N360 v5 expiring renewing with NIS 2012

Hi,

 

I am looking for the path of least resistance for software installations on two computers. I have a Dell 9400 laptop running Windows XP SP3 Home and Internet Explorer 8. I am using Norton 360 v5 that is expiring in 2-3 days on both computers. I am also running Norton Utilities 15 and Ghost 15. All of these are updated on the laptop. I have downloaded the Norton Removal Tool. I want to remove N360 and install NIS 2012.

 

From what I understand, I have to backup my identity safe and run the removal tool and restart several times. Also, I read somewhere that I have to disable the intrusion prevention in order to get a valid restore point first. Is this removal tool going to remove all my Norton Programs? I have the disks for everything to reinstall them, but the updates will probably take a while. I know that Ghost & Norton Utilities don't appear in mynortonaccount or norton management. It is nice not to have to renew them every year, but it would be nice to have them there. 

 

Now, I also have a Dell 8300 Desktop that only has Norton 360 v5 and the old GoBack. I haven't used the desktop for a few months, so Norton 360, Windows XP Media SP3, Internet Explorer 7, etc. are not up to date. I want to uninstall both Norton programs and install Norton Internet Security, Utilities and Ghost.

 

Since I bought the Norton Bundle NU,NISand Ghost for free (after rebates) from frys, I have the other Ghost program and the 3 pc 1 user on the others. Can't beat that deal!

 

So what I was hoping you could tell me:

 

Does the removal tool remove Ghost and Utilities too?

 

What order do I install the programs?

 

Am I taking a big chance exposing my computers to internet threats between uninstalls/installs?

 

Should I run the removal tool and install Internet Security from the disk on the desktop first and run the updates untill they are all done, then download the complete update from mynorton to the laptop? Or does it not matter?

 

When I run everything on the desktop, do I have to update everything Windows, IE and 360 before I run the removal tool? Now that I think about it, I have to update everthing anyway, so I probably should do updates on the desktop while I do the Norton installs on the laptop. Right?

 

Does it matter what version of Internet Explorer that I am running? Are they compatible with IE 7 and IE8?

 

And any other questions that I may have missed. If I get it right the first time, it would save me all the hassles that we all have had before. Any help you can give me, will be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you.