# Uninstall Norton **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 23, 2009, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uninstall-norton/494076 "2009-04-23T07:40:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Harry1945](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Harry1945](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harry1945)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uninstall-norton/494076/1 "2009-04-23T07:40:21Z")
My new laptop came with a trial version of Norton Anti-virus software that I don’t want to use…I have my own preference already installed on my desktops. I can’t seem to uninstall Norton. It’s a Vista machine from H-P, and the Norton discs weren’t shipped with it. I’ve had the Control Panel Remove programs screen up with Norton/Symmantec selected for as long as an hour with no discernable progress in removal. What to do? ---
**Author:** ![GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f1d935/32.png) [@GSV\_Consolation\_of\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GSV_Consolation_of_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uninstall-norton/494076/2 "2009-04-23T11:33:48Z")
I think Norton make a special program available on their website just for uninstalling their other software. Have a look there first. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uninstall-norton/494076/3 "2009-04-23T11:47:22Z")
The only useful information I can provide to the OP is that have been several threads on the boards before regarding Norton and the difficulty of completely removing it, to the point that I understand the only way to fully do so is to re-format the hard drive and then re-load the operating system without Norton. This, of course, is not recommended unless you are reasonably expert in computing (I would not describe myself as such). If you do a search using your thread title as the terms you may come up with some more useful information. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uninstall-norton/494076/4 "2009-04-23T12:19:39Z")
[Norton Removal Tool](http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039) ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uninstall-norton/494076/5 "2009-04-23T14:52:04Z")
Revo Uninstaller worked for me. > **[Uninstall Software, Remove programs easily - Revo Uninstaller Pro](https://www.revouninstaller.com/)** > > Clean removal of any program from your PC. Uninstall and remove programs and software in Windows with Revo Uninstaller Pro easily! ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uninstall-norton/494076/6 "2009-04-23T17:12:33Z")
> [@Convict](#): > > Revo Uninstaller worked for me. > > [http://www.revouninstaller.com/](http://www.revouninstaller.com/) Second that, it worked for me too. This free program not only removes the program itself, but also cleans out all the places it has insinuated itself in your Registry and File system. Works equally well for any other program, cleaning up everything. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uninstall-norton/494076/7 "2009-04-23T17:20:41Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > [Norton Removal Tool](http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039) This worked for me.