I recently got a new laptop, Windows XP. I have my own preferred anti-virus software, and have never trusted Norton, but it came with the system. At every startup it prompts me to setup 'Norton Internet Security', but I do not want to. I don't want to uninstall the software, because in the past uninstalling has glitched every computer I've had. How can I turn off this annoying alert!?

Download and install Mike Lin's Startup Control Panel, next uncheck anyting related to Symantec or Norton. That should stop it for you. HTH

There are also detailed uninstallation instructions available from Symantec that cover almost all of their products.

Every product (including year) have their own uninstall instructions.

http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/consumer.html