New laptop setup, need some help "finding" icons and getting rid of Norton!

I just got a new laptop which runs Vista. I did the Windows Updates and upon reboot I am missing my "Volume" icon and my "Internet Connection" Icon in the lower right hand toolbar. Does anyone know how to get these back??

Also, I would like to remove the Norton 2009 Free-Trial and install the free AVG. I have heard this is a serious pain and you must do it correctly to avoid major issues with your computer. Can anyone give me very detailed instructions on how to do so? My computer skills aren't the best.

I appreciate any help!
Thanks!!

 

Simple: Download and run the Norton Removal Tool 2009.0.5.40

This complete the system totally out of the crappy Norton

 

You can go to control panel, sounds and audio devices, and there is a box that you can check to make the volume icon appear in your taskbar. As for your network connection not showing down there, I have no idea. The connections show up automatically in XP, but I suppose Vista doesnt have it like that? Weird.

 

Thank you, I will try that!

 

That was the weird thing, it did show up, until I did the updates and restarted the computer. I really miss my internet icon!

I went to the control panel and into sounds but still could not figure out where the toolbar changes are. I even right-clicked on the actual toolbar (taskbar) and then went to properties to change it. The "Volume" is gray and will not let me check it.

 

Right click on the taskbar,
Select Properties
Select Notification Area Tab
Select the ones you want to show up.

 

Yay, someone with Vista! So that's how it works...

 

That is the best step! That software(Norton Removal Tool 2009.0.5.40) is created to remove all NORTON thingy inside a computer.
You won't have a single NORTON stuffs in your laptop after you use Norton Removal Tool 2009.0.5.40.
I could tell this because I tried it before.

 

i like PC decrapifier

works wonders for what computers are shiped with now-a-days

 

It's usefull to uninstall Norton the normal way, then run the Norton removal tool twice.
Make sure to reboot in between.
Cheers.

 

Twice? Why so?

 

Just like you uninstall a DRIVER. If you want a clean and permanent uninstallation, you are advised to run ccleaner and driversweeper or driversweeper twice.
But for me, the removal tool is great and 1 time would kill off all norton craps.

 

Granted; however, I'm unclear on why once is insufficient.

 

From what I've gathered Shyster1... (and I use CCleaner myself), the uninstall can leave traces in the registry. Thus CCleaner is run (and I run it twice for the following reason). The first time I run CCleaner, I use it to delete any and all temp files that may have survived the uninstall, and make sure everything is deleted. Then I run CCleaner to clean out the remnants stuck in the registry. Lastly, I run CCleaner to clear out all the free space that isn't used in the event soemthing survived that. The reason I do this is to minimize the possibility that when i install either a different program, or an updated (or older) version of said program, there aren't any traces to corrupt the installation. After the new program is installed, I run the "temp program wipe" one last time to erase any excess files or temp files that were put in during the install. The purpose: to free up as much space as possible, to completely eradicate the old version of a program, and ensure that with the eradication the new program runs properly and as efficiently as possible.

Call me OCD, but I don't like having remnant entries or files trying to be zombies and potentially wounding a fresh install of a related-in-genre program.

Jason

 

Did you fix your missing icons ?
Its a common Vista problem and this works well,
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/clean-up-past-notification-icons-in-windows-vista/
Nothing scary, print it out and follow carefully. Restart afterwards, let the icons all appear, then customise as normal.

 

Well, I typically reserve the term "OCD" for other purposes; however,.....

I understand the rationale, I'm just not entirely clear why one pass isn't sufficient to get everything out. That being said, we're probably getting OT and running the risk of hijacking the OP's thread - poor soul - so let's just leave it at that.

 

I've adviced running the Norton Removal Tool twice because that's what Norton (employees) recommends. link link
Apparantly the tool simply can't be trusted to remove all leftovers in one run.
Cheers.

And back on topic...

 

I use the removal tools once, ccleaner once, tune-up utilities registry cleaner once.
ALL NORTON CRAPS GOT VANISHED XD!
I think ccleaner is necessary too after using removal tool because ccleaner will wipe out all NORTON registry files.

 

Put it this way (from a more law-based perspective):

(program : computer as clause : contract)

Imagine your computer is like a contract, and if you remove a program is akin to removing a clause in a contract. When you remove the program (clause), you may still leave in some registry entries (other clauses) that pertain to the removed program (clause). Now while the original program is removed, there are still traces of it that are pertinent to the old program, much like removing a single clause will leave other clauses that are tied together by the now-gone clause. What ccleaner and other programs do is as follows:

• For Uninstalls: (Removal of a clause) ensure that the removal of registry entries related to the uninstall occur. This is like making sure that the proper clauses related to the removed clause are also removed while ensuring that the ones necessary to the rest of the contract remain. Ghost files are like un-needed clauses, they make clutter... the old registry files create unneeded confusion for when the new program is put in, much like old words left over (even just one un-needed word), can completely muck up a contract.
• For Reinstalls: Upon installing a new program (new clause), often times temporary files (think of it as the scaffolding ideas / outline that you put in to help place the right words for the clause) are left. CCleaner runs then to streamline by removing the temp files, much as one would remove extraneous outlining after the necessary clause is inserted along with the necessary changes for the rest of the contract.
• Registry post-install: Just cleans up the registry / database, much like one would clean up the language in a contract to further reduce any chance of ambiguity coming up. You don't want to have any leaky spots that could make the program get confused, or the contract have ambiguities.

I'm not a lawyer, however this is the best I could analogize it. I hope this helps. As for using a company's "quick eraser", even still I'd run a harder cleaner like CCleaner to assure that all traces are in fact gone, using both the disk wiper AND the registry cleaner within the program using the steps above. A clean computer thus is not unlike a clean, tight contract. It performs at maximum efficiency, with minimum clutter, and minimum chance of confusion occurring.

Jason

 

Also, you may want to go to Start Menu > Network Connections, then right-click on the respective connections, select properties, and check those boxes to show icons in the System Tray.

Cheers...

 

I just removed Norton off my new laptop by using the Programs and Features function in the Control Panel. I clicked on it and uninstalled form there. Should I still download and run the Norton uninstaller?

 

Probably you need to download the removal tools to ensure ALL NORTON stuffs got blow-up. I wonder why Norton is so so so much annoying. Even uninstalling it.

 

I'm gonna say the easiest and best thing to do here is to wipe and do a clean installation of your operating system. It sounds like it came with trial software and other tweaks, some of which you may not know about, which can negatively affect performance.

If you want a "clean" experience with Vista, back up your network drivers, find your OS disk, and do a wipe and re-install.