Step 1: Methods for uninstalling Symantec Endpoint Protection. Step 2: Symantec CleanWipe Utility. Step 3: Contact Symantec Technical Support. Symantec helps consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored.
For Windows 7 User: Click Start, and then go to Control Panel. Select Programs, and then click Programs and Features. Find out Symantec Endpoint Protection option and then select it, click Uninstall. This document explains how to manually uninstall and remove all Symantec products when the usual way of uninstalling programs has failed. Before following the procedures in this document, you should attempt to uninstall Syamntec using their included utility first: Symantec Endpoint Protection (Mac) - Uninstallation Instructions.
An old friend contacted me today and asked me to help him to remove a virus infection on his desktop. I checked his computer and there is an enterprise version of antivirus called Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) installed but there were no Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager which acts as a server to manage the SEP clients on the network. It is possible that the Symantec Endpoint Protection is installed as an unmanaged client but the virus definition hasn’t been updated for a very long time and I couldn’t manually update the signature from the LiveUpdate program. I may as well uninstall the Symantec Endpoint Protection since it couldn’t update the virus definition to detect the latest virus and replace it with a free antivirus such as Avira, Avast, AVG or Microsoft Security Essentials.
I went to Control Panel and ran the Programs and Features shortcut icon. Found Symantec Endpoint Protection and I clicked on the Remove button. The progress bar ran for a while and a dialog box pop out saying “Please enter the uninstall password“.
I asked my friend and he don’t know the password. The Norton Removal Tool only works on home products but not for enterprise products. It is not possible for me to install any other type of antivirus if i do not remove the Symantec Endpoint Protection client first. Even if I could, it is still not advisable to be running two different antivirus at the same time which can cause conflict and slow down of the system.
After research, I found out how to remove the password so that I can uninstall Symantec Endpoint Protection. The first step that you should do is try a few possible password. Some of the most common password being used for Symantec Endpoint Protection are:
symantec
admin
password
12345
norton
If none of the password above worked for you, continue reading and we’ll show you step by step on how to clear the password by simply deleting a registry key. The registry key is protected from modification by Symantec Endpoint Protection. In order to delete the registry key, you will need to stop the Symantec Endpoint Protection service first.
1. Click the Start button, type cmd in the Search programs and files bar, hold Ctrl+Shift and press Enter. Click the Yes button on the User Account Control window.
2. Type start smc -stop in the command prompt and press Enter.
3. Download this registry file and run it (SmcInstData.reg) on your computer to remove the password. You can now proceed to uninstall Symantec Endpoint Protection. Alternatively, you can also manually delete the registry key by following the instructions below if you do not want to use the registry file that we’ve created for your convenience.
3a. Again click the Start button, this time type regedit and press Enter.
3c. Look for “SmcInstData” at the right pane, right click on it and select Delete. Click Yes to confirm the registry key deletion.
You can now uninstall Symantec Endpoint Protection without being prompted to enter a password. If for some reason you’re unable to successfully stop the Symantec Endpoint Protection service from step 2, please follow the instructions below for an alternative method in stopping the service.
1. Download this registry file (SepMasterService.reg) to your computer.
2. Boot the computer into Safe Mode.
3. Run the SepMasterService.reg file that you’ve downloaded from step 1 by double clicking on it.
4. Restart your computer and uninstall Symantec Endpoint Protection from Control Panel. You will not be prompted to enter a password.
Basically the SepMasterService.reg file changes the startup type of the SepMasterService service from Automatic to Manual. If you are familiar with modifying the Windows registry, you can manually do it yourself by changing the Start registry key value data from 2 to 3 at the path below:
Once you’ve successfully removed Symantec Endpoint Protection, here are some of our recommendations to the best antivirus to keep your computer safe from malware.
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248 Comments - Write a Comment
i tried to delete it but it says “unable to delete all specified values”
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GuestNow1 month ago
this got it solved symantec.com/connect/blogs/remove-smc-password-without-applying-policy-server
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Try suggestion of Users > TryThisOne & Loco – thumbs up! thanks for the genuine help*it did work!!!
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Manjunath S M6 months ago
I have successfully stopped SEP 14 service by following methods. 1. Restart your machine in safe mode (Use can use “msconfig” command) 2. Press windows R, type “regedit” and hit enter 3. Navigate to SEP registry and change “SepMasterService” registry and “SNAC” registry values to 4 4. Click “OK” 5. Restart your machine in safe mode. 6. Your SEP will be disabled!!!!!!!!!!
