Can Not Remove Norton Antivirus

I have tried the ‘uninstall’ option, I have tried add/remove programs, I have tried the Norton Removal Tool.  None of these do jack except for sit there and eat up processor power for 20+ minutes.  Lately Norton has been failing to enable active protection, despite my following the EXACT directions of the program.  I had Spybot and Malware Malbytes, and I have uninstalled both of them.  Now I can’t INSTALL any other antivirus’.  Not only are the Norton programs not functioning properly (and has not for several days), but if I attempt the uninstall or removal tool, the internet ceases to work.  I am about two hours away from starting a total system format, but I would much prefer not to lose my hundreds of gigabytes of data.  I want to make this perfectly clear: I want this program off my system now!