How to remove left over norton drivers

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by Rilla927, Dec 26, 2010.

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  1. Rilla927

    Rilla927 Registered Member

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    Hello,

    my daughter brought me her laptop and it had norton installed when she bought it and she removed it but not is all gone.

    I tried installing Private Firewall and it freezes.

    EDIT:

    I did try the removal tool. I'm sorry, I thought I posted this.
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2010
  2. Cudni

    Cudni Global Moderator

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  3. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    I once had a hell of a time removing leftover Norton software from a computer I was trying to install an AV on. I had to run the Norton removal tool more than twice. I don't know why it appeared to miss things the first couple of times. Oddly, the installer of the AV I was trying to install detected these leftovers from Symantec. Not so long ago I found a Symantec BHO (browser helper object) in IE on my smaller laptop. I haven't used Norton on it for three years! Good luck with trying to remove those drivers.
     
  4. GlobalForce

    GlobalForce Regular Poster

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    Norton? Norton what? It helps to be precise.
     
  5. chinook9

    chinook9 Registered Member

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    I have used the Norton Removal Tool on a number of occasions and it has always worked very well. The instructions indicate that it will remove all Norton software.
     
  6. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    I have known quite a few people who have experienced the same thing as me. The Control Panel on my laptop still has a blank icon with the legend 'Symantec LiveUpdate' on it. If I click on it, Windows claims that it can't find it as it doesn't exist. I have run a couple of AVs since Norton on this particular laptop though with no problems. The Symantec BHO I found may have been deactivated, but that isn't the same as 'removed' in my book.

    Interestingly, McAfee uninstalled cleanly & quickly & I can't find any trace of it. In my country it is becoming more difficult to buy a laptop computer without an AV pre-installed (usually trial-ware). Bullguard & Sophos weren't so bad but increasingly Symantec's Norton & McAfee are becoming prevalent.

    One of the reasons I had my current desktop computer custom built was so I didn't end up with any trial-ware AV. It has only ever had MSE & never had Adobe's PDF Reader.
     
  7. Franklin

    Franklin Registered Member

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  8. Rilla927

    Rilla927 Registered Member

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    It was NIS 2010 or 2011. I have run the removal tool in windows and in safe mode and the legacy drivers (4) are still there. I managed to get Kaspersky AV installed but Private Firewall does nothing but freeze after it installs.
     
  9. PJC

    PJC Very Frequent Poster

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  10. Rilla927

    Rilla927 Registered Member

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    Thanks Mr.PC I gave it a try and it didn't detect norton.
     
  11. Matthijs5nl

    Matthijs5nl Guest

    1. Right click My Computer and Select Properties
    2. Click Advanced tab
    3. Click Environment Variables
    4. Below the bottom Environment Variables window pane (System Variables), click New
    5. For Variable Name, enter devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices
    6. For Variable Value enter 1
    7. Click OK. OK to close My Computer

    Then open Device Manager, go to View, there select Show hidden devices
    In the main panel locate Non PnP devices, expand that.

    Leftover drivers will be written in grey. Try to find out which belong to Symantec. You can see more details by right clicking and going to properties, you can also Google the driver names.
     
  12. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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  13. Rilla927

    Rilla927 Registered Member

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    OMG, I just kiss you!!

    It worked as smooth as butter. Thank you so much...this will go in my arsenal.

    I found 8 drivers for NIS and 5 drivers for Avast that was previously on here.

    I found left over drivers from keyloggers etc. I didn't even know my daughter had a laptop until a few days ago. I wish she would have brought it to me right away.
     
    Last edited: Dec 27, 2010
  14. GlobalForce

    GlobalForce Regular Poster

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    And Private Firewall .. still freeze?
     
  15. Rilla927

    Rilla927 Registered Member

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    I haven't tried it yet. Have a few chores to do and then I will install and let you know.
     
  16. whitedragon551

    whitedragon551 Registered Member

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    Wow. I found a whole slew of crap left over from F Secure, AVG, Zone Alarm, Symantec, Rising, OA, and Immunet. This is going to take awhile.

    While we are here anyone know how to remove Norton Power Eraser? Seems its one of the only tools they dont have a removal tool for. I have a NPE folder in my %appdata%\Local folder and every time I delete it and reboot it always comes back.
     
  17. chinook9

    chinook9 Registered Member

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    Thank you! A great piece of information to have. I didn't find anything that shouldn't be there but its nice to know how to check it.
     
  18. squid13

    squid13 Registered Member

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  19. GlobalForce

    GlobalForce Regular Poster

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  20. Rilla927

    Rilla927 Registered Member

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    @Chinook9 & Squid13

    Private Firewall is running sweet.

    I agree...is a good piece of info and works very easily.

    @Global Force

    It might be old but there was only one person in this thread that knew about it.
     
  21. Matthijs5nl

    Matthijs5nl Guest

    Old information, like everything else on this forums. But useful.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 27, 2010
  22. cgeek

    cgeek Registered Member

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    Thanks Matthijs5nl for this incredibly useful tip! :thumb:
     
  23. GlobalForce

    GlobalForce Regular Poster

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    One, that @ the time Rilla, knew it was needed. Thread solutions are a matter of known circumstance ;) and timing.
     
  24. PJC

    PJC Very Frequent Poster

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    Simply...
     

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  25. Rilla927

    Rilla927 Registered Member

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    Pretty awesome, hah!

    I had that installed also, but it removed everything. By eye I seen either 2 or 3 drivers labled as Power Eraser.
     
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