Uninstalling McAfee

[Shamrock]

"NOTE: If at any time you are prompted to remove shared files, answer Yes To All.
Windows will then attempt to remove McAfee VirusScan from your computer."

Some say to remove shared files and others don't seem to think that's a good idea. Any opinions?

 

[Davey7549]

Shamrock
Removing shared files is risky. If you don't then you can create orphans and if you do incorrectly you create other program errors. I guess that is why people are tossed on the subject. If you are removing McAfee from your system there are explicit instructions from McAfee on how to do it. It is still tedious though.

McAfee 4.0 uninstall
http://www.mcafeehelp.com/faq.asp?docid=597&CategoryId=106&chat=
Mcafee 5.0 ininstall
http://www.mcafeehelp.com/default.asp?docid=263
Mcafee 5.1 uninstall
http://www.mcafeehelp.com/default.asp?docid=262

Dave

 

[Shamrock]

I 'want' to get rid of McAfee but not quite ready to do it. I will check out the links you mentioned. Thanks

 

[Shamrock]

I did remove McAfee from add/remove. It asked if I wanted to delete a shared file that wasn't being used. MCKRNL.VXD. Said if a program is using it.....(could cause problems deleting) if you leave it on your system it won't hurt anything. I said 'no' don't delete. So it went its merry way then later said there were 8 files left in C:\program files\Network ***.\McAfee that setup is unable to account for. Network ***. suggests that you remove this directory and all the contents with in for proper un-install. Would you like set up to remove it all? I then said 'yes'.
I looked where the shared file had been and it was gone so they did take it out anyway.

So, now anything else that I need to do to make sure it is all out?
This was an old version of McAfee 4.0.3

Ok... are those 'stars' up there after Network like a 'bleep'? I was shortening Associates.

 

[Davey7549]

Shamrock
If you feel comfortable with working in the registry and you do not have any other active McAfee products you are using then
you could use the find function in regedit to search and delete all references to McAfee. Also if you do edit the registry, make sure you back up your registry before you do this in case of problems.
Another item you could do is start/search for McAfee and delete any references their also.
Using the remove feature and following McAfee uninstall article should of removed all the critical components so another AV can be added safely, however you will find scraps left behind using the above procedures.
Dave

 

[Shamrock]

No, I am not comfortable messing with the registry.
When I did a find for McAfee the only stuff that it listed were 12 HTML documents in c:cpqs\support\rooms\Compaq and also one shortcut to the same place.
Should I delete those?

 

[Davey7549]

Shamrock
Cannot advise you on what Compaqs usage is for html pages but they should not interfer. Maybe someone else may have some ideas about them.
Dave