View Full Version : How to remove McAfee- COMPLETLY?
How do I Completly remove McAfee program from PC? Tried it on other 2 PCs but left traces everywhere, especially in boot-up menu. Just want to get rid of it. 'ALL' of it.
JANDOENT
12-09-00, 02:02 PM
Try start>find>files&folders and let it search under the McAfee names: McAfee, safe & sound, virus scan, Network Associates, Vshield, and any others that refer to it. Track down each file then and remove it OR the nasty re formatt! Let me know if this helps. http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/biggrin.gif
Got McAfee Prog off PC. It crashed from a yet unidentified boot virus. First I ever got. MS engineers said it took one if them months to get McAfee totally off pc. I am down to a boot-up message, but can live with that. Will try on other pc when I get time.
Did research since lost 2 PCs a few weeks ago. Will go with Innoculate IT, they update well...Learned all AV Cos share info anyway.
JANDOENT
12-14-00, 03:12 PM
Hey keeper, Innoculate should be fine. I personally don't like Norton (symantec) because their proggies change a lot in your puter and they are very hard to keep from calling home. Also, I have read more than 1 article that has suspisions of them being spyware, tracking you, keeping tabs on what proggies you have, etc...McAfee definately is not one of the better programs either. Good luck with cleaning it out of the others.
I never went with Norton...saw too many progs that stated conflicts with it. McAfee takes a LOT of recourses...Innoculate IT is free, uses minimal resources, updates easily, gives you a reminder when update is needed [ is Y or N ], uninstalls without a trace, is Free and free updates.
In researching I found the best AV prog to be Innoculate IT comm. ver. Is about $700.
Can get Free version at www.antivirus.ca.com/ (http://www.antivirus.ca.com/)
I don't know what the $700. version does. Never will. Seems more practical to me to put that kind of $$ into a back-up or keep for new processor.
Last Virus caused me to replace HDD, CD-ROM and Floppy drive. I upped all my security and can now only hope for the best. A lot of Devils out there.
JANDOENT
12-15-00, 11:15 AM
Hey keeper, when they list a commercial version, it is usually for a lot of PC's at a company. Say you have 50 PC's on your network, this would give them all virus protection. The quality of protection is the same for the freeware... http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/wink.gif
Jandolent. MS Eng said is best AV protection for home PCs. Prob takes up 2 gigs and updates every 30 min. Think you are right, is made for Network or Mainframe, but if someone wants the Best they can get for PC it is there for them.
Only problem is, it can't detect a New Virus.
Like MS said; The one who comes up with a prog that can detect a 'New' virus will be the next Bill Gates.
Storm90
12-16-00, 09:25 AM
The best way I found to remove mcafee is to use findfiles. Then delete any reference to it. This is after use its uninstall. Then use a regcleaner. This has always work for me! Hope this helps you out! But as far as Norten I have never had goodluck with it, pulls system down on my computer.
Got McAfee off. Used add/rem progs > deleted N&B and FA. Message said Not All Removed...but nothing shows-up. Will do the long Registry thing to do full clean-up.
Put CA's Innoc IT as mentioned above. Have used that one on other PC for more than 2 yrs and very happy with it.
Got a LOT of HDD space back.
Thank you all for your input. Is what I needed before I tried this, again. Am happy now.
Also, I cleared related 'Start-Up, progs' before rebooting...think that might be why I didn't have the problems like I did on other PC.
Thanks again.
JANDOENT
12-16-00, 11:04 AM
Sounds like you have everything under control Keeper. Good going!
chacmool
12-16-00, 07:25 PM
However, McFee is still in your Registry.
You may want to clean it out also, if you so desire.
chacmool; Thanks. Is what I mentioned 4 messages up. Have to do that Loooong registry thing. Will get to it, but is working very well now.
I am procrastinating on the Registry job.
