Computer specs: Sony-Vaio laptop running on Windows Vista Home Premium SP1, about 11 months old.
Security software: Windows Defender and NIS 2007.
I am currently being offered a free upgrade to NIS 2009 and have already downloaded the installer from the LiveUpdate Notice link. I've chatted to a few Symantec experts about removing NIS 2007, and there seem to be two methods:
install NIS 2009 over NIS 2007, during which the former will remove the latter, or download the removal tool and run it directly (without previous deinstallation via add/remove programs) and run it twice, rebooting after each run; then install NIS 2009.
I am not sure which method is better/safer. Also, I would like to disconnect from the internet during the deinstallation and installation, but the NIS 2009 installer looks tiny (about 667 KB), so I guess it will have to connect to the internet to downloaded the whole package?
All in all: which is the best method to remove NIS 2007 to clear the premises for a problem-free NIS 2009 installation? Can someone please give me precise steps? Thank you in advance
Message Edited by Moby_Duck on 02-19-2009 11:22 AM
Message Edited by Moby_Duck on 02-19-2009 11:23 AM
I let NIS2009 uninstall NIS2008 and then install itself with no problems.Was a bit nervous as it was my fist time for doing that.but it all went ok!! Do a search using the top left search pane as there has been a lot of discussion on what is the best way to uninstall and install over older products in these forums.(possibly while you wait for a more in depth reply)
Well, I've practically COMBED various forums for THE best deinstallation of NIS 2007, and I've only become more confused! So far, people seem to prefer the removal tool method. Also, you said that you let NIS 2009 remove NIS 2008. However, I have got NIS 2007, so that, too, may have to be taken into account. Did you use the NIS 2009 installer downloaded from the internet? It is so small - does it have to connect to the internet in order to download the whole package, or how does the installer work? Because I seem to be seeing two kinds of NIS 2009 "installers" here: the installer, which I find so tiny, and then the package of about 64 MB or something.
All in all, I am EXTREMELY confused by all this.
Message Edited by Moby_Duck on 02-19-2009 12:32 PM
The difference between the installer packages is that - one is the Setup file which will act as a download manager to download the associated files & install the Norton program and other is the direct executable file which can be used to directly install Norton program. The best thing you can do is to Uninstall NIS 2007 via Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel and then install NIS 2009. Download the executable file(NIS 2009 installer) from this LINK before uninstalling NIS 2007, so that you won't have to keep your computer unprotected. Although the NIS 2009 installer is capable of removing the previous versions during the installation, it is always recommended to remove the previous version before installation. So, if there is any left over from previous version, it will be easy for NIS 2009 installer to remove. Also, there is no need to use Norton Removal tool until or unless you have any problems/errors during installation.
Good advice from Yogesh, may I add after uninstalling NIS07 through Add/Remove Programs you should also uninstall Symantec Live Update via the same process, prior to installing NIS09.
Thanks for your answer I would, however, prefer running the Norton removal tool since Norton programs are notorious for leaving entries in the registry even after deinstallation via add/remove programs. Any danger of running the Norton removal tool twice in succession and NOT doing the deinstallation via add/remove programs? I’ve read about users who had troubles due to unclean installations when doing it via add/remove programs, and then they had to run the removal tool anyway…
Okay, but it sounds far more straightforward to simply run the removal tool and get rid of all the stuff in one go…except that I’m not sure how SAFE this procedure is, the removal tool does sound rather nuclear, and the add/remove routine does not seem to remove all the sub-entries in the registry.
Okay, from all my readings and your replies I've got basically 2 methods:
1) remove NIS 2007 via add/remove programs, and uninstall the LiveUpdate component separately, also via add/remove programs
2) remove NIS 2007 by unleashing the removal tool on it twice, rebooting after each run
Which one is the preferred method according to user feedback? I'm approaching a state of, uhm, deadishness with so many removal methods. At least installing NIS 2009 over NIS 2007 can be scrapped.
Message Edited by Moby_Duck on 02-19-2009 02:25 PM
It it were me, and I had no other Norton programs installed nor settings saved that I wanted to keep in NIS07, I would run the Norton Removal Tool (from THIS LINK only).
No particular need to run it twice.
Good luck!
Edit:
In answer to:
1) Once.
2) Yes.
