McAfee Security Center help

I'll be sure to call this thread to the attention of Red Dawn.   She may be able to offer you more assistance with your McAfee shut-down issue, since it sounds like you want to go that way if possible.

Thanks ky331. If it doesn't I will use the procedures you listed above. The more I think about it, I want to just uninstall simply because I was having no trouble before. Hopefully Red Dawn can help.

Thanks again!

ky331.. Thanks so much for the quick replies! I originally wanted to just see if the McAfee issue could be solved. I have a free year of it. But I was also doing great and had no issues before it was installed. Glad to know Windows Defender is what had been running before. I had numerous recommendations for that.

I will admit. Windows 8 is very frustrating for me. I came from XP and can't seem to get a grip on it yet. Getting better each day but at times can't find simple things.

It seems my one issue of it not letting me shut down my computer, is the only thing that has changed. If it's a simple fix or at least stays fixed then I will probably keep the McAfee running.

Hope that is enough info. Please ask!

Thank you all so much!

Glad to see you in here, RD. I think most of the regulars on this board agree that all systems are different and that some folks are quite happy with McAfee. If not, they remove it.

Ordering someone to abruptly "dump" legitimate software as if it were totally detrimental to a computer may not always be the best thing to do without a bit of investigation as to why it is problematic.

To address ky331's comment and tacoslammer's concern, yes, there have been folks who for one reason or another were unable to get MCPR to remove all of McAfee. That may be because another security program, in an attempt to immunize, is running and "locks" down the registry so that nothing can be changed.

Let's see what McAfee's Virtual Technician comes up with for now. Based on that Red Dawn can advise further.

Hi Red Dawn,

 Thank you so much for your help!  I ran the Virtual Technician earlier today and it found nothing.

I downloaded McAfee from wherever the Dell email sent me to. I still have the email it was attached to and it looks like it is from the McAfee website. here is the address.

https://home.mcafee.com/Secure/MyAccount/DashBoard.aspx?affid=977&culture=EN-US

Hi Red Dawn,   Thank you so much for your help!  I ran the Virtual Technician earlier today and it found nothing.  I downloaded McAfee from wherever the Dell email sent me to. I still have the email it was attached to and it looks like it is from the McAfee website. here is the address. https://home.mcafee.com/Secure/MyAccount/DashBoard.aspx?affid=977&culture=EN-US

Hal et al,

I reiterate my earlier recommendation - get rid of McAfee as it causes more problems.   It is very slow compared to MSE.   Since I don't have Windows 8, I stand corrected in that WIN8 has Windows Defender which is an improved version of MSE.   Hence it appears all you need to do is remove McAfee.   Removing McAfee via Windows add/remove method usually does not remove all of the tentacles of McAfee.   McAfee is a very tenacious install sending components into most parts of the registry  and other locations.   Hence the need to run the MCPR tool AFTER removing the program in the normal fashion.    You should not need to install another antivirus program since WIN8 Windows Defender does as good or better job than MSE.

I do recommend installing the free version of Malwarebytes AntiMalware tool.   Install it and run it periodically.    The free version does not have a scheduling capability, so you have to run it manually.   The Pro (paid) version can be scheduled, however it has a real-time component that stays installed and runs in the background.    The real-time component is NOT recommended.    The real-time component of MalwareBytes AntiMalware has been known to interfere with other programs.

Per research paper by Aryeh Goretsky http://go.eset.com/us/resources/white-papers/ESETNA_WP-Windows8-FUD.pdf , "One of the requirements from Microsoft for Windows 8 is that all anti-malware software should be able to cleanly install, disable and uninstall itself. In the past, switching anti-malware products under Windows has been problematic because some anti-malware solutions left files, drivers, processes, registry entries, services and other remnants on a system after they were uninstalled, which would cause various conflicts as well as compatibility and performance issues when new anti-malware software was installed. These changes for anti-malware software in Windows 8 should not only make it much easier for consumers and businesses to replace Windows Defender with other anti-malware software, but also to switch from one anti-malware program to another".

McAfee must meet these more stringent requirements in order to receive Windows 8 compatibility certification.   As such, there should be no "routine" need for using the additional MCPR tool under Windows 8.   Accordingly, I was very careful to word my advice as:  "Assuming Windows Defender automatically came on as I've described, I would not risk running the McAfee Removal Tool (MCPR)..." --- if things were working as expected, I would not "tempt fate":  If it ain't broke, don't fix it!   [If MSE did not activate itself after removing McAfee, that would be an entirely different situation.]

=========================

As for the allegation that "The real-time component [of MBAM] is NOT recommended.  The real-time component of MalwareBytes AntiMalware has been known to interfere with other programs", I have to side with both BugBatter and Joe53 here.   I have NEVER heard these assertions previously.

Indeed, MBAM has gone out of its way to make sure it IS compatible with just about every major anti-virus program available.   See their FAQ http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=10138  where sections E through M discuss what can be done, if needed, to guarantee MBAM's compatibility with McAfee, Trend Micro, AVG, MSE, Norton, Avast, and Panda.   Note the italicized "if needed":   I am running MBAM PRO (real-time) along with Avast, but have NOT found any need to implement any of the exclusions pointed out.   So I just leave well-enough-alone.

Both BugBatter and Joe run MBAM PRO along with MSE, and have indicated their happiness with the combination.

Why am I keen on MBAM Pro?   Because we've seen too many victims here who are running an anti-virus program --- be it paid (like Symantec or McAfee) or free (like Avast or MSE) --- who believe they are fully protected, but nevertheless succumb to malware.   Zlob/Vundo trojans, and rogue malware programs, have their way of getting through just about every anti-virus program there is!   And once that infection gets through, MBAM is typically the first removal tool used to get rid of the problem.   Well, if the free version of MBAM can successfully scan for & remove these problems after the fact (i.e., once infection has already set it), it stands to reason that MBAM PRO, running in real time, could have prevented the infection from ever infecting the PC in the first place!   And that's why I strongly believe in recommending MBAM PRO.

Thank you. Didn't mean to cause a fuss.  :)

Hal, You are absolutely no fuss at all! We are here to help. Feel free to continue. :emotion-21:

All, please note that the MBAM discussion has been moved to a new topic here: http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/virus-spyware/f/3522/p/19491253/20298028.aspx#20298028

This topic will remain open so that Red Dawn can continue troubleshooting the McAfee issue with Hal Wade. After that has been resolved this topic will be closed.

Hi Red Dawn,

Thank you so much for your help and recommendations! I think I will uninstall and see what happens. If possible, could you please re-post the directions of how to uninstall correctly. I guess when they moved the thread it deleted the previous ones that had the info.

Thanks so much Red Dawn!

Hal

Hal,
Were you able to solve your problem? If so please mark the post that answers your question by clicking on the green "Yes" button.

Thanks!:emotion-21:

Hi Bugbatter. I apologize for the failure to close out. I ended up uninstalling McAfee by the excellent directions given by ky331 reposted by Red Dawn.

I did not use McAfee's Removal Tool (MCPR.EXE) after I went through the steps and everything was back to normal after the install. No problems at all. My computer has shut down normally like before.

Thank you all so much for all your help and patience with me! It is greatly appreciated.

Hal

I do not see a green "Yes" button to click.

"Verified Answer".

Thanks for the update, Hal. I forgot that this topic was started by someone else. Therefore, you would not have the ability select an answer. Glad to hear that all is well.