Desperately need Computer Guru Help

[sophia jane]

So today for whatever reason, my Avast anti-virus program pops up with a message that it can't run because of a running Norton/Symantec. I don't use Norton and didn't even know it was installed. I've been trying to uninstall the fucking thing for over an hour but I can't. It's not listed in Add/Remove Programs so the Symantec "how to remove" instructions and installations don't work (it tells me to remove thru Add/Remove first). Trying to delete it out of windows explorer manually doesn't work either cuz I keep getting error messages. And...components of it are listed in my task manager so part of it is running. I tried to disable the automatic stuff so that it wouldn't start up, but that didn't work either. Everytime I restart my computer, part of it is running and Avast gets agitated. I want the stupid thing off my puter.

Any ideas???? I'm getting pretty irritated at this point.
(also tried system restore. That didn't help either)

 

[cloudy]

So today for whatever reason, my Avast anti-virus program pops up with a message that it can't run because of a running Norton/Symantec. I don't use Norton and didn't even know it was installed. I've been trying to uninstall the fucking thing for over an hour but I can't. It's not listed in Add/Remove Programs so the Symantec "how to remove" instructions and installations don't work (it tells me to remove thru Add/Remove first). Trying to delete it out of windows explorer manually doesn't work either cuz I keep getting error messages. And...components of it are listed in my task manager so part of it is running. I tried to disable the automatic stuff so that it wouldn't start up, but that didn't work either. Everytime I restart my computer, part of it is running and Avast gets agitated. I want the stupid thing off my puter.

Any ideas???? I'm getting pretty irritated at this point.
(also tried system restore. That didn't help either)

PM Sal, he should be able to help.....or Weird Harold.

I don't know what you can do, I'm sorry.

 

[sophia jane]

I've gotten avast to work (I think) but Norton is still on my puter. I tried yet another of their removal programs (that's three so far) which is how the avast started working but that's the only difference that I can tell.

 

[R. Richard]

I would suggest that you go to the Avast web site. There is a forum in operation there and you should be able to get help from other users.

 

[Owlwhisper]

.....

 

[sophia jane]

I would suggest that you go to the Avast web site. There is a forum in operation there and you should be able to get help from other users.

That's actually how I got all the info I have so far.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

I'm here SJ, and sending you some files that will help with instructions etc.

 

[sophia jane]

I'm here SJ, and sending you some files that will help with instructions etc.

Thanks.
I just did yet another application that said it removed Norton. It's still sorta around, but maybe better. I sure as fuck hope so, cuz when I opened Word a few minutes ago, I got an error message that I needed to restore my symantec files. Norton really really sucks.

ETA: Restarted without error message from Avast, word worked again, and symantec is gone from my program list (and I think all the components are off my task manager). However, symantec is still in my windows explorer program files list; don't know if I should fuck with it anymore or be glad for the little progress I've made.
Two sites that I use that can be helpful to everyone else:

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
http://www.rockymountain.com/ref_startup.htm#H

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

WTG geek girl

but keep my IM on speed dial if you need me k?

 

[sophia jane]

WTG geek girl

but keep my IM on speed dial if you need me k?

Of course. Do ya think I should worry about it still being in my program files?

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

Of course. Do ya think I should worry about it still being in my program files?

Not unless it starts acting weird again. But with WIndows,acting weird is kind of a daily occurance.

 

[sophia jane]

Not unless it starts acting weird again. But with WIndows,acting weird is kind of a daily occurance.

No kidding. One day I WILL have ibook and the world will be at peace.

 

[zeb1094]

No kidding. One day I WILL have ibook and the world will be at peace.

Once System X is available for the INTEL processors, the virus builder, spammers, spyware guru's will be attacking it in force. The use of System X is so small compared to Windows that no one has thought is worth their while to try and hack it yet.

 

[Guest]

Symantec (Norton Antivirus) does a shitty job of "uninstalling" itself. I ended up, after a weeks worth of researching various forums (and Symantec's own site), editing the bowels of the registry myself to get rid of every remnant of if, literally a dozen little hooks and entries everywhere. There are some files that Symantec will bury so deep in your system it may require you to "unregister" the file (a dynamic link library, for example) before you can actually delete it. And the removals are version specific to Norton as well as to the operating system, so one set of instructions for cleaning a particular Norton version may not work for yours (if at all).

As a cautionary note, registry editing isn't easy and is not for the faint of heart, believe me. What's worse, Symantec (Norton) behaves like a zombie--even spyware, itself--that keeps coming back to life if you miss one or two of those files that are designed to keep itself alive, in one respect a defense against viruses, another is it likes to keep tabs on its operation on your machine. I haven't used the product in three years because of this "undocumented feature."

My current AV program is BitDefender (you can search the web if you want to purchase, about $30). A version with a firewall is also available for about $45. There are many good products out there, even some great freeware stuff (like AVG @ www.grisoft.com). For me, Symantec (Norton) doesn't cut it anymore and does only average in independent testing. By all means, do your homework and on-line research before you buy a product that fits your surfing style and compatibility with your computer system.

Regarding general registry cleaning, removing temporary files, programs no longer in use, clearing internet history, yada yada yada, I've been using a freeware product for a month now with excellent success, called CCleaner (short for Crap Cleaner) at http://www.ccleaner.com, good for both Windows 2000 and XP operating systems (there may be a versions for other systems, too--not sure).

It was incredible how much crap it found I thought I removed months and even years ago. I would, again, caution anyone of its use, since it does make registry changes. But what's nice is it has an easy to use backup feature of those registry changes before it does its cleaning, so if you have to restore your computer back to what it was before the changes, it's done very easily (I've yet to have a single problem using this freeware). I do admit I didn't have Norton Antivirus on my machine when I ran this, so I can't say or not whether it will do a good job ridding a system completely of that application, in particular.

Anyway, good luck.

Manxy

 

[sophia jane]

Thanks! I'll have to check into crapcleaner (what a great name!). I've done all my removing manually and with spyware programs like spybot, so it'd be interesting to see what's left.
And yes, I've found several pieces of Symantec left, even after four of their own removal programs. It's utterly ridiculous to be selling a product that is so difficult to remove. My biggest concern was that it was preventing Avast from running it's real time protections.

 

[Owlwhisper]

.....

 

[Guest]

Thanks! I'll have to check into crapcleaner (what a great name!). I've done all my removing manually and with spyware programs like spybot, so it'd be interesting to see what's left.
And yes, I've found several pieces of Symantec left, even after four of their own removal programs. It's utterly ridiculous to be selling a product that is so difficult to remove. My biggest concern was that it was preventing Avast from running it's real time protections.

______

I'd be interested in how you make out with CCleaner ridding your system of Norton Antivirus, SJ, if you intend to try it. There are a number of people I know, especially at work complaining of their home systems with Norton and its zombie antics, who are having similar problems, but are reluctant to try new cleaning software (and who could blame them).

Again, best of luck.

Manxy

 

[sophia jane]

______

I'd be interested in how you make out with CCleaner ridding your system of Norton Antivirus, SJ, if you intend to try it. There are a number of people I know, especially at work complaining of their home systems with Norton and its zombie antics, who are having similar problems, but are reluctant to try new cleaning software (and who could blame them).

Again, best of luck.

Manxy

I used it last night and it got rid of a whole slew of Norton crap from my registry. No problems with Norton today, but I can tell you there are still some Norton files left on my computer. Either way, I was really impressed with ccleaner- found lots of stuff hiding.