[BrianMJC]

Hi,

I just restored my Vista HP laptop to factory defaults using the included backup CD (nothing was wrong, I just wanted to setup XP and Vista on the same laptop and know that installing an older version with a newer one present can mean trouble). I want to use a different security program than McAfee, but the restored image comes with a McAfee trial preinstalled. So after uninstalling it via the Control Panel, and after downloading and installing the Product Removal Tool from McAfee's site, Security Center still shows that McAfee's firewall and antivirus are running and up to date. Vista did startup Windows Firewall and Windows Defender, so it must realize there's nothing protecting the computer at the moment. I searched the registry with regedit to find any entries with McAfee in the search string and found/removed only one entry (aside from the removal tool, which was not touched), which didn't help. I'd go to McAfee and ask them, but I don't want to bug them since I don't plan on using their products anytime soon.

Any other ideas? Thanks much.

[BlueEyedFox]

Strange, very strange. Did you try manually deleting all the files in the McAfee folder?

Also, Try deleting it in Safe Mode.

[BrianMJC]

Yes, I did check for any leftover folders in Program Files, none to be found.

I'll try Safe Mode as an administrator in a moment to access all folders and see what happens...

[BlueEyedFox]

I do not understand how McAfee can be running when there is no files to run it.

[BrianMJC]

LOL, me neither! I don't believe it is running, of course, but I guess Security Center must have some outdated bit of info somewhere beyond my scope of understanding to locate and correct. Maybe some cryptic registry entry or something. Thanks for trying.

[BlueEyedFox]

Try changing ur settings, see what happens. Will it actually change?

Why dont you unsintall Security Center?

[golferbob]

to uninstall mcafee you need there tool ,website below. run the tool should take the last files out.


http://www.majorgeeks.com/McAfee_Con...ool_d5420.html

[BrianMJC]

BlueEyedFox,
What settings are you referring to? I didn't know Security Center could be uninstalled. If I can reinstall it, I'll give it a shot. I want to put ESET NOD32 and Comodo Firewall Pro on, so I imagine I might need SC since neither of these comes with a substitute like some security suites do. I'll report back when I have a chance to look into doing this tomorrow, thanks.

golferbob,
Thanks, but I already ran that tool and it had no effect on Security Center.

[BlueEyedFox]

Check your Add/Remove list. It doesnt show McAfee Security Center?

[BrianMJC]

McAfee SC was in fact uninstalled... but good news, I found out how to remedy the problem here. Turns out the problem was with WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation), which keeps a database that is apparently not updated properly by Vista. By following the instructions at this link, McAfee no longer appears in SC, and this fix apparently applies to all security software (the user at the link above had the same problem with BitDefender, and I fixed a friend's PC who had Windows OneCare). I had to boot from a PE disk (Bart PE) to delete the indicated folder, however, as I couldn't get Vista to give me "permission" to delete the folder (even in an administrator account and even after entering the permissions dialog and altering them... though I'm still pretty new to the latter and may have overlooked something).

Thanks for the help!

P.S. I followed the instructions manually, didn't use the tool (it's for XP anyway).