I recently started using AVPE after using Norton for a few years. I went through the uninstall for Norton and I thought I had everything deleted. I was looking at my usage because I was running a little slow and I saw a NDETECT.EXE, LUCOMS~.EXE, and AUPDATE.EXE were running. Aren't those the update applications for Norton? I also looked and I still have a Symantec folder that has those programs along with other files. Norton was the only Symantec program I have used on my comp as far as I know. Do I need to delete that folder?

This is absolutely typical of Norton, you uninstall it, using Control Panel/Add-Remove programs, only to find that it has left behind a whole load of detritus which can interfere with your computer's performance. There really is no excuse for Symantec's sloppy programming practice.


These are the three processes you are referring to:-

http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/NDETECT/index.php

http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/lucoms/index.php

http://www.processlibrary.com/directory/files/AUPDATE/index.php


To get rid of these things I suggest you try the following:-

1) First of all run the Norton removal tool and follow the instructions given here:-

For NAV 2003 or earlier - http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/nav.nsf/df0a595864594c86852567ac0063608c/33497f6e8a319ece88256ace0076cc02?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam

For NAV 2004 or later - http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039?Open&src=&docid=2004093015165236&nsf=tsgeninfo.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=

2) Having used the above tool and rebooted, you should then use Start/Search to find and delete any remaining 'Symantec'/'Norton' files. Unhide your 'hidden' files in Explorer to do this:- http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=62

3) Use a good Registry cleaner to eliminate any remaining references to 'Symantec'. I would recommend Regseeker:- http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm
but care should be taken with this prog. It is better only to remove the items clearly marked 'Symantec' and 'Norton' initially, and ensure back-ups are kept.

4) Lastly, if you are confident with the use of Regedit, you can search the Registry for the remaining references to Symantec/Norton. This step is not essential and should only be done if the appropriate back-ups are made of each key edited.


Finally, a word of caution, I have heard reports that some people running the SymNRT tool, for removal of NAV 2004 or later, have subsequently experienced difficulties in performing Windows updates as a consequence; if this tool applies to you, you may prefer to rely on manual methods instead of taking the risk - it seems that if Symantec doesn't get you with its half removed remnants, it will get you with its removal tool!