windows programs for.

 

My advice for anyone who is only using their pc for Internet browsing, social networking, emails, messaging and a few other fun things excluding games would be dump crappy windows & use Linux, nowadays you hardly need to go anywhere near the terminal/command line and can do everything you need from the gui, especially in a highly functional desktop environment such as KDE.

 

Once again, thank you for all your replies, the one thing that is seriously great about Norton is this excellent forum

8

icekool wrote: ”I have just bought Kaspersky (KIS).. I fancy a change … Whether I regret this move, only time will tell”.

 

Not a bad choice, I wish you luck. I have recently abandoned Kaspersky after 8 years... Now I am back with NIS; the system I leaved in 2012...

 

The world is turning round it's own axis.

 

 

9

Thanks for letting us know -- hope it all works out for the best for you.

 

I gather Kaspersky is one of the ones that is suffering from the Windows 8 Action Center situation so do let us know if you run into anything interesting about that.

 

Thanks for the kind words about the forums -- they are great .... but that's the company we keep, the users!

 

I wish I knew what it was about the idle scans because I can't say I've ever noticed them on my Windows 7 32bit with 4GB of RAM and plenty of hard drive space. The only time I notice intense drive activity is on startup while my desktop is building up but then I have about 100 shortcut icons on it, like my own Metro Screen <g>

10
JohnDissident wrote:

Now I am back with NIS; the system I leaved in 2012... 

Something is wrong with my keyboard. I typed '2002', and this forum displays  '2012'!!!!!

 

11
JohnDissident wrote:
JohnDissident wrote:

Now I am back with NIS; the system I leaved in 2012... 

Something is wrong with my keyboard. I typed '2002', and this forum displays  '2012'!!!!!

 

Autocorrect ? <s>

12
JohnDissident wrote:
Something is wrong with my keyboard. I typed '2002', and this forum displays  '2012'!!!!!

 

Did you use the number pad?

13

Autocorrect? No, I think it is a kind of False-correct!

 

Probably the number pads, it is very seldom I use the secretary pad (the girls' pad).

 

To be serious, I think it is the EN-US keyboard setting!! (I'll return with this issue with respect to NBRT).

 

Have a nice day, forum members.