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Does it affects the client pc by enabling the pendrive mode after that how block the pendrive mode
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Adi9 months ago
Hello all! I have the same issue, I tried all the above options without success. Apparently Windows 10 blocked or disabled or whatever (I really don’t understand much about software and computers in general) the Symantec Endpoint Protection and now I can’t get rid of it!! Please, does anyone have any idea what I can do? Thanks!
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Hi Team,
When I run “SepMasterService.reg” it says cannot import error.
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Steve2 years ago
So here’s what happened to me. I tried all the steps above and none worked. So I did these to me it work; 1. Do step 2 in SAFE MODE 2. Delete the SmcIncData in SAFE MODE (Because it failed in Normal Mode) 3. Restart 4. Uninstall Symantec from Control Panel
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Hi Steve! I did what you said – deleted the SmcInsData in safe mode, but when I restart the computer the file is still there! and I can’t uninstall… Do you know why? What can I do?
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mar3 months ago
It works, Thanks.
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How I did it – modified version from TryThisOne
1. Boot into safe-mode with networking 2. Run this in elevated command prompt: REG ADD “HKLMSYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSafeBootNetworkMSIServer” /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D “Service” 3. run net start msiserver 4. Open task manager and end process on any ccSvcHst.exe processes. Takes a few times to kill it off. 5. Search registry from hklmsoftware for SmcInstData and delete it 6. Uninstall SEP.
Thanks TryThisOne as all the other methods here didn’t work for me but your did.
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Ehab Asfour2 years ago
Easiest way is to disable all Symantec Antivirus Corporate edition services, reboot the server/PC, uninstall SAV. That’s all. you won’t see the password prompt.
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Hi
I didnot have SAV, but had only SEP 12 with password ). Laptop from corporation.
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TryThisOne2 years ago
And it is not possible to stop services without password
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When i type “start smc -stop” it again asks for a password. This article of yours gave me a ray of hope to get rid of this shitty protection software, but now i need a password to stop it. What else can be done?
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TryThisOne2 years ago
Hi,
try this – it helped me after dozens of tries: 1. Boot into Safe Mode (only), 2. Create the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSafeBootMinimalmsiserver (If you also want it available in Safe Mode w/ Networking, add the “msiserver” key under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSafeBootNetwork key found here as well) 3. Edit the “(Default)” value in the new “msiserver” registry key, and enter “Service” in the “Value Data” box. Click OK, and close the registry editor. 4. Reboot back into Safe Mode, and the Windows Installer service should now run and allow you to add or remove programs in Safe Mode. 5. Download Process Explorer and Kill process tree C:Program Files (x86)SymantecSymantec Endpoint Protection12.1BinccSvcHst.exe – you should kill it several times – till it disappear. 6. Click the Start button, type cmd in the Search programs and files bar, hold Ctrl+Shift and press Enter. Click the Yes button on the User Account Control window. 7. Type start smc -stop in the command prompt and press Enter 8. Change the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARESymantecSymantec Endpoint ProtectionSMCsmc_exit_test from 1 to 0 prior to stopping the service and delete the SmcInstData key located under HKLMSOFTWARESymantecSymantec Endpoint ProtectionSMC 9. Finally, Start the Symantec Endpoint Protection uninstall in usual way
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Many thanks
Your SmcInstData.reg registry fix did the trick, after much struggling with Symantec suggestions for manual uninstall…
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Farzad3 years ago
thank man :) with “symantec” B)
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Thanks, it works but i’ve removed the SmcInstData from this key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeSymantecSymantec Endpoint ProtectionSMC
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Awe2 years ago
Great , it works to me also
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perfect solution
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Zeeshan4 years ago
Thanx Christopher B
I have tried all the above option. When i tried last option i.e. SepMasterService.reg the system prompted me for error of installation log missing.
I will be obliged if you can further guide please.
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Thanks Alot! this was the only solution I found to be working perfectly!
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Romas4 years ago
I tried all these options – no one helped. Helped only thing – CleanWipe utility from symantec. To download instalation package with this you must to know serial number of your antivirus. I do not know our corporate number so I found some on internet M0237691335.
