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Situation:
This document explains the standard method to use to uninstall Norton SystemWorks and what steps to take if that method fails.

Solution:
To uninstall Norton SystemWorks (NSW), use the Windows uninstall utility, which is located in the Windows Control Panel.

How to uninstall NSW with the Windows uninstall utility

To uninstall NSW in Windows 98/Me/NT

1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel dialog box, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. In the Add/Remove Programs dialog box, on the Install/Uninstall tab, select the Norton SystemWorks entry.
4. Click Add/Remove.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall NSW.
6. Restart your computer after the uninstallation process is complete.

To uninstall NSW in Windows 2000

1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Programs > Norton SystemWorks > Norton SystemWorks.
2. Click Options.
3. In the Startup tab, uncheck all options.
4. Click OK and close Norton SystemWorks.
5. Restart the computer.
6. On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
7. In the Control Panel dialog box, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
8. In the Add/Remove Programs dialog box, the left pane, click Change or Remove Programs.
9. In the "Currently installed programs" box, select the Norton SystemWorks entry.
10. Click Change/Remove.
11. Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall NSW.
12. Restart your computer after the uninstallation process is complete.

To uninstall NSW in Windows XP

1. On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Programs > Norton SystemWorks > Norton SystemWorks.
2. Click Options.
3. In the Startup tab, uncheck all options.
4. Click OK and close Norton SystemWorks.
5. Restart the computer.
6. On the Windows taskbar, click Start > Control Panel.
7. In the Control Panel window, click "Add or Change Programs."
8. In the "Add or Change Programs" dialog box, double-click Norton SystemWorks.
9. Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall NSW.
10. Restart your computer after the uninstallation process is complete.

How to uninstall NSW when the Windows uninstall utility does not work
You can tell that the Windows uninstall utility did not successfully uninstall NSW when you see any of the following problems:

• The uninstall utility did not complete. For instance, if you saw an error message and clicked OK, the uninstall utility may have stopped.
• The uninstall utility did complete. However, when you install NSW 2002/2003/2004, you see a message that indicates that NSW is still installed.
• The uninstall utility did complete. However, after you install NSW 2002/2003/2004, you see a problem that is known to be caused by a file or registry entry that is for a previous NSW version.

When the Windows uninstall utility fails to successfully uninstall NSW, you can uninstall NSW with other methods. Because NSW is a large program with many functions, these other uninstallation methods may be time-consuming. To minimize the work required to uninstall NSW with these other methods, read the document Removing your Norton program using SymNRT.

When to use SYMClean
Symantec provides a supplementary uninstallation tool, SYMClean, to remove selected files and registry entries for NSW 2003 and earlier that are sometimes not removed by the Windows uninstall program.

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Note: Using SYMClean may require that you uninstall and reinstall all Symantec programs that are on the computer.

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SYMClean has a number of limitations:

• SYMClean is not designed to be a replacement for the Windows uninstall program. Because it does not fully remove all NSW files and registry entries, it should be used only after using or attempting to use the Windows uninstall program.
• SYMClean is not designed to remove NSW 2004.
• SYMClean is not designed to remove most NSW 2003 files and registry entries.

SYMClean should be used only as a last resort, when the Windows uninstall program fails or the Windows uninstall program does not fully remove the files or registry entries that NSW requires be removed.

For more information about when to use SYMClean, read the documents Introduction to SYMClean and Removing your Norton program using SymNRT.

Technical Information:
Windows uninstall program
The Windows uninstall utility can be accessed in more than one way. Each of the following methods for starting the Windows uninstall utility start the same utility. The uninstallation is the same regardless of which of the following methods you choose:

• Select the "Add/Remove Programs" or "Add or Change Programs" icon in the Windows Control Panel.
• Choose "Uninstall Norton SystemWorks" from the Start menu.
• Have the NSW installation start the uninstallation for you.

 

Document ID: 2001074957656166
Last Modified: 07/15/2005
Date Created: 07/27/2001
Operating System(s): Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, Windows XP
Product(s): Norton SystemWorks 2002

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