[Saussure]

Computer is a Sony-Vaio laptop running on Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 and IE8. I've got NIS 2007 and can update for free to NIS 2009. The problem is...there are so many methods to deinstall a prior version of NIS! There's disagreement among the Norton techs themselves!
There seem to be three main methods after all the reading I've done:
1) Installing NIS 2009 over NIS 2007, during which NIS 2009 will remove 2007. I do NOT want to use this method. Seems to cause problems sometimes.
2) First removing NIS 2007 via add/remove programs in the control panel (deinstalling NIS 2007 and its LiveUpdate components separately, rebooting between deinstallation of components). Then install NIS 2009. Some people add that one should run the Norton Removal Tool after doing the add/remove procedure.
3) Run the Norton Removal Tool directly, and run it twice. However, some techs say that one should only use the tool as a LAST resort (e.g. in the case of a failed installation or deinstallation); but I've read entries where people use the tool as a matter of routine.

In other words...What shall I do??? Which method shall I use? I'm at my wits' end! :-(
Maybe any user feedback? :-)

[Cheeseball81]

Just my 2 cents, I would probably go with Option 2

[Saussure]

Originally Posted by Cheeseball81

Just my 2 cents, I would probably go with Option 2

Thanks for your input, Cheeseball :-D Would you include running the NRT after going through the Add/Remove programs procedure?
What speaks against running the NRT directly? I'm a computer nitwit, so I don't know what's technically the best and safest option...There seems to be a gap between the most thorough and the safest option, I have the feeling...:-D

[Cheeseball81]

From past experiences and hearing other people's stories, Norton isn't always easy as pie to remove. So, it probably wouldn't hurt to run that removal tool once you go through Add/Remove.

[blitzkreig]

Even revo uninstaller does of good job with the removal of stubborn products like norton and avg.

[Phantom010]

Only run the Norton Removal Tool. It's the only way to really get rid of Norton.

Then, download something else than Norton...

[Michael York]

Hi Saussure,

This is Mike from the Norton Authorized Support team.

The cleanest way to update to Norton Internet Security 2009 is to follow the steps below which will cleanly uninstall the 2007 version prior to installing the updated version.

1. Make note of your current Norton Internet Security Activation Key, which you will use to activate the 2009 version.

2. Click on the following link to download the Norton Removal Tool:

Norton Removal Tool and Instructions

3. After you run the tool, please restart your computer. Then log in to Windows again and run the removal tool again. Restart your computer after it is finished running the second time as well.

4. Visit the Norton Update Center at the link below. Choose your current product and version from the pull-down menu's and then select the "Download" button under the option for free update, to download the latest installer for Norton internet Security 2009.

Norton Update Center

5. During the installation process you will be asked for an Activation key. Input the Activation key that you saved in step # 1.

6. When the installation is complete, launch Norton Internet Security 2009 and manually run LiveUpdate to ensure that you get the latest program patches applied. This process will also invoke the new "Pulse Updates" feature which will check for and install definition updates in the background every 5 - 15 minutes, so that you are always protected against the latest threats that are discovered. When the updates have been installed, restart your computer.

Let me know if you have any other questions about this process or if you experience any issues.

Thank you,
Mike

Originally Posted by Saussure

Computer is a Sony-Vaio laptop running on Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 and IE8. I've got NIS 2007 and can update for free to NIS 2009. The problem is...there are so many methods to deinstall a prior version of NIS! There's disagreement among the Norton techs themselves!
There seem to be three main methods after all the reading I've done:
1) Installing NIS 2009 over NIS 2007, during which NIS 2009 will remove 2007. I do NOT want to use this method. Seems to cause problems sometimes.
2) First removing NIS 2007 via add/remove programs in the control panel (deinstalling NIS 2007 and its LiveUpdate components separately, rebooting between deinstallation of components). Then install NIS 2009. Some people add that one should run the Norton Removal Tool after doing the add/remove procedure.
3) Run the Norton Removal Tool directly, and run it twice. However, some techs say that one should only use the tool as a LAST resort (e.g. in the case of a failed installation or deinstallation); but I've read entries where people use the tool as a matter of routine.

In other words...What shall I do??? Which method shall I use? I'm at my wits' end! :-(
Maybe any user feedback? :-)

[Saussure]

Hi (again) Mike!
You already posted instructions before - it was in another forum :-D I didn't follow them yet because I happened to find the Norton forums, and I began to read up on all the different removal methods over there...and on what can go wrong :-( After reading a thread where the tool had removed all the file associations and practically crippled a user's computer, I became anxious. In retrospect, this was probably due to the fact that the user had an old version of Norton System Works and a new NIS program on the machine...but still, it made me feel rather nervous; and what makes everything more confusing is that the Symantec employees/techs seem to disagree with each other about the Norton Removal Tool. One half says that one should only use the tool as a LAST resort (in case of an installation/deinstallation gone awry). Others recommend the tool as a matter of routine. So this tool is a rather...interesting matter...
You are very clearly in favour of running the tool directly. Others say, first go through the add/remove program procedure, then run the Norton Removal Tool. Then some say: run the tool once. Others recommend running it twice. So...I've decided to use what I call the "combination" method, starting with add/remove, then running the NRT.
Thanks for being so helpful and patient, Mike :-D

[Phantom010]

I've noticed on a lot of computers, a simple uninstallation leaves a lot of traces behind. These traces cause a lot of confilcts with other applications, even Internet connections. I would use only the tool.

[Saussure]

Lol, okay, I've got the same phenomenon of disagreement here...run the removal tool directly or run it after the add/remove programs procedure?
Hmmm...It's a pity that there's not ONE standard method...*scratches head*...

[Saussure]

Originally Posted by Phantom010

Only run the Norton Removal Tool. It's the only way to really get rid of Norton.

Then, download something else than Norton...

The above method seems to be the most popular one (direct running of NRT without preliminary deinstallation via add/remove programs).
However, I am quite curious about the Norton 2009 products - it seems that they have improved a lot. Also, this thread is not about which product/suite to install, but rather on how to deinstall Norton in order to prepare for a clean installation :-D
Thanks for your input :-)

[Phantom010]

There are a lot of better alternatives before you consider Norton, really...

[Saussure]

Originally Posted by Phantom010

There are a lot of better alternatives before you consider Norton, really...

I appreciate your input, Phantom 010, but I simply wanted to know HOW to de/install Norton properly; if I had wanted to know WHICH product to install, then I would have opened or consulted a thread on that specific issue. Un point c'est tout.

[Phantom010]

Well, you have the best way to remove it above: The Norton Removal Tool, that's it then.