Introduction to SYMClean

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Introduction to SYMClean

Situation:
You want to know more about the Symantec Application Cleanup Utility (SYMClean).

Solution:
Symantec provides the SYMClean utility, SymClean.exe, to remove portions of Norton SystemWorks 2002/2001 that are not removed by the Windows Add or Remove Programs utility.

Important: Do not use this document to remove Norton SystemWorks 2003 or later. SYMClean has not been updated to remove those versions. If Add or Remove Programs failed to completely remove Norton SystemWorks 2003 or later, then read Using the Norton Removal Tool. That document provides a completely automated removal tool for Norton 2003 or later products.

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When to use SYMClean

How to obtain the latest version of SYMClean

Which files and registry entries are removed

Products that SYMClean removes

Examples of when to use SYMClean

Technical Information:
Reinstalling Norton SystemWorks 2003 or Norton SystemWorks 2004
Because installing Norton SystemWorks over the same or previous versions can cause conflicts between Norton SystemWorks files, Norton SystemWorks 2003 and Norton SystemWorks 2004 require that you remove all versions of Norton SystemWorks and its components before installing Norton SystemWorks.

When you install Norton SystemWorks, the installation looks for specific files and registry entries to determine whether Norton SystemWorks is still on the computer. If those entries are present, the Norton SystemWorks installation does not proceed unless you first choose to uninstall Norton SystemWorks.

In some situations, after you uninstall Norton SystemWorks and its components through the Windows Add/Remove Programs utility, those specific files and registry entries remain. In this situation, even though you uninstalled Norton SystemWorks, the Norton SystemWorks installation reports that Norton SystemWorks or one of its components is still on the computer.

For Norton SystemWorks 2003, SYMClean resolves this problem by removing the specific files and registry entries that Norton SystemWorks 2003 looks for, enabling the Norton SystemWorks 2003 installation to continue. Enabling the installation to proceed by removing just these entries is sometimes referred to as forcing the installation.

References:
Message: "The SYMClean tool has detected no additional items. . ." and the NSW installation still detects items
How to use the Norton SystemWorks cleanup utility (SYMClean)

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Document ID: 2003033111445907
Last Modified: 10/20/2008
Date Created: 03/31/2003
Operating System(s): Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Me, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0
Product(s): Norton SystemWorks 2003, Norton SystemWorks 2004