Norton Removal Tool may corrupt the Registry

I just uninstalled Norton Internet Security 2009 and used the Norton Removal Tool. I then installed Norton Internet Security 2010 because I could buy it cheaper than updating my subscription.

I am using Windows 7 64 bit. When I started Windows after using the Removal Tool there would be a series of "du du du" sounds but no pop-up or error message. Going to the Sound page in Control Panel I discovered that this meant "Failure of device to connect".

When "Googled" I found that other people had experienced the same problem with Norton Removal Tool.

If you open Device Manager you will see a bunch of yellow exclamation points that say the registry is damaged. Uninstall all of the involved drivers and then pull down the Actions menu and select Scan for Harware Changes. Windows will install new drivers and the "du du du" sounds will disappear.

I just uninstalled Norton Internet Security 2009 and used the Norton Removal Tool. I then installed Norton Internet Security 2010 because I could buy it cheaper than updating my subscription.

I am using Windows 7 64 bit. When I started Windows after using the Removal Tool there would be a series of "du du du" sounds but no pop-up or error message. Going to the Sound page in Control Panel I discovered that this meant "Failure of device to connect".

When "Googled" I found that other people had experienced the same problem with Norton Removal Tool.

If you open Device Manager you will see a bunch of yellow exclamation points that say the registry is damaged. Uninstall all of the involved drivers and then pull down the Actions menu and select Scan for Harware Changes. Windows will install new drivers and the "du du du" sounds will disappear.

Thank you very much for that information.

Yes, I have resolved the issue.

I also notice that Norton Removal Tool does not completely remove all Symantec entries in the Registry under HKCU and also in the hidden AppData folder. Better, I think, to manually remove all traces.

 

Hi Jrobert,

 

Thanks for the update. One thing I have never liked is when some registry entries are left behind when you uninstall a piece of software. This is certainly not unique to Symantec, in fact even MS themselves are guilty of that!

 

Some keys however are also left around for a good reason, such as license keys and things of that nature. This helps when having to uninstall and reinstall the software, or even after using the removal tool typically the license key is "remembered".

 

This also helps companies control software tiral periods so that someone cannot just keep uninstalling and reinstalling software and getting a perpetual free license.

 

You have to be very careful when modifying the registry by hand as it is very easy to make a mistake and make the computer unbootable and always if you are going to do this, create a system restore point first.

 

Thanks

Allen

jrobert,

 

FWIW -- In doing Windows support online elsewhere I've seen more systems damaged by someone "cleaning up the registtry" and "removing unnecessary files" (they actually know what Windows needs? <g>) than by leaving "unused entries or files" on the system.

 

If the system is working OK don't worry about entries being left in the Registry -- they are highly unlikely to affect anything and the idea that they slow down the system seems to have no basis in reality ....

One or two of the forum members said a few months ago to run the Removal Tool a few times after first uninstalling the Norton product.  The idea is that the NRT does not clean everything fully in any single run, but may miss some items, but will/may catch and clean away those items when run again. 

 

One day I plan to install a new Norton Internet Security on an old laptop.  The old and now uninstalled copy of Norton Internet Security, I will not use; it was from year 2007. The subscription for the NIS 2007 has been expired for 2 years now.   I will try to purchase a NIS 2010 and would expect to use the NEW PRODUCT KEY.  Is this good?  The correct way to do it?  Hope So.  Or will I run in to problems with my old computer remembering the old out-of-date product key and not be allowed to install and use the new product key for NIS 2010?

Hi g_cafe_c,

 

It is true that sometimes the removal tool does not clean 100% during the first run so it is always recommended to run it 2-3 times with a reboot in between each one.

 

When you had your old NIS 2007 did you run the removal tool 2-3 times? What security product do you use now? Whichever one you use, you will want to run a similar removal tool from that software vendor before installing NIS 2010. Security products like this should always (if at all possible) be run with a special removal tool before installing another software vendor's security (anti-virus, etc) software.

 

But yes, when you get to that point you would use the new product key for NIS 2010.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Allen

Hi g_cafe_c,

 

I just recognized your name. You have another thread here and it looks like you have N360 v3.8 currently. Are you planning to switch to NIS when your current N360 subscription runs out?

 

I have recommended in the other thread that you update to N360 v4 which is the latest.

 

Regards

Allen

Hello AllenM,

 

The confusion is understandable about which computer and which Norton product.  I had posted and responded in threads on Norton 360, Norton Internet Security, too.  I use more than one computer.

 

Yes, for the benefit of the original member's posted question, I ran Norton Removal Tool about 4 times, and restarted between each run of the Removal Tool. 

 

The computer over here which I refer having had the NIS 2007, never did have Norton 360; the ones with Norton 360 is another of my computers, and one of someone else's here. 

The particular laptop I refer to here which had the NIS 2007 is like this:

Old laptop computer, was Windows XP;

Originally had Norton AV 2002. 

Changed to NIS 2007 about three years ago, then computer seemed to malfunction two years ago, and I stopped using it.

Meanwhile no Windows updates and NIS 2007 subscription expired.

Diagnostician and I found that in fact nothing was seriously wrong with the laptop.

After some forum advice here, I uninstalled NIS 2007, and ran NRT about four times.

Updated Windows XP to Service Pack 3. 

Currently, the old laptop has NO ANTIVIRUS/ANTIMALWARE SOFTWARE installed. (which is why I do not try to explore on the internet with it.  (At this moment, I am not using the old laptop computer; it is sitting quietly, turned off).

Just yesterday, I installed a new usb wireless adapter on the old laptop. 

 

Hopefully, my next step will be to buy a copy of NIS 2010, to  connect wirelessly to internet, and install the new NIS 2010.

 

(My other laptop has Norton 360 and Windows Vista).