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when i click to change value or delete the smcinstdata file it keeps saying the error “Cannot edit SmcInstData: Error writing the value’s new contents.” what do i do??? please help, i cant even download Norton that i have because it keeps saying ive got another norton product installed, then the uninstall password stops from uninstallation.
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ChristopherB4 years ago
If you open Symantec UI there is an option to allow making changes to symantec reg files. I had the same error and after i disabled the option i could change the binary key value of SmcIsntData
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Thanks alot ! The default was Symantec in my case!
Ditto thanks, Win 10 doesn’t want symantec, and doing it on a sunday when no IT people around. Tired of Win7 since been using Win 10 since December on my personal notebook.
the values in registry you asked to change were already to the desired values, still everytime I go to uninstall, pop-up asking for password appeared.
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good it works pwd = symantec
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Yassine5 years ago
The second method worked perfectly well. This tutorial should rank #1 on search engines, even better than the Symantec support website :)
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none of the options did work at the first , but in safe mode second option did work .
Thanx for the help
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Hector6 years ago
Thank you so much!! it works perfect for me!
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Thanks buddy, it worked for me!!
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Erik7 years ago
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!
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WORK GREAT THANKS
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oxman7 years ago
the password symantec. it works thanks
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so happy I found this page, thank you so much
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Ben8 years ago
Thanks, password was symantec.
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omg. thank you so much. i have been looking for an answer for over a week now. thank you so much.
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Rodge in Sweden8 years ago
Thanks man!
Had the exact same situation here!
Your password worked fine :)
Thanks for the help!
Rodge
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Oh, God, thanks a lot for that. I’ve been trying to get rid of that thing for several hours now. I bought the AVG Threat Labs (avgthreatlabs.com) that apparently can scan webpages before you actually access them , which is great for me, since I am an intense internet user, but because of Symantec I could not install it. It kept blocking me. Now my comp is finally free. Thank youuuuuuu
It was solved for a number of computers, but one computer show “fatal error” and can not uninstall. Let me know that problem.
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Erica9 years ago
It worked like a charm!!!! Thank you
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U rock man!! It works
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ADT9 years ago
Friggin’ awesome. Thanks!
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yeahhhhhhhh it worked ……. thnkssss so much ….
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Nirjhar9 years ago
Thank you SO MUCH. You literally saved my ass.
REPSECT.
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YAY! Thank you soo much. You saved me from having to ask my company!! YAY!!
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beth9 years ago
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I finally got that thing off my computer!
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It worked!! Thanks for the info. I’ve been looking online for several hours for a solution. I didn’t want to pay for a program to remove a program. You saved me some $$$$. Thank you, thank you!
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mak9 years ago
it works….! Thanks….!
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thanks……….
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helpful9 years ago
thanks, this helped me!
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thanx dev……………symantec is the password.
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sam9 years ago
Thanks a million – spent an absolute age on tech support website & phone – no help there at all. Much appreciated :)
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that did work.
thanks.
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fireyin9 years ago
It’s work, thanks for your hekp
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you deserve applause dear. thanx a lot
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Keerthi9 years ago
This is very useful, let me time to do it
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That was clear and That was a great help. Key is correct.
Thanks a lot again.
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Calin9 years ago
very helpful; thanks !
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH :-)
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Bhupendra9 years ago
great job, thanx dear
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Very good
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Quiver099 years ago
Worked for me. Thank You
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Great Post, work Great Thanks
Sammy Lo
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ast9 years ago
thanks a lot. I was facing this problem from long time. ur help allowed me to unistall symantec succesfully.
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thanks it worked to my relief….thanks alot
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julia robert9 years ago
Thanks.it works for me…
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Wow tht was simple thanks for the help!
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Dennis9 years ago
Thanks a bunch dear! Worked liked a charm indeed :)
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Hey I just bought a used computer with Symantec on it and I couldn’t get it off but you totally fixed it thanks!
Riley
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R. J.10 years ago
Thank you very much! Worked perfectly (registry key was in the exact location you described).
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thanks a million, i waited forever on the hotline… and every tech support person on the phone told me the same thing, “that’s not my department let me give you this number to try”
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Ol10 years ago
Perfect!
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it worked thanks a lot mate
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Lord Vader10 years ago
It was so simple, even a caveman could it. Thanks for the info – saved me big time!!!
Lord Vader
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Many Thanks!
Perfectly explained… and WORKS!
Best Regards, Xavi.
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atul10 years ago
thanks a lot for solving my problem
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Thank you,it’s very good!!!
