What are symantec folders doing in my PC? can i safely delete them

Symantec = Norton, does it not. I have 3 folders (and within them subfolders and files):
c:\Program Files(x86)\CommonFiles\Symantec Shared
c:\ProgramData\Symantec
c:Users\All Users\Symantec
I do not have anything installed by symantec. The only thing I may have done, many months ago, is use their online antivirus scan or something to this effect. Anyhow, even after doing so I usually uninstall whatever was installed. And I do not see anything now in my Ctrl Panel--Program & features-Add remove programs
I am assuming then that its uninstaller did not do a complete job. Should I and can I just delete these folders? Or should I use CCleaner or something?
All advice would be appreciated

If you have already removed the Symantec/ Norton entries from Add/ Remove Programs, then go ahead and remove the Symantec entries you found elsewhere. It will cause no harm to your PC.

If you have CCleaner, run it's registry cleaner next.

What Internet security program do you use?

Thank you john. I deleted the folder and ran CCleaner but I wonder if it is not as good as it used to be. I just ran it and it found nothing. And on numerous other occasions also the results were questionable--no trace of program XYZ eventhough I could see folders or other stuff. Anyhow, thanks again

Check this. Start Orb>Search, type Symantec, nothing? Now type Norton, still nothing? Then mostl likely their gone.

For myself, I manually remove old left over entries from the Registry using regedit.

John

Hi though I feel comfortable using regedit and have done so many times before there are entries there, which at times are best left alone--it may be for ex. a virus reference or a reference to a link or file which in turn is linked to something else etc. etc. Some of these, as u know, have names like {wt6578962342101bvikegufqugf} so I now really question this action. The question one would ask is, why did CCleaner, for example choose not to mention this or that particular registry entry? Thanks again

CCleaner may not pick up the fragment. Try rebooting and run it again.

Using regedit to remove old entries.

Type regedit, expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER>expand Software, remove entry from the list by r-clicking and selecting Delete. (If Symantec or Norton were still there).

Close HKEY_CURRENT_USER. Now expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>expand software, remove entry from the list by r-clicking and selecting Delete.

At the bottom of the software list here, look for and expand Wow6432Node, remove the entry from the list by r-clicking and selecting Delete.

Removing startup entries, (HKCU and HKLM) expand software, expand Microsoft, expand Windows, expand Currentversion, expand Run. The right pane is where you would remove a startup entry.

I do not recommend you do any of this unless you have more experience. Depending on what is being removed, will dictate the path and steps you perform.

Again, this is something I personally do, and do not recommend others to try this.

But, you asked, so here it is.

Hope this doesn't set someone off. LOL

John

Always set a restore point before editing the Registry.

You can also click on the View tab to Find "Norton" and "Symantec" to delete each found key, then click Find Next until no more are found.

If you used only the online scanner I wouldn't worry about it unless you have performance problems, as long as you have a perfect install. Only the bloatware is problematic as seen regularly in BSOD's and other issues here for all 5 years.

pintree3 said:

Symantec = Norton, does it not. I have 3 folders (and within them subfolders and files):
c:\Program Files(x86)\CommonFiles\Symantec Shared
c:\ProgramData\Symantec
c:Users\All Users\Symantec
I do not have anything installed by symantec. The only thing I may have done, many months ago, is use their online antivirus scan or something to this effect. Anyhow, even after doing so I usually uninstall whatever was installed. And I do not see anything now in my Ctrl Panel--Program & features-Add remove programs
I am assuming then that its uninstaller did not do a complete job. Should I and can I just delete these folders? Or should I use CCleaner or something?
All advice would be appreciated

Hello pintree3,

I am Vineeth and I am from the Norton Support team. The files you listed are the leftovers of your previously installed Norton product and they don't cause any harm to your computer. However, you can delete them if you wish. Search for "Norton" and "Symantec" on Windows explorer and delete them. if you are planning to remove these entries from registry, please make sure that you take a backup of registry before you delete the entries.

If you need any help or if you have further questions, please let me know.

Thanks!

Vineeth