Symantec HELL

[jgis19]

I made the mistake of installing Norton System Works 2003,after causing
numerous problems with this system( Win XP Home ) I tried to uninstall it as follows, Removed it from add remove in Windows,but it won't remove everything,,went to Symantec's site they said to download a file from them, RAV.2003.exe , and apply, whidh I did but it didn't work. When I try to remove anything related to Norton or Symantec from program files it says either write protected or system file abd won't let me remove it. When I try to load a file from a cd such as Lexmark X83 drivers or CD Ghost, I get error saying conflict "Symantec\s32VNT1.dll, Virtual Driver", I need help here. I am not a Windows genius so any direction would be of great help.

[newme]

did you install it again and try to remove by the instructions on there site it woudnt hurt to try again

[jgis19]

newme, thanks for your reply, but I tried to reinstall and uninstall per there instructions but to no avail!

[morriswindgate]

WHen you use Norton System works the only parts you want to install are the Anti-Virus, Ghost, and possibly the Winfax Program. Do not install the Utilities, CleanSweep, or any other part of this program as it can cause problems.
Installing Norton is also fun, so here is my step by step guide that must be followed in order. You also need to do this in order to update to a new version of Norton.

1. If you have Norton Protection enabled for you recycle bin, go to the recycle bin properties and disable the protection, empty the protected files, Check Standard recycle bin in the show protection box, and rename the recycle bin back to recycle bin to get rid of the words Norton Protected.
2. Download the trial version of ADD/Remove Plus and Regcleaner and install it. http://www.aurelitec.com/software/arplus/ and http://www.jv16.org
3. Go to Start>Run and type in msconfig. Disable any of the norton products that start up on boot. restart computer. You can also do this with the start-up tab in regcleaner and you may find it easier this way.
4. Start Add/Remove Plus and uninstall any entries that are Norton, Symantec, or Live Update.
5. Restart the computer
6. Go to Windows Explorer and open C Drive. In the Programs Folder delete all folder with the names Norton, Symantec, and Live Update. Go Next to Start>Search and do a search for Norton, Symantec, and Live Update. Delete anything found.
7. Empty the recycle bin.
8. Run Regcleaner and on the first screen, check any entries for Norton, Symantec, and Live Update. Clcik on remove selected.
9. Next move to the Tools Menu>Registry Cleanup>Do them all and run it. You can safely remove all the enries it finds, but if you are leary find any that relate to Norton, Symantec, and Live Update.
10. WIth the exception of still cursing Symantec for not having a better uninstall program, you are now finished.

[redbaron_snoopy]

I posted about a mini-crisis I had when I messed up my wife's PC last night. Guess what, I was using Norton Utilities. Well, peace has return to me, all is well now and I've learn't my lesson.

Btw, maker of Regcleaner has a quite new program called jvtools which includes the regcleaner.

[Kov-Ice]

morris,

You sound like you know your way around NAV stuff... My AV subscription is up and I haven't renewed. How can I get the stupid program to quit trying to dial out and asking me EVERY DAY if I want to renew my LiveUpdate subscription now?!?

Thanks!

[reboot]

Uninstall Lice update (sic).

[Kov-Ice]

reboot,

When I go to Control Panel - Add/Remove Progs and try to remove Live Update, it tells me I need to remove all NAV progs before removing it. Is this just Symantec's way of continuing to be bothersome? OK to go ahead and remove Live Update?

Thx.

[reboot]

Boot to safe mode.
End task on everything you can find, check the services tab too.
Uninstall all NAV stuff, including LU.
There's a prog on the Symantec site somewhere, called MIS.exe that will remove all Norton/symatec stuff.
Run Adaware, run RegCleaner, restart.

[Kov-Ice]

reboot,

I still want to leave NAV running in the background. I just want to get rid of the daily intrusion of Live Update trying to dial out. So is it OK do you think to try to just remove LU, or will that cause problems?

Thx.

[glc]

If all you want to do is stop LU from trying to access the Internet, disable automatic live update in the NAV options - then remove Symantec Net Detect from your task scheduler.

[Kov-Ice]

Auto LU was disabled, but NAV was trying to get me to subscribe to definitions every day since I had expired... Hopefully the NetDetect does it...

Thx.

[glc]

If it still bugs you, it's part of NAV and you will have to either uninstall it or subscribe.

[Kov-Ice]

Yup, it still came on today (in middle of another project, of course) even with LU disabled and deleted from scheduler...

Guess I gotta quit being tight. Their 'bug the customer to death' strategy is going to work on me yet... they win!

Darn you, Symantec!

[glc]

You know - using an antivirus with old definitions doesn't do you much good anyway..............

I've had more customers than I care to count call me and say their machine is running like poo-poo - and I go over and find virus evidence in their startup - filenames that I recognize as being viral - and I tell them they have a virus. They tell me "but I have McAfee (or Norton) that came with the computer!" When I ask when the last time was that they updated the definitions, they invariably say, "huh?" A trip to Housecall, AVG, and $200 (or more if Windows is so trashed I have to reload it) later, they are all cleaned up and protected - and McAfee (or Norton) is in the trash - and they know how to keep AVG updated.

I use Norton and have automatic live update enabled - it works great in the background - I see it kick in every Wednesday without fail - and occasionally in between if there are special updates.

[babylon5guy]

I have had a few problems with Norton also, but I still think it's hands down the best AV software. McAfee can't compare, I had to do a lot to that before I kept McAfee from slowing my PC down.

Plus navigating around in McAfee is much more difficult. I had a hard time just getting the automatic update to work correctly.

[TwoRails]

From what I've seen, the biggest problem is not the program itself, but it's poor uninstallation and improper installation. For example, I just recent had to fix an upgrade to NSW 2003 Pro, and went thru the usual steps mentioned above, including all step recommended by tech support email.

I wound up having to spend well over an hour going thru the registry (Win 98.2 box) and cleaning out all references to anything Norton / NAV / Symantec, etc.... I found entries going all the way back to NAV 95!! and every version inbetween!!. And of course, entries for NSW's other components. All this garbage in the registry will wrech havoc on upgrades and new installs.

I've used Norton products since there was a "real" Norton and never had a problem other than installation and uninstallation. The programs have always worked well for me. I install NSW on all my machines, but not all items. I always install NAV, Utilities, Ghost, and a few others, but only have NAV run on bootup.

HTH

TwoRails