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Adam10 years ago
Worked a treat! Topman!
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thank u it works
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Rachel10 years ago
This helped so much! I went to a big university last year, but a year later now and I kept having the problem where I couldn’t install my own anti-virus. I’d looked so many times, but everything I found wanted me to download something, and I thought screw that! Thank you SO much!
I was able to get rid of this old version, in the most simple way.
Works For me…
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slayer3n10 years ago
Thanks, this really work :)
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Worked perfectly. Thank you!
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Anonymous10 years ago
i got an error message but what you told me to do worked fine. thanks!
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thanks a lot……….it really worked…….hope u carry on such things in ur life!!!!!!!!
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Keith10 years ago
Thanks
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Does work “symantec” :)
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Dorissa10 years ago
Worked liked a cham!!! Thanks
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WOW that saved our company a ton of money – we couldn’t do anything with one of our computers and your tip took care of the problem – thank you sooooo much
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Alicia10 years ago
Thanks so much for your input…i have been trying to get rid of that stupid program for months…you rock…:)
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Dude, u saved my days… Worked like charm. Thank you… =^.^=
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ED10 years ago
I had disabled symantec in MS config. When I changed the reg value the uninstall didn’t work, until I reinabled symantic. Big help. Thanks
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Thank you so much for your help – although many have said that! I got Symantec installed on my computer when I was in college – but I haven’t been able to install any other antivirus programs because it was still on my computer even though I’m nowhere near that old campus! It’s great how easy you made everything and how helpful you were! Thank you again!
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Attila10 years ago
You are the best !!!!
I was able to get rid of this old version, in the most simple way.
cheers
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u rock man u just did in on fingers.love u
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kaustubh nimdeo10 years ago
hey… thnaks buddy :D worked really well … wonder how u pple have such a deep knowledge about registries :) . TY again!!
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hey thanks it worked out for me i was searching for it thank u very much
By the way Default Password is Symantec for Uninstalling
Cheer………………………….
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Perfect11 years ago
Amazing, thank you so much
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Thanks a lot!
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Sten11 years ago
Thans works perfect
Sten
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Thanks… that was a one click solution for me!
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Vicky11 years ago
You hooked me up! Thanks!
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old post, but helped me out on some old servers. Thanks a lot:)
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firerant11 years ago
Sonofagun…there are still gems of wisdom on the net. Thanks a million!
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thanks a lot!!!
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Aji Mathew11 years ago
Thanks, It works like magic. I am trying it for many days
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Fantastic! You don’t want to know how long I’ve neen fighting this thing. I can’t thank you enough!
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jay11 years ago
clever boy
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Thank-you for being kind enough to take your time and help us all!
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Suhas11 years ago
Thank You……All I can say is Awesome
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much appreciated, thankyou!
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dragon11 years ago
thank’s a loooot allah yestrek thank you 10000000 time ! lol iI mean it !!!!!!
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thanks man , works greate :::)
Force Symantec Endpoint Uninstall
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Marat11 years ago
Hey, man! Thanks a million times! I just couldn’t get rid of this shitware because of the password and you saved my day! And the uninstall password – how did you come up with it? It was so simple I feel dumb ass!
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The internets need more people like you!
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Kevin11 years ago
You win at life. Thank you.
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Thanks so much!! So ironic when an anti-virus program is more difficult to get rid of than a virus!!
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Ryan11 years ago
worked great….thanks
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thanks alooooooooooooooooot
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Trevor11 years ago
Thank you so much, the default password worked
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You are a life-saver. Thanks, and I will remember this tip.
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Casey11 years ago
You Rock! Thank you!
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Fantastic, it works wery well, thanks a lot. I had the same big problem, and now with your method it’s alright.
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GP11 years ago
Thanks! Totally helped me out!
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MAGIC! Thanks a million!
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Paul11 years ago
You rock! Thanks a bunch for making this so much easier and faster!
Worked exactly as written!!!
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I’m comment no. 91, but heck, i guess the world can’t thank you enough!! Awesome post – thankyou SO so much. May you live long and well, young skywalker. cheers from India!
Thanks dude that saved me some time and frusration :)
Darwin Australia
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Wayne11 years ago
Thanks Man!
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Thanks from Melbourne, worked nicely for me too.
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Speedy11 years ago
Thank you!!!!! I have looked for password everywhere, ^^ thanks yet again!!!