McAfee is gone. Prob is now that First Aid prog that came with it leaves msg on boot screen C:\cyrerm~1\....not a big prob as with cable modem don't have to reboot much but would like to get rid of it.
Went thru reg but might have missed something.
Any ideas??
jedcstl
12-23-00, 08:06 PM
Keeper,
You need to go to start/run/msconfig. Look through all the tabs (system.ini,autoexec.bat and the others) and look for all the references to that file or anything mcafee and either delete them or uncheck them so that they are not looked for during startup. I had the same prob with mcafee, also. It came with my puter and I really didn't like it very much.
jedcstl; GOT IT! It was in msconfig>startup but unchecked. Don't remember seeing the 'cleanup' button there before but just went to WinME this week. Hit cleanup , rebooted and...Bingo, is gone.
Thanks
Have McAfee 'File Shredder Icon on desktop. Can't get rid of it, is LAST trace of McAfee. Is now just a bad reminder that is taunting me.
Has been a month getting this off 2 PCs.
Any ideas how to lose Icon??
chacmool
12-24-00, 02:58 PM
Don't forget your Registry.
After all of the above recommendations, your Registry will still have McAfee & Network Associates stuff in it.
chackmool; Been there, done that. Didn't recognize anything, did manual.
Will go thru the Looooong thing agin. Guess it is lack of options. Sure done e/thing else.
Thanks
jedcstl
12-25-00, 01:48 AM
keeper,
just used a program called regcleaner. It goes through all your reg entries and tells you what they are and who is using them. I thought that I had stripped all the mcafee entries doing it manually but it found entries that I had not seen before. Also, look for network associates entries, those are mcafee related too. I think that I got the prog from tweakfiles.com but not sure.
jedcstl
12-25-00, 01:51 AM
yeah, it is at tweakfiles.com
Thanks, will give it a try. Anything to get rid of all the traceware this prog left behind.
jedcstl; Used one called 'Reslendant Registrar'...IDed all the entries and got the McAfee, Network Assoc, etc. out of there.
Now boot screen is clean.
Thanks for the Reg prog idea.
JANDOENT
12-26-00, 08:22 PM
Originally posted by keeper:
McAfee is gone. Prob is now that First Aid prog that came with it leaves msg on boot screen C:\cyrerm~1\....not a big prob as with cable modem don't have to reboot much but would like to get rid of it.
Went thru reg but might have missed something.
Any ideas??
A reg. cleaner will help make that task easy and an uninstaller (yes, the one from "Network Associates" heheheeh) will get rid of those annoying little things that you can't delete because the program & drivers are gone. I had the same problem with safe & sound. It took a while and after ALL signs of the program is gone (look up in this thread to see the names to look for in find files and folders) you will still find ssome buried in windows and program files.
Jandolent; Cleared the boot screen...finally. Cleaned the Reg. Am down to an uninstalled prog called 'Uninstaller' [from the McAffee disk] that is referenced and a desktop Icon [McAfee file shredder].
Neither is a prob. Is a matter of Principle now. Has become a Search and Destroy mission.
I think all this 'traceware' is to make people give up and reinstall McAfee and pay the annual fee after one year. Not me.
JANDOENT
12-27-00, 09:24 PM
Keeper, I'm wit'cha' babe! http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/wink.gif I don't like Mcafee nor Norton/symantec either. http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/eek.gif If you can get them out, don't put them back... http://www.speedguide.net/ubb/wink.gif
jandolent; After a month of using my spare time getting this mess off 2 PCs, I'm not likely to shoot myself in the foot by putting either of them back on.
The McAfee Office 2000 disk went out to the curb the other day....just to be sure.
Still have 2 desktop Icons to track down.
Hope this thread saves someone else some Grief.
Keeper,
I used a regestry cleaner to remove mine. Here is the addy for a free program;
http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/index.shtml
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May the Lord Jesus Christ fill your days with His peace and Joy
[This message has been edited by saved (edited 01-06-2001).]
