Windoes Security

[David0944]

When my PC was delivered, and evaluation copy of McAfee Command Centre was
pre installed. As I prefer to use my own antivrus product as well as Windows
own firewall, I uninstalled McAfee. Although it didn't fully install, I
removed the files left behind with the removal tool provided by McAfee. I
installed my own antivirus product, aVast, and activated Windows firewall. If
I look in Security Centre, the is a conflict warning saying that I have two
firewalls activated.

For some reason, McAfee is still shown as being present as both a firewall
and antivirus protection. I don't know how this can be because McAfee is no
longer on my computer. Furthermore I cannot find any way to remove the
reference to McAfee.

Can anyone please help.

 

[Bob]

Search your registry for any reference to McAfee and delete them.
Backup your registry before doing so.

 

[Bob F.]

The easiest way to remove McAfee is to remove it though the control panel.
If you partially removed it already then it makes it really hard to find it
all so just re-install it and then use control panel to remove it. In this
way it finds it all. But sometime, it's stubborn and you need to go to the
McAfee site and get the removal tool. It gets it all. Going to the
registry is hit and miss at best, and sometimes dangerous if you aren't
skilled at using it.

 

[Bob]

The OP stated he had used the removal tool.

The easiest way to remove McAfee is to remove it though the control panel.
If you partially removed it already then it makes it really hard to find
it all so just re-install it and then use control panel to remove it. In
this way it finds it all. But sometime, it's stubborn and you need to go
to the McAfee site and get the removal tool. It gets it all. Going to
the registry is hit and miss at best, and sometimes dangerous if you
aren't skilled at using it.

 

[alansd]

This happened to me and is evidently a common problem with Vista - rest
assured you will have completely removed McAfee. There is a windows data
file you have to remove in order for windows to rebuild the correct
information - I don't have the full info to hand at present although I will
have a look for it and report back.

Alansd

 

[alansd]

Here it is - worked for me !!

http://www.pchell.com/support/multiple_antivirus_in_security_center.shtml

However the very fact that this can happen doesn't inspire confidence in the
Security centre!

Alansd

 

[Bob F.]

This is what happens when you don't uninstall a program properly, either by
removing pieces that you find independently, using registry edits, or other
ruthless means. To remove programs you must use the uninstall tool that
came with the program, the control panel, or the manufacturers tool that
will clean it up if the first two fail.

But back to a basic question that's bothering me. I have experienced many,
many bad anomalies with Symantec products, but I have never had a first hand
bad experience with McAfee. I have it installed on a couple dozen machines
I watch over and not a hint of a problem. I did however go through setup
anomalies, but if you want to blame McAfee for that, then I don't know what
anyone is doing with Vista, you know, "pot calling the kettle black". I've
been running McAfee with Vista ever since Vista came out.

I know Comcast offers McAfee free to their subscribers of which I am one and
hence all the copies I watch over. There must be thousands out there. If
it was that bad, McAfee would be out of business. So, I'm looking for real
proof McAfee can not work with Vista. Just removing it, then having the
system work is NOT proof. We need to make sure all the switches are set
right, the latest McAfee is installed, and the db is up to date. Telling
users to remove McAfee for now is ok with me, but it is a debugging step and
only necessary until they find out what's not set right in McAfee.

 

[alansd]

Hi Bob,

I had McAfee installed on my new Dell PC - it worked fine however I wasn't
going to pay the yearly subscription so after the 'free' month I uninstalled
it. I consulted the McAfee web site for uninstall advice and as they advised
I used the 'Control panel' uninstall - that's when I noticed the problem
with the Security centre reporting it as still installed -
so I downloaded the McAfee clean up tool and ran it but the problem
was still there just as "David0944" found. So there would appear to
a 'missing' link between McAfee and Vista in the un-installation process
- as regards who is at fault I don't know

Alansd

 

[Bob F.]

Hi Alansd,
Before you followed the final instructions David cited, did you have any bad
effects of was it just an indication problem?