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It works great! Thank you very much!
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EDGAR11 years ago
VERY GOOOOOD
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This worked. Go ahead and try this solution. The uninstall afte the registry change does not even ask for a password again. How does someone find these details out – especially the registray keys and values that needs to be changed, is there a tool to help with this ?
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Nate12 years ago
Thanks Dude! I have Avast Pro and now I can finally use it without disabling things!
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Thank you for this post!!!!!
—Shawn
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Me12 years ago
Thanks guys/gals!
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thanks for this
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Jake12 years ago
People helping people. Gotta love the power of the Internet. Thanks!
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You are REAALLY SMART
Thanx aloot
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Shane12 years ago
Sweet!! Saved me some grief. Thanks for the answer!
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awesome! thanks!!!
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Ivan12 years ago
Top post dude -> what its all about!
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thnx a l0t raymond
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Sampath12 years ago
Tks a lot dear. This is great
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Manually Uninstall Symantec Endpoint Protection
great advice thanks for the help
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solokkhz12 years ago
it worked great
solokkhz
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what a default password, lol. glad this was here, else i would have manually uninstalled, ugh.
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Bob12 years ago
Thanks for posting this. I knew it would be set in the registry but I had no clue where.
Raymond You save my day. Thanks a million of Tons Time.
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letal12 years ago
thanks. from turkiye
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Thanks from Brazil. It worked like a glove to me.
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THANKS!12 years ago
THANKS!!!!! WORKED WELL!!
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Worked fine It’s easy. Thanks
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GW12 years ago
Worked great ! Too easy. Thanks
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Worked like a charm, thanks!
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Paige12 years ago
Thank you for the easy to follow instructions! You rock!!
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thanks a lot ………. i have relief from symantec……….thanks
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Tony Romo12 years ago
Great Info
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thanks mate.
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alfred12 years ago
You’re a genius. It worked really fine.
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thanks your grate
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mohan bhargav12 years ago
Thanks a lot
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To say you rule is an understatement of massive proportions.
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Doug12 years ago
Raymond you are my Hero!
Thank you so much from all of us here in Portland, OR.
Jesse messed up, I told him I would tell you about it.
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Really i don’t know what to add on the words i read before,really really thanks you, i am the IT manager in a big school and i had about 600 computers,about 100 of them were cloned from each others and were not updated the definitions and i couldn’t remove the antivirus,so i had to format them,but only after i read how to edit the registery for not be prombt for a password anymore , i could uninstall and reinstall again norton corporate v9.1.
Thank you again
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maria jose12 years ago
I cannot thank you more for this info. I was going LOCA LOCA. Gracias!
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Hi, Thank you its working i am very happy, bcoz i tryd all the method this is easy …. regards shanth
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Julik12 years ago
omg !
thanks .
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Thank you! That worked, I really appreciate the tip.
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Random guy12 years ago
Thanks!
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than you so much that worked for me as well
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clandestino12 years ago
thank u!!!
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I had the same problem and found out that (9 out of 10 times) the password is “symantec”.
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felipe12 years ago
it worked perfectly, Thanks!
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Worked perfectly. Thank you so much.
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Sam12 years ago
Thanks mate,
This saved me a lot of frustrations and waisted time.
Cheers
Sam
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THANKS!!!!!
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Alex Ho12 years ago
You help me out as well!! Thanks.
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Thanks alot for the help!
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Shawn12 years ago
Thanks for the help on symantec removal I had to take the regestry route thanks again
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thank you very much Mario
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david12 years ago
u saved my computer!! when i download a new antivirus software i had 32 viruses!!!
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THANK YOU:)
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Chris Larson12 years ago
Thank you so much.
I have been looking for this.
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Manual Uninstall Symantec Endpoint
raymond .cc blog has realy been solved my problem
Thank You,
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Ewnetu12 years ago
Thank you, it functions successfully after using regedit process
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OMG. I could kiss you right now. I just searched forEVER to find out how to uninstall symantec without a password and you are the only person on the web that could tell me how to do it without manually uninstalling it! Thank you, Thank you, Thank YOU!!!
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t12 years ago
you’re a genius thanks so much!
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Worked for me too. I also had to use the Find functionjust like Greyhaiweenie
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Greyhairweenie13 years ago
Worked like a charm! The key was not in the specified location on this machine, but the Find function located it for me.