So, I have finally started on the task of removing Symantec Corporate Antivirus 8.0 but have run into a "snag" on how best to go about it.
We recently upgraded to Endpoint 11.0 and, lo and behold, installing the new version is apparently a no-no with v8.0 installed because it conflicts.
I plan on uninstalling all our 8.0 clients, which I assumed could be done through the Symantec console, but that was a false assumption. Checking Symantec's site, I can use the following command (which works, I tested it on this computer):
msiexec.exe /q/x {0EFC6259-3AD8-4CD2-BC57-D4937AF5CC0E}
... however, this reboots the system upon completion. What I want to know is how I should go about removing 8.0 and installing 11.0 in one relatively fell swoop. I was thinking to uninstall 8.0, then allow the system to reboot (GPO maybe, luckily issuing the command over and over does nothing once the installation was successful the first time). Then, install 11.0 on the next login ... but I was thinking I would need to do that a few days later when I knew everyone had successfully removed 8.0 (thru Spiceworks' Applications list). Problem being, obviously, that my users haven't seen anything like this before and, very likely, I will be getting harassed quite a bit and the users will do whatever they can to stop the rebooting process.
I would like to know how to go about this if possible.