3) Not necessary.
4) Not necessary.
5) Yes, you may be prompted to uninstall it otherwise.
Thanks :D Settings? I guess that pertains to NIS 2007 firewall settings? Won't NIS 2009 recreate the settings once it has installed itself and "read" my internet connection? Or will running the removal tool cause problems with my internet connection due to the deinstallation of the NIS 2007 settings as well?
Oh, and one last thing: do I have to deactivate product protection in NIS 2007?
Message Edited by Moby_Duck on 02-19-2009 03:48 PM
Running Norton removal tool will erase all settings and when you install and use NIS 2009, it will automatically configure the settings required for your network. Running Norton removal tool won't cause any problem with Internet connection and if you face any problem, report back here. Also, no need to disable the product protection manually since the removal tool will automatically disable it during uninstallation. You can go ahead with running removal tool and installing NIS 2009. As I posted earlier, download the installation file of NIS 2009 before uninstalling NIS 2007 so that you can easily install the latest version and keep your computer protected. After installing, activating and running LiveUpdate from NIS 2009, you can download and install the Norton Add-on Pack if you wish to avail the features of the Parental Control and Privacy Control.
Thanks a lot for your instructions and answers, I think I’m all set. No need of Norton Add-on Pack - no kiddies around. PS: Because I have Vista with UAC on, I had better be on the safe side and right-click the Norton removal tool icon and NIS 2009 icon to run them with administrator rights. Came across people complaining that the de/installation didn’t work otherwise.
Message Edited by Moby_Duck on 02-19-2009 04:34 PM
slinks mournfully into the forum Ahem, hi everyone, haven’t had time so far to remove NIS 2007 and update to 2009 (uni started a few weeks ago + work), and now that I DO have the time to perform this surgery, I find myself absolutely too nervous to go ahead. So my question is: I know that the Symantec chat service has this remote connection feature. Is it possible for a Symantec expert to perform this frankly scary operation for me? At s/he will be knowing exactly what s/he is doing, while I, being a Norton nitwit, may just do something weird.
Ah, yes, considering the laptop will have to reboot, the remote connection will be broken. I was wondering if it would be possible to re-establish it again afterwards, though. Anyway…I’ve saved my Norton product key to notepad (copy-paste later on) and the removal tool and NIS 2009 package are squatting on my desktop. You sound very encouraging, so I’ll end up doing the surgery myself; got another time slot tomorrow evening (how long does the whole process take, anyway?) because now it’s going to be midnight and I’ve got class tomorrow.
This may not be to helpful,but there comes a time when you have to step out and do in the computer realm and this is one of those times!!
I to am a nervous nelly when it comes to doing the download,install,uninstall thing but I have found in this dept you have to do these things for yourself it's the learning curve of owning a pc.You have had great advice,asked the right questions.All I can say is give it a go.I've stumbled through 1(going from NIS2008-NIS2009) so far and I'm fast approaching my 2nd and if I can do it so can you.Looking forward to hearing the result!
The funny thing is - when I had my own first real computer (Windows 98) I didn't give a care in the world about clean installations and deinstallations. I didn't even know that there was a thing called "the registry". I remember that I had a McAfee antivirus software back then. We loathed each other, and that is when I got Norton and simply installed it over McAfee - the Norton installer recognised that there was another antivirus software on the computer and removed it for me. I noticed, however, that the computer began to crash (randomly) a lot after that...and it was only quite some time later that I made the connection. After that, when I got an XP Home computer, I ended up with a Trojan which my ancient Norton AntiVirus 2003 DIDN'T catch because it didn't have an anti-spyware feature back then and the Trojan was unusually sneaky. It was a Winpup32 Trojan combined with a VX2BetterInternet spyware element - which had tucked itself away in Windows Media Player! So whenever I clicked on WMP, it would simply generate popups. I manage to get help in a forum and kick out the malware, but on realising how complicated a computer actually is, that you have to do your homework before installing and deinstalling anything, I became obsessed with details concerning installation/deinstallation...of any new program, especially security programs. That's why I'm so nervous about all this.
Anyway, I've got to scuttle off to class soon, and this evening, I will "step out", as you called it ;-)
PS: Nice kitty icon.
Message Edited by Moby_Duck on 03-09-2009 11:48 AM