can't uninstall Windows Defender

[josey]

Hi' Everyone,
I have windows XP SP3, I want to uninstall Windows Defender but it won't go.
It went from add/remove but the files and folders are still in Program Files
in Windows Explorer. I went to the Microsoft web site and there are
instructions to uninstall but when I follow them a message appears telling
me it can't find a file. What can I do I have 3 folders, 2 in C:doc uments
and settings and 1 in Program Files.
Many thanks
josey.

 

[Don Phillipson]

I have windows XP SP3, I want to uninstall Windows Defender but it won't go.
It went from add/remove but the files and folders are still in Program Files
in Windows Explorer. I went to the Microsoft web site and there are
instructions to uninstall but when I follow them a message appears telling
me it can't find a file. What can I do I have 3 folders, 2 in C:doc uments
and settings and 1 in Program Files.

This suggests errors in the Defender uninstal routine (which
on execution, as you have done, is supposed to remove both
(a) dedicated folders and (b) file calls.) So you have no
problem of malfunction (we suppose) -- just file calls to
files already correctly deleted.

Solutions for tidiness:
1. Create a folder called / Discards
and Move to it all folders and files associated with what
you have uninstalled. You can delete them all after a
week or a month of trouble-free operation.

2a. Save a System Restore point
2b. /start/run/REGEDIT.EXE
to /edit/find all references to Defender
and delete them all.
If anything goes wrong, reboot and Restore System to
the point before you made these changes.

 

[josey]

Many thanks, will try that,
josey.

This suggests errors in the Defender uninstal routine (which
on execution, as you have done, is supposed to remove both
(a) dedicated folders and (b) file calls.) So you have no
problem of malfunction (we suppose) -- just file calls to
files already correctly deleted.

Solutions for tidiness:
1. Create a folder called / Discards
and Move to it all folders and files associated with what
you have uninstalled. You can delete them all after a
week or a month of trouble-free operation.

2a. Save a System Restore point
2b. /start/run/REGEDIT.EXE
to /edit/find all references to Defender
and delete them all.
If anything goes wrong, reboot and Restore System to
the point before you made these changes.