Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies
Uninstalling Norton Antivirus or any other internet security suit
sounds like a daunting task and tall order for someone like myself who
is pretty much a technophobe.
Seemed like such a large mountain to climb until I did a bit of research on the matter, and decided to write this article to share it with you.
Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies
In fact the removal process has essentially five steps that anyone, regardless of their technology background and experience.
But before we get into the 'how' of removing Norton Antivirus, let's examine the 'why'. Why would anyone want to remove antivirus software from their computers? Seems counter productive, doesn't it? Wasn't the whole idea behind installing antivirus software applications for for protecting your computer and your online experience from bad things happening to it?
Uninstalling antivirus applications is like leaving the door unlocked, isn't it?
Believe it or not, there are several legitimate reasons for doing so.
1) Corruption. Sometimes software applications become corrupted and result in registry errors during normal use, with power outages, etc.
2) Yearly expiration dates. If you've installed these kinds of software before, you know that they require a special key code that validates their use for one year only. Meaning that afterwards, you will have to remove it once the year is up, and purchase a new one for installation. (The manufacturers have to make their money, after all).
Special note: I would advise you to immediately replace The Norton Antivirus software that you've removed from your computer with another brand of your choice as quickly as possible. I don't think that I need to remind you of just how vulnerable a computer connected to the internet is these days. Viruses can infect your computer without protection. 'Worms' (another type of software program) can get in. Spyware can get in. Spam can get in. Etc.
All of which can either seriously damage your computer, slow it down, or ruin your experience online. (None of which is desirable).
Here are the steps that are involved...
How To Uninstall Norton Antivirus & Internet Security
1) First, go to the "Start Menu" on the bottom left of your computer's screen, and...
2) Find and click on "Control Panel" icon/name. Then you will need to...
3) Find the "Add Or Remove Programs" icon and double-click it.
4) Here you'll see listed all of programs & applications that can be found on your computer. Find and select the antivirus, or the internet security version and click "Uninstall". (This may take a while for the 'list to be populated'. A few minutes tops, depending on how many programs that you have installed on your hard drive).
5) You will then need to Confirm that you want to uninstall the program by clicking on "Remove". Once done, the program name will disappear from the list of programs.
Unfortunately, this is not always fool proof as there are some files left on your registry and on your hard-drive that are required for Norton to properly function on your computer and to do it's job effectively.
So going the "Add/Remove Programs" route may only get part or most of the job done.
In the unlikely event that this is the case, don't despair as I used to when confronted by a situation where technology didn't always 'obey my commands'. There are also stand alone software applications called 'uninstallers' that work great in these situations.
(And the great part is, it can handle everything in less steps than the method described above...3 to be exact).
1) Open the software, and it will start removing the Norton Antivirus application.
2) Once that has been done, the uninstaller will scan both your registry, and your hard-drive.
3) If the uninstaller found any related files, then it will delete them immediately.
This known as "force uninstalling" Norton Internet Security automatically.
A fourth step that I would recommend is to do a Google search for uninstallers. That should give you tons of software options to choose from.
Uninstalling Norton Antivirus or any other internet security suit doesn't seem like such a daunting task now, does it? In just 5 (or 3) steps, your done. Good luck.
Seemed like such a large mountain to climb until I did a bit of research on the matter, and decided to write this article to share it with you.
Read our Editors' review on Protect Your Computer From Viruses, Hackers, and Spies
In fact the removal process has essentially five steps that anyone, regardless of their technology background and experience.
But before we get into the 'how' of removing Norton Antivirus, let's examine the 'why'. Why would anyone want to remove antivirus software from their computers? Seems counter productive, doesn't it? Wasn't the whole idea behind installing antivirus software applications for for protecting your computer and your online experience from bad things happening to it?
Uninstalling antivirus applications is like leaving the door unlocked, isn't it?
Believe it or not, there are several legitimate reasons for doing so.
1) Corruption. Sometimes software applications become corrupted and result in registry errors during normal use, with power outages, etc.
2) Yearly expiration dates. If you've installed these kinds of software before, you know that they require a special key code that validates their use for one year only. Meaning that afterwards, you will have to remove it once the year is up, and purchase a new one for installation. (The manufacturers have to make their money, after all).
Special note: I would advise you to immediately replace The Norton Antivirus software that you've removed from your computer with another brand of your choice as quickly as possible. I don't think that I need to remind you of just how vulnerable a computer connected to the internet is these days. Viruses can infect your computer without protection. 'Worms' (another type of software program) can get in. Spyware can get in. Spam can get in. Etc.
All of which can either seriously damage your computer, slow it down, or ruin your experience online. (None of which is desirable).
Here are the steps that are involved...
How To Uninstall Norton Antivirus & Internet Security
1) First, go to the "Start Menu" on the bottom left of your computer's screen, and...
2) Find and click on "Control Panel" icon/name. Then you will need to...
3) Find the "Add Or Remove Programs" icon and double-click it.
4) Here you'll see listed all of programs & applications that can be found on your computer. Find and select the antivirus, or the internet security version and click "Uninstall". (This may take a while for the 'list to be populated'. A few minutes tops, depending on how many programs that you have installed on your hard drive).
5) You will then need to Confirm that you want to uninstall the program by clicking on "Remove". Once done, the program name will disappear from the list of programs.
Unfortunately, this is not always fool proof as there are some files left on your registry and on your hard-drive that are required for Norton to properly function on your computer and to do it's job effectively.
So going the "Add/Remove Programs" route may only get part or most of the job done.
In the unlikely event that this is the case, don't despair as I used to when confronted by a situation where technology didn't always 'obey my commands'. There are also stand alone software applications called 'uninstallers' that work great in these situations.
(And the great part is, it can handle everything in less steps than the method described above...3 to be exact).
1) Open the software, and it will start removing the Norton Antivirus application.
2) Once that has been done, the uninstaller will scan both your registry, and your hard-drive.
3) If the uninstaller found any related files, then it will delete them immediately.
This known as "force uninstalling" Norton Internet Security automatically.
A fourth step that I would recommend is to do a Google search for uninstallers. That should give you tons of software options to choose from.
Uninstalling Norton Antivirus or any other internet security suit doesn't seem like such a daunting task now, does it? In just 5 (or 3) steps, your done. Good luck.
For more information, go to Kevin D. Rolle's site at
[http://videoadshere.com/] and click on the Links tab at the top right
of the site.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Kevin_D_Rolle/220916
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