Is Safe Mode necessary for a proper Norton un-install / re-install sequence?

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

Hello,

I have noticed a number of past posts where the recommended solution was to carry out a standard sequence of tasks, such as:

"Run Norton uninstall; reboot; run Norton Removal Tool, reboot; run Norton Install then LiveUpdate; reboot; run LiveUpdate another time; reboot, etc."

However, only occasionally have I seen a recommendation to do any of the above steps in Safe Mode. But I note that several forum members who experienced problems with reinstalling their products could only install successfully by finally reverting to Safe Mode.

So, my question is this:  When is Safe Mode recommended for use in the un-install / re-install sequence, and why is it not recommended routinely as the first line of attack when a person needs to un-install / re-install Norton software?

 

NOTE: The Norton website makes no mention of Safe Mode with respect to these procedures, but it seems to me that Safe Mode is often advised, if not actually necessary for success of this operation:

http://us.norton.com/support/kb/web_view.jsp?wv_type=public_web&docurl=v24120260_NAV_Retail_2011_5_en_us&ln=en_us



Thanks,

RichD

2

Thanks, Bombastus.  I have another question, pertaining to which user account should be used when uninstalling a Norton Product. 

On my machine, I have 3 user accounts, viz:

Administrator (has Administrator privileges. This is the username used to originally install the Norton product)
PowerUser (also has Administrator privileges)
User (has no Administrator privileges)

I believe that I can uninstall Norton while logged into any of these three accounts.  (For the latter account, I could, if necessary, go to Programs/Norton Internet Security/Uninstall Norton Internet Security  and right-click on the link using "run As ... Administrator"  as the option.)

My questions here are the followiong:

  • Which of the three options above is the best or the recommended way to uninstall my Norton product?
  • Do all three of the above logins give the same results when Uninstall is executed -- i.e., do all three of them result in the same set of files and registry keys being deleted?
  • Do the three differ in which file deletions are executed immediately vs. which file deletions are deferred until the Windows re-boot procedure?


Thanks,

RichD

3

Hello RichD

 

I would recommend uninstalling using the Administrator account as this is the safest account to use. Also, we  have a new tool to use when you have to uninstall and reinstall your program. This tool will uninstall the program and then install the newest version of the program for you. To use this tool, your account must be current and you have to use the Administrator account.

 

 

http://us.norton.com/support/kb/web_view.jsp?wv_type=public_web&docurl=20110217171332EN

 

 

 

4

Hello,

I have noticed a number of past posts where the recommended solution was to carry out a standard sequence of tasks, such as:

"Run Norton uninstall; reboot; run Norton Removal Tool, reboot; run Norton Install then LiveUpdate; reboot; run LiveUpdate another time; reboot, etc."

However, only occasionally have I seen a recommendation to do any of the above steps in Safe Mode. But I note that several forum members who experienced problems with reinstalling their products could only install successfully by finally reverting to Safe Mode.

So, my question is this:  When is Safe Mode recommended for use in the un-install / re-install sequence, and why is it not recommended routinely as the first line of attack when a person needs to un-install / re-install Norton software?

 

NOTE: The Norton website makes no mention of Safe Mode with respect to these procedures, but it seems to me that Safe Mode is often advised, if not actually necessary for success of this operation:

http://us.norton.com/support/kb/web_view.jsp?wv_type=public_web&docurl=v24120260_NAV_Retail_2011_5_en_us&ln=en_us



Thanks,

RichD