How do I completely remove Norton from my PC

Warren · Jun 7, 2024

Hi Guys.

I'm trying to completely remove Norton from my pc.
I first went to the control panel, Programs & Features, then unintall a program & uninstalled it from there.
When I restarted the Noton browser reappeared & the icons for Norton were still on my pc.
I then down loaded the Norton remove & reistall software which seemed to remove most of norton & their icons.
I have now checked my registery & see there are still Norton files in my registery.

Is there a tool or a command line/power shell command I can use to totally remove Norton from my pc?

idgat · Jun 7, 2024

The ole forum favourite .... Revouninstaller (freeware)
- download and install
- double clcik Norton entry in list
- don't worry about restore point(waste of time)
- tick every entry offered
- remove
- DO NOT reboot even if prompted DO NOT
- choose Advanced button and run
- tick every entry offered for leftover files folders and registry entries
- reboot

Repeat for any other Norton left in the list

DO NOT use any removal tools or programs from Norton

FreeBooter · Jun 7, 2024

Completely Uninstall Norton software using:

http://liveupdate.symantecliveupdate.com/upgrade/RnR/NRnR.exe

Instructions

Please download and save NRnR.exeto your desktop.
Close all programs and double click on the tool.
Follow the on-screen instructions.
Restart the computer if asked.
Then delete the NRnR.exe tool from your desktop.
Open the Program Files folder on your local disk ( normally C: )
Find and delete the following folders (if present):
- Norton AntiVirus
- Norton Internet Security
- Norton SystemWorks
- Norton Personal Firewall

idgat · Jun 7, 2024

FreeBooter said:
Completely Uninstall Norton software using:

http://liveupdate.symantecliveupdate.com/upgrade/RnR/NRnR.exe

Instructions

Please download and save NRnR.exeto your desktop.

Close all programs and double click on the tool.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

Restart the computer if asked.

Then delete the NRnR.exe tool from your desktop.

Open the Program Files folder on your local disk ( normally C: )

Find and delete the following folders (if present):

Norton AntiVirus

Norton Internet Security

Norton SystemWorks

Norton Personal Firewall

Given the reputation of this company, why would anyone, in their wildest imagination, trust software from the same company to completely remove their own insidiousness without secret leftovers

Indicative in the above NRnR.exe scenario is the fact that the user still has to manually remove folders. If the program can't clean up it's own leftover droppings, what else is left behind?

FreeBooter · Jun 7, 2024

idgat said:
Given the reputation of this company, why would anyone, in their wildest imagination, trust software from the same company to completely remove their own insidiousness without secret leftovers

Indicative in the above NRnR.exe scenario is the fact that the user still has to manually remove folders. If the program can't clean up it's own leftover droppings, what else is left behind?

You should keep your view to yourself, we are here to provide solution not a criticism nearly 80 million users around the globe uses this antivirus including companies its not a malware its a software trusted by many not you included.

idgat · Jun 7, 2024

FreeBooter said:
You should keep your view to yourself, we are here to provide solution not a criticism nearly 80 million users around the globe uses this antivirus including companies its not a malware its a software trusted by many not you included.

... probably more than half of which were trapped into using it through its insidious predatory marketing tactics (albeit not alone amongst other antimalware offerings)

The contributor doth defend too much, methinks.

kciN · Jun 7, 2024

Nah, Norton monitoring & apps are even offered thru job benefits these days and almost all (if not all) AV's offer uninstallers as you cannot delete files that are in use at the time, which is always the case with AV's. But that remover works quite well, especially if used in windows safe mode

Warren · Jun 7, 2024

idgat said:
Given the reputation of this company, why would anyone, in their wildest imagination, trust software from the same company to completely remove their own insidiousness without secret leftovers

Indicative in the above NRnR.exe scenario is the fact that the user still has to manually remove folders. If the program can't clean up it's own leftover droppings, what else is lef

FreeBooter said:
Completely Uninstall Norton software using:

http://liveupdate.symantecliveupdate.com/upgrade/RnR/NRnR.exe

Instructions

Please download and save NRnR.exeto your desktop.

Close all programs and double click on the tool.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

Restart the computer if asked.

Then delete the NRnR.exe tool from your desktop.

Open the Program Files folder on your local disk ( normally C: )

Find and delete the following folders (if present):

Norton AntiVirus

Norton Internet Security

Norton SystemWorks

Norton Personal Firewall

The Norton Remove & Restore tool removes it but still tries to install it when you reboot.
I had to disable it 3 times from the task manager before it stopped trying to reinstall.
I then tried Revouninstaller which found a lot of Norton files but it doesn't seem to find everything.
There are still Norton Files in my registery which I am going to try delete all of them manually now.

wiganken · Jun 7, 2024

Yes, I have used Norton for years and no problems. It is promoted by my Computer Active magazine. Yes, I know they will make a profit but they would not (dare not) sell a dodgy product. Their reputation would suffer.
I have no vested interest in the CA magazine but here is the proof: - Computeractive Software Store - discounted downloadable software

Ghot · Jun 7, 2024

@Warren

AV programs have kernel drivers, which is why they are so hard to remove.
It's also how they protect themselves from being removed or damaged by malware or viruses.

