AVG will not install on Mac due to Norton incompatible software detected

Mac products
8

Hi Dustin,

We're glad to look into this & help you.
Please let us know the version of your MAC & share us the screenshot of the message that you receive while attempting to install AVG for better clarity.
From your description, it seems that few traces of Norton are still available on your MAC. To check this & remove traces, you can reach Norton support once. .

10

Thanks Dustin your solution worked for me as well.

I removed (Northon) Symantec Endpoint Protection first by only removing the app from the Applications folder. This way I missed a lot of files which had to be removed as well. Sadly there is no proper uninstallation tool provided by Symantec. After removing the file you mentioned (and three other Symantec releated files in that folder) the AVG message was gone for me. 

9

I finally figured the issue out. 

Norton left a kernal extension in /Library/StagedExtensions/Library/Extensions/

The kernal extension is named: NortonForMac.kext

To remove this file required me to boot into recovery mode, mount my Macintosh HD via Disk Utility, launch terminal, cd to the directory and delete the file via command line. Then reboot my computer. I was then able to successfully install AVG.

I used the following commands in terminal:

Cd /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Library/StagedExtensions/Library/Extensions/
rm -rf NortonForMac.kext

1

I cannot install AVG as I am getting the following error.

Incompatible software detected

Norton Internet Security security software is already installed on your machine. AVG AntiVirus cannot be installed as it may not be compatible with your Norton Internet Security security software.


I fully uninstalled the norton product. I ran the RemoveSymantechMacFile utility and am still left with: there are no remnants left on my mac.
2

Thanks Dustin your solution worked for me as well.

I removed (Northon) Symantec Endpoint Protection first by only removing the app from the Applications folder. This way I missed a lot of files which had to be removed as well. Sadly there is no proper uninstallation tool provided by Symantec. After removing the file you mentioned (and three other Symantec releated files in that folder) the AVG message was gone for me. 

4

Greetings, 

I am running MacOS Catalina v10.15.5 (19F1010).

Don't have a screenshot, but I copied and pasted the text that is on the instllation popup that I get. There are no traces of Norton on my computer. Symantec support remoted in and verified this. I ran terminal scripts that removed everything. Even after that I still get the same error (on two different computers).

The weird thing is I tried Intego Virus/Net Barrier and it installed with zero issues. I would rather install for the AVG application I purchased. If AVG is not able to install, I'll have to ask for a refund.

5

Thank you for providing us the info & clarifications, Dustin.
As this isn't the usual behavior of AVG installer, we may need to seek the help of the next level support. Hence, we've raised a request (#11050611) on your behalf. 
Please wait for an email from them. Thank you for your understanding in advance!

6

I am glad that you now able to install AVG, Dustin.
I appreciate your time and effort in this.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any issues in the future.

7

Hi Dustin,

We're glad to look into this & help you.
Please let us know the version of your MAC & share us the screenshot of the message that you receive while attempting to install AVG for better clarity.
From your description, it seems that few traces of Norton are still available on your MAC. To check this & remove traces, you can reach Norton support once. .

3

I finally figured the issue out. 

Norton left a kernal extension in /Library/StagedExtensions/Library/Extensions/

The kernal extension is named: NortonForMac.kext

To remove this file required me to boot into recovery mode, mount my Macintosh HD via Disk Utility, launch terminal, cd to the directory and delete the file via command line. Then reboot my computer. I was then able to successfully install AVG.

I used the following commands in terminal:

Cd /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/Library/StagedExtensions/Library/Extensions/
rm -rf NortonForMac.kext