[This message has been edited by saved (edited 01-06-2001).]
saved; used regcleaner and others + manual many times on this one. Just isn't there. Or, I don't recognize something.
Almost have my reg memorized.
P.S Welcome to speedguide, Hope you stick around.
Anyone know how I can get these pesky McAfee ICONS off my Desktop..Had them with Win98, now with ME.
All the above didn't work. Hate to format for 2 silly Icons.
[This message has been edited by keeper (edited 01-08-2001).]
JANDOENT
01-08-01, 05:36 PM
I suppose that you have tried Right click and delete. Maybe click to highlight then hold shift and drag to recycle?? Maybe if you click them as if you were trying to load them, Windows may tell you it can't find the destination and give you a delete option.
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Inquiring minds want to know...
[This message has been edited by JANDOENT (edited 01-08-2001).]
BOWTYE8
01-08-01, 07:08 PM
Hello
Well I just bought mcafee virus scan and firewall.
well I did the firewall and and everytime I started the firwall ,after about 1min the DSL modem ouold disconnect and then about another min I get teh famous blue screen with somtihng about VXD files.
about about 2 days I finally uninstalled the firewall. not shure why the porblems .
So whats the deal with it??
Should I install the virusscan?
Jondolent; Tried those again...no go. Will keep at it until I find a way to lose those Icons off my desktop.
Thanks for the idea.
boetye8; look for a file called: Cmapieng.vxd
Is found in McAfee's AV & other progs. Is incompatible with WinME.
Is in 1st Aid, Guard Dog and others. Look at "McAfee & WinME Defrag" Post for more info.
McAfee is a system HOG and doesn't update well, plus have to PAY for updates after 1 yr.
Would suggest InnoculateIT, better & more efficient [freeware]. Is always free updates and will update at least twice per week, if you allow it.
I tossed my McAfee Office 2000 disk into the garbage, wouldn't even give it to someone.
Am still stuck with 2 McAfee Icons on my desktop. None of the above worked.
Any ideas on how I can get rid of them??
jedcstl
01-14-01, 12:44 AM
keeper, try opening up explorer and type in c:windows\desktop and enter, it will show you everything that is on your desktop. try to delete it from there. either right click and delete or highlight it and then go to file and hit delete. hope this helps.
Tried that again. No luck. All desktop items showed-up...Except those two.
Is two Icons on desktop.
1. McAfee Fortress > SAFE32.EXE
2. McAfee File Shredder > SHRED32.EXE
Has to be a reference to them somewhere...just can't find it.
Thanks
Anyone have any ideas on how I can get rid of these desktop Icons??
ExarKun
02-07-01, 01:04 PM
Easy way to remove those pesky programs
Format The Damn Drive ! :D
Really don't want to format HDD just to get rid of 2 Icons. Program is gone.
Just looking for a way to get rid of the 2 Icons [on my desktop] it left behind.
bump...Anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of these 2 icons, yet??
jedcstl
03-05-01, 06:59 PM
Hey keeper, just had an idea. Maybe you can't find them because they are hidden files. Set your folder options to show all files, and then look for them. Bet it works!!!! Don't forget to set it back to "don't show hidden files" afterwards. Hope this does the trick!
Ed
crazyman
03-05-01, 08:19 PM
reformat.is the only or atleast best way....
Originally posted by BOWTYE8:
Hello
Well I just bought mcafee virus scan and firewall.
well I did the firewall and and everytime I started the firwall ,after about 1min the DSL modem ouold disconnect and then about another min I get teh famous blue screen with somtihng about VXD files.
about about 2 days I finally uninstalled the firewall. not shure why the porblems .
So whats the deal with it??
Should I install the virusscan?
i know how you feel i had the exact same problem-spent hours trying to clean up my sys. All kinds of crap left in the register,the uninstall is a joke,im gettin my money back,plus i fell i should sue them for mental anguish
:eek: :eek: :eek:
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