Just about every AV program has their own removal tool. This is normal.

The only thing I might add to @FreeBooter 's instructions is to also check Autoruns, and see if anything "Norton" is left over.

Autoruns - Sysinternals

See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots and you login.

learn.microsoft.com

For example, I use Bitdefender AV/firewall. And although I'm not uninstalling it... here's what Autoruns shows when I search for Bitdefender...

The Norton removal tool should have gotten everything.... but if there's any bits left... Autoruns will find it.

Warren · Jun 7, 2024

Ghot said:
@Warren

AV programs have kernel drivers, which is why they are so hard to remove.
It's also how they protect themselves from being removed or damaged by malware or viruses.

Just about every AV program has their own removal tool. This is normal.

The only thing I might add to @FreeBooter 's instructions is to also check Autoruns, and see if anything "Norton" is left over.

Autoruns - Sysinternals

See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots and you login.

learn.microsoft.com

For example, I use Bitdefender AV/firewall. And although I'm not uninstalling it... here's what Autoruns shows when I search for Bitdefender...

View attachment 98596

The Norton removal tool should have gotten everything.... but if there's any bits left... Autoruns will find it.

Agreed, but some antiviruses are too aggressive.
Before I had Norton I had AVG until then cleaned my music folder & wiped about 300gb of mp3.
Norton had been working fine on my pc untill I tried to install unblurr & focus magic.
Norton would let me install either & since then my microsoft photo app isn't working.
I haven't used unblur (I can't find the link to unblurr at the moment)
Focus magic works great if you have blurred or distorted cctv footage which you need to fix.

Ghot · Jun 7, 2024

Warren said:
Agreed, but some antiviruses are too aggressive.
Before I had Norton I had AVG until then cleaned my music folder & wiped about 300gb of mp3.
Norton had been working fine on my pc untill I tried to install unblurr & focus magic.
Norton would let me install either & since then my microsoft photo app isn't working.
I haven't used unblur (I can't find the link to unblurr at the moment)
Focus magic works great if you have blurred or distorted cctv footage which you need to fix.

I can't comment on the Photo App... I don't use any of Microsoft's image editors.

As you can see... I'm old school...

Paint Shop Pro 4.12 and 7.04 and 8.1 and 9.01

Due to popularity, powerful features and ease of use, here are: Paint Shop Pro 4.12 and 7.04 and 8.1 and 9.01 These are all free, legal and fully functional. These work flawlessly on all versions of Windows from 7 to 11. Paint Shop Pro 4.12 and if memory serves, 7.04 also work on Windows XP...

www.elevenforum.com

I use Paint Shop Pro 7.04 for image editing, and XnView for image thumbnails, batch converting... etc.

XnView... (old screen shot)...

FreeBooter · Jun 7, 2024

Warren said:
The Norton Remove & Restore tool removes it but still tries to install it when you reboot.
I had to disable it 3 times from the task manager before it stopped trying to reinstall.
I then tried Revouninstaller which found a lot of Norton files but it doesn't seem to find everything.
There are still Norton Files in my registery which I am going to try delete all of them manually now.

The installation happens because Norton setup file starting at boot time like @Ghot suggested use Autoruns to disable it the NRnR.exe tool only uninstall Norton.

Autoruns - Sysinternals

See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots and you login.

learn.microsoft.com

csun · Jun 7, 2024

Many would agree it is best to use the designated AV uninstall tool from the company when removing an AV. And then review the system for possible follow up with REVO or a manual deletion.

imanlien2020 · Jun 8, 2024

idgat said:
Given the reputation of this company, why would anyone, in their wildest imagination, trust software from the same company to completely remove their own insidiousness without secret leftovers

Indicative in the above NRnR.exe scenario is the fact that the user still has to manually remove folders. If the program can't clean up it's own leftover droppings, what else is left behind?

Exactly. I learned 20 years ago to NOT install Norton anything, It will swallow your PC like a Prehistoric alien shark..lol. Used to be IMpossible to remove, nowadays not so sure.

idgat · Jun 8, 2024

imanlien2020 said:
I learned 20 years ago

There are those of us of a certain era (i.e. age) with long memories ....

From the ashes of Symantec arose the phoenix Norton

Never forgotten, never forgiven

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Tarred with the same brush. A rose by any other name ..... etc and so on.