How can I completely uninstall and delete Norton from my laptop?

[Alastair Moonsong]

I just reformatted my laptop to factory-fresh, just-out-of-the-box spec, both to clear out old junk files and to repair a software issue. Unfortunately this means all the trialware that came with the laptop was reinstalled as well, including the Norton Antivirus trial.

I don't use Norton. I hate it. I want it dead and gone from my computer, totally and permanently and beyond recovery. This is something I have never been able to do - no matter how much Norton/Symantec software I delete and uninstall, how many times I run Find on my drives to try to hunt it down, no matter how many times I say I don't want to register for Norton, it keeps coming back, like some sort of digital zombie. Even when I think I've eradicated it - nope! I get that damn Norton security warning whenever I try to do, well, anything. Even though the trial is expired and the files deleted/uninstalled, somehow Norton still wants me to be aware of a "threat" (which is invariably something I'm deliberately trying to do) and confirm/deny the operation in question. It's more insidious than any virus I've ever gotten and I'm sick of it.

So, how can I eradicate this worthless pile of bits and bytes? What programs can I run, and what files can I delete, to make sure that I never, ever see the words Norton or Symantec or that goddamn yellow pop-up warning box again?

Please help, I'm at my wits' end here!

[KneadToKnow]

Tried this yet?

Norton Removal Tool

[ctnguy]

In theory, the Norton Removal Tool should get rid of it. You could also try the PC Decrapifier.

[R. P. McMurphy]

Norton is the virus that they warned us about.

You will get better results by subscribing to the "Do not call" list than you will by trying to get rid of Norton.

Norton is evil!

[Turble]

The only way I have ever found to actually completely remove Norton is to do a fresh install of Windows using only a Windows CD, not a brand name factory restore CD.