McAfee un-installation registry changes?

[What-a-Tool]

This is going to be kind of a vague description of the problem, as it's all
got from the friend who is having the problem.
This is happening on a new Dell computer, running Windows XP Home.

McAfee was un-installed at the direction of Dell tech support.
For some reason, it can't be re-installed to all logins.
Error messages show up on all other logins (don't ask me what error
messages - this is one of those vague parts)
This guy decided that she needed to do a clean install of Windows.
After calling back at another time and talking to another tech, it was
decided that (this is another place where the description is a little vague)
uninstalling McAfee erased a necessary file from the hard drive that can't
be replaced by reinstalling the anti-virus, or possibly something was
changed in the registry, which is preventing it from being re-installed
properly.

Anybody ever heard of anything like this?
Can anybody suggest a possible solution other than a clean install? (Last
resort only)

--

/ Sean the Mc /


"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
- Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)

 

[R. McCarty]

This is the inherent danger with calling OEM Tech support. Most if
not all "Front-Line" technicians do not have a deep background in
diagnosing & analyzing problems. What they do is place problem
keywords into a database, looking for a match. Your friend got a
piece of bad advice. Removing McAfee doesn't necessarily get all
the components of the software off the machine.
The system probably has legacy remnants in the form of Registry
keys or services still left. If the Dell only has a "Restore" Disk & not
actual software installers, you've got a big problem. You should
have her look through the materials Dell sent looking for Application
installer disks. If she has one you should try to re-install the McAfee
Security suite. You should also go to Control Panel, Add/Remove
programs and scroll through the listing, looking for any McAfee items.
This is really unfortunate on a relatively new PC. Untangling this is
a pain and there isn't an easy "Catch-All" fix for the problem.
You might also go to McAfee's web-site and look for a Cleanup
utility that will remove remnants for a McAfee Uninstall.

Dell makes very good computers. The downside is with cost driven
out-sourced tech support. Young, cheap, inexperienced foreign labor
is no replacement for knowledge and experience. My global advice
when calling tech support is "If you hear the words Uninstall, ask to
speak to someone else!."

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
This is going to be kind of a vague description of the problem, as it's all
got from the friend who is having the problem.
This is happening on a new Dell computer, running Windows XP Home.

McAfee was un-installed at the direction of Dell tech support.
For some reason, it can't be re-installed to all logins.
Error messages show up on all other logins (don't ask me what error
messages - this is one of those vague parts)
This guy decided that she needed to do a clean install of Windows.
After calling back at another time and talking to another tech, it was
decided that (this is another place where the description is a little vague)
uninstalling McAfee erased a necessary file from the hard drive that can't
be replaced by reinstalling the anti-virus, or possibly something was
changed in the registry, which is preventing it from being re-installed
properly.

Anybody ever heard of anything like this?
Can anybody suggest a possible solution other than a clean install? (Last
resort only)

--

/ Sean the Mc /


"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
- Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931)


.