I've got a whole host of problems with my Win7 HP dv6 laptop that I won't go completely into here (operating system issues? won't load start up items or graphics driver, various services, etc.), and I'm working with an HP forum guru at another webpage to try and solve. As a part of that process, he has recommended removing my Norton Internet Security in the event it has become corrupted, and then reinstalling it. He recommended Revo to do this, and I was hesitant to use it, so instead downloaded the Norton Removal Tool from Symantec download page. However, when I attempted to run the removal, I got a notice that Norton Utilities 14 is installed and I must uninstall it before the removal tool can work. Problem is that although I once had Norton Utilites installed, I removed it a long time ago. Apparently, some remnants are still in the Registry? Removal tool won't run in Safe Mode or normal mode either. So I uninstalled NIS using the built in uninstaller, which appeared to work. Then tried the removal tool - same thing; stops before doing anything because NU 14 is supposedly installed. But no Utilities shows up in program list, tried Revo as well, NU doesn't show up there either. I've seen other posts in this forum regarding this issue - I'm using the latest version of the uninstaller because I just downloaded today and used it, no good. Any suggestions to finish off removal of all Norton products? Once I get the laptop repaired, I'll be reinstalling again, and I suspect I'll want a "clean" removal process for the reinstallation to proceed...
Given that, if I understand correctly, there is no reference to NU in Remove Programs and that NRT won't run I personally would be inclined to run CCleaner rather than Revo although I use both. My reason is that I've never been able to work out how to use Revo to clean up something unless it shows up on its list of programs which so far for me means that it shows up in Uninstall Programs. I've never mastered the Hunter mode if that is what it is supposed to do.
CCleaner has a function that lists the programs as they show in Remove Programs but if you run the file clean up that may pick up orphan files and then I run the Registry tool but I look very carefully at what it proposes to do in the list aafter Analyse and in your case only OK it to remove stuff that appeared to relate to Norton items and leave the rest.
But hang on to see if anyone has better suggestions based on similar experience.
Just in case it's useful, is your version of Windows 7 32 bit or 64 bit? What version of NIS do you have (Help/Support - About where it is in the format nn.nn.nn.nnn ?
thanks for the link. I dug around in the registry and found the spot where Norton Utilities was listed. It was in a slightly different location than indicated in the provided link, but that link helped me to find it and feel OK about deleting it. Normally, I tremble to delete registry keys - I'm not particulary techie and am always afraid of the registry. Once I removed this single entry to Norton Utilities in the registry, the Norton Removal Tool ran as expected. Thanks!
The important thing about editing the registry is first to back it up -- Under the File menu Export -- then if necessary you can always put it back to what it was.
backing up the Registry is always a great idea, but unfortunately, in this instance, I could not do it. As I mentioned in my original post, this particular laptop has multiple, serious issues, for a still unknown reason. Most Control Panel items don't work, lots of services won't start up, and so couldn't back up the Registry before making my deletion, another reason I was a bit hesitant to delete anything. I've read too many stories of registry edits gone wrong! Thanks again for all the help here - was very helpful to get a quick answer that solved the issue. Of course, I might also suggest that the Norton Removal Tool be edited, if possible to be able to bypass this problem to begin with, and simply delete the Norton Utilities registry key along with removing all the other things as well... Thanks again!