How can I uninstall OS X Yosemite and return to OS X Mavericks?

Just to re-enforce what Allan Eckert has already told you...

You have disabled GateKeeper, which is never a good idea! It's easy enough to use non-AppStore or unsigned apps by simply right-clicking / Command-clicking the app and choosing "Open" from the Contextual Menu. That way you won't accidentally install something dangerous or annoying.

Re-enable GateKeeper by opening System Preferences->Security & Privacy->General tab.

If the padlock is closed, click on it and enter your admin credentials.

Change “Allow apps downloaded from:” to at least “Mac App Store and identified developers”.

All hard drives fail, it's just a question of when. Average is around three years, so unless you have already replaced your, it's overdue. When they fail it can be catastrophically fast. You don't have to use Time Machine, but anything you can't live without needs to be backed up now, preferably by multiple means.

MadMacs0 wrote:

petermac87 wrote:

They are not necessary for OSX.

Unless you disable the protection provided by OS X, which the OP has done by setting GateKeeper to "Anywhere".

Yes, very good point. Thanks for picking that up. 😊

Pete

I wonder if Gatekeeper was disabled when Norton installed. I don't remember having made an effort to turn off Gatekeeper. While turning Gatekeeper back on, I noticed that the Apple firewall is also off, Is that the default or is it possible that the firewall was also disabled inadvertently at some point. Again I don't remember ever going into Privacy and Security to disable the firewall either.

You have probably already seen that I have "MyPCBackup". That is what I have used.

nugj wrote:

I wonder if Gatekeeper was disabled when Norton installed.

I can't imagine any reason why Norton would have done that.

I noticed that the Apple firewall is also off, Is that the default

Yes it is. As long as you are behind a trusted router at home or work, the Apple firewall is redundant to your router's firewall. When you take your MBP to a public WiFi hotspot such as Starbucks, public library, etc., then you will need to make sure it's turned on. Having it on does slow your Internet access slightly, but you would probably never notice the difference. See Do I need a firewall?.

So as for the two remaining Symantec items, SymSecondaryLaunch and Norton Internet Security, should I just find them and send them to the trash bin since I have already done an uninstall or is there a different method for disposal than just find and drag to the trash bin?

By the way....I think all the remaining Symantec items are files in the under the cache in library. I suppose I could just drag them to the trash bin. I just don't know if simply dragging them to the trash bin actually does kill them off. Should it or I guess same question from my last reply....is there a different recommended method for killing those last files off?

Correction..apologize for three posts in a row..but part of my desktop was covered last time I posted. There is actually a file on my desktop named Saved Symantec Data that was not there before. I have not tried to open it. I have never seen it before. Any idea if I should just try to trash that as a means of ridding the device of remaining Symantec items?

Reasons for downgrading : YOSEMITE HAS CRASHED MY FINDER. There are hundreds of people out there having the same problem... finder not responding. DON'T DOWNLOAD YOSEMITE till they're fixed the bug!!!!

Please start your own thread and stop jumping in to someone else's. Your 'bug' sounds very isolated and not relevant here.

Good Luck

Pete

nugj wrote:

So as for the two remaining Symantec items, SymSecondaryLaunch and Norton Internet Security, should I just find them and send them to the trash bin since I have already done an uninstall or is there a different method for disposal than just find and drag to the trash bin?

Different method.

SymSecondaryLaunch appears not to exist. Just go to System Preferences->Users & Groups-><YourUserName>->Login Items tab and highlight that file name then click the minus "-" button at the bottom of that column to remove it.

Norton Internet Security is a Safari Extension, so go to Safari Preferences->Extensions and use the Uninstall button for that extension.

nugj wrote:

By the way....I think all the remaining Symantec items are files in the under the cache in library.

They will eventually be deleted after a certain amount of time or you can trash them if you want. They aren't doing anything but taking up a modest amount of hard drive space.

nugj wrote:

There is actually a file on my desktop named Saved Symantec Data that was not there before. I have not tried to open it. I have never seen it before. Any idea if I should just try to trash that as a means of ridding the device of remaining Symantec items?

I have no idea what it is, but it would seem to be of no use and can be trashed, but it won't help you get rid of anything else.

My late 2013 Macbook 13" pro-retina is also doing the same. Do you also see the white "loading: bar twice as well?

So went to Safari extensions and there is nothing there. But found this instruction at Yahoo support about uninstalling Safari Extensions. They have a support page devoted to dealing with browser extensions and give specific instructions for each browser's extensions. Here it is for Safari:

Go to Safari - Preferences - Security

There you find that the Internet Plug-ins, Allow plug-ins box is check marked.

The instruction is to uncheck the Allow or Enable Plug-ins box, click OK, close and then restart Safari.

What do you guys think? I suppose as was suggested earlier, the other option would be to just leave it be.

babowa wrote:

So, although it sounds like a bit of a faff, the best solution for me will be to backgrade the new Macbook Air to Mavericks

Unfortunately, Macs cannot boot from any OS older than what they came with. So, if yours comes with Yosemite preinstalled, that is what you will need to get used to. However, if there is still stock left over which has Mavericks installed, go for it - ask when you are buying it.

100% not true. You are able to install any older OS on the new machines. I've done it with Mountain Lion and Lion multiple times on my 2013 Macbook pro.