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I remember when Peter Norton was a legend among legends, and Norton Utilities were a must-have in your toolkit.
I'm just setting up a new desktop (an Acer) and am cleaning out the bloatware that seems to have metastasised throughout the machine. I'm up to Norton anti-virus and on the uninstall screen is a checkbox (pre-checked) at the end of the "Are you sure you want to uninstall" dialog that looks exactly like a "I agree to the terms of use" checkbox.
Except it isn't.
It says "Get layered protection by allowing Norton Security Scan to be activated and periodically scan your computer for viruses, spyware malware and other threats".
So on the "I want to uninstall Norton Security" dialog is a pre-checked dim grey checkbox specifically asking you to allow them to install a Norton security product.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote: Norton Utilities were a must-have in your toolkit.
Oh yes!
Chris Maunder wrote: cleaning out the bloatware
FORMAT C:
It's the only way to be sure... 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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OriginalGriff wrote: FORMAT C:
I juste tried it, and interestingly, it also remove windows.
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Does that count as another virus gone, or more bloatware? 
There are times when I think Win10 is a form of ransomware...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Another Trojan removed, methinks.
WINE is becoming good enough these days, that I can't imagine a situation in which my own money will ever pay for another copy of Windows again. When usage stats were automatically sent and the ability to forgo updates was removed, they jumped the shark. Removing Aero and also the visual cues a 3d interface provide shows they let the young kids that didn't bother with history drive the ship.
When I've gotta pay (for stuff I don't want) to play every day, they can just elephant right off. My network access is expensive (mobile broad-band). It's an added expense for the ability to use a product which delivers a diminished experience. A total no-brainer for me.
Others naturally, get far better mileage since the horror-show change of direction started with Win8.
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enhzflep wrote: WINE is becoming good enough these days
It has been for centuries! I personally enjoy few glasses of a nice Cabernet Shiraz... 
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I'm surprised it took this long for someone to come at the recursive backronym from this angle. Fun.
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Sounds like a win-win to me!
... such stuff as dreams are made on
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OriginalGriff wrote:
FORMAT C:
I know, I know, and this will come back to bite me, I'm sure.
I need the machine up and running yesterday, though, so I'm taking a chance. 
cheers
Chris Maunder
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- Make a backup of the entire disk
- Clean install your O/S of choice and any desired applications (including the backup utility)
- Restore any data required from the backup
- Profit!
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.
--Winston Churchill
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I always buy a copy of windows to install onto a new laptop. Their pre-installed windows is usually polluted with crap that doesn't work all the way. I understand the reason they (the laptop manufacturers) do it, but they should also provide a restore point that allows you to eliminate the crap-ware in one fell swoop instead of forcing you to either a) delete each crap-ware package one at a time, or b) force you to do it the way I do it - with an unfettered copy of Windows (which takes a LOT less time).
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013
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Somewhere Mr. Norton is tied up and duct taped with only the muffled "Let me go! - who are you people"
audible from him.
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Norton was gold back in the day.
The Peter Norton assembly language book and "programmers reference" were just awesome.
Seems like nothings that damn good anymore.
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Chris Maunder wrote: It says "Get layered protection
You know, when the rest of the world says this... it means something totally different.
Jeremy Falcon
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For Chris it means he's going out for a long bike ride in -10°C temperatures.
Software Zen: delete this;
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I think about -4C was my coldest this season. I am getting soft in my old age.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Same here. I haven't run outside in over a month, for largely the same reason.
Software Zen: delete this;
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I can't believe it took 13hrs for someone to make that joke.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Better late than never.
Jeremy Falcon
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Some years ago (XP days?) I had a Norton infestation. They actually had one good and useful (free) product. A "remove everything Norton" tool. No idea if it's still there, but it might be worth a look.
Cheers,
Peter
Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012
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There was a time when Norton was good and loved by all. Norton Commander anyone? It could be removed simply with del *.*
Ok there were some people that used xTree Gold but we don't talk about them.
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When I buy a new machine like this, I blow out everything and start fresh with a clean install of the OS, then take it from there.
IMHO, you are wasting your time trying to delete from the machine what you don't want; some of which, will never leave.
Just a thought.
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I just gave up on trying to be Mr Nice Guy.
Blowing away partition and starting from scratch.
Why does this have to be so painful?
(and as a Windows user I have to say: Apple does this WAY, way better)
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote: Why does this have to be so painful?
I often ask myself the same question, and I often get no answers. 
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