McAfee Security Center help

Hi,

The McAfee Tech Support looked into my computer to make sure that there were no other versions of McAfee installed. They did not find any other than the McAfee AntiVirus Plus that I had installed from a CD I had purchased a couple of months ago. As I mentioned in my original post, I have found myself having to reinstall my new McAfee AntiVirus Plus because the McAfee Security Center one would time-and-again remove it and reinstall itself.

With regard to the subscription information on the "problematic" McAfee Security Center software, it expired on 1/22/2012.

Thanks,

Rick

That is excellent advice, RD! :emotion-21:

Thank you for sharing!

I ran McAfee for a couple of years without any problems and as Joe said you will see more complains about McAfee here in the forums is because DeLL offers McAfee preinstalled in its machines and you are not going to waste 15 or 24 months of a program that you paid for.

I also agree with RD. Not a good idea to use Revo to uninstall any security program. Just a fact. When uninstalling the program, it will ask for a reboot which it has to be ignored for Revo to continue to look for the registry leftovers. So making the complete uninstall reboot procedure short handed. Moreover when Revo has deleted those registry keys in charge of the uninstall procedure.

Good place to find original uninstall utilities for security programs and instructions:

 http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/

Seconding CCleaner to remove McAfee. Get something like Avast, ZoneAlarm, or Malwarebytes instead. McAfee is terrible. What you have on your hands is basically a "legal" ransomware application that is hounding you. "Legal" because it is McAfee's own program.

You  may want to download malwarebytes free and scan your system with it ASAP. you probably have a goodly amount of viruses on board that McAfee didn't catch.

Not sure if this thread is too old for anyone to see my question. A lot of great information here! for someone computer stupid as myself I did understand a lot of it. If this is not the place to ask this please link me or let me know where to go for answers.

I purchased my XPS8500 Windows 8) in Dec. 2012. It has been a great choice and ran amazing. I'm careful with opening suspicious emails or sites and have had no problems. I also do not leave my computer running all the time. I shut it down when finished each day. The 1 year McAfee software was an included option to download. I did not download it until 3 days ago. Since I installed McAfee my computer will not shut down. I have to hold down the power button until it stops.

I am ready to uninstall McAfee by the above instructions but want to see if it can be fixed.

Can anyone please help?

Thank you!  Hal

Please do NOT follow Tacoslammer's instructions... I will explain in my next post.

Please do NOT follow Tacoslammer's instructions... I will explain in my next post.

I think you need to explain PDQ!   My info is proven to be correct.  

The only caveat could have to do with Windows 8.   I have not seen anything on McAfee about MCRP not working with Windows 8.

Hal,

By all means DUMP McAfee.   It causes more problems than it cures.   Go to this McAfeesite and read their uninstall instructions:  http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?lc=1033&id=TS101331

Then download MCPR.EXE,    Uninstall the McAfee security program installed via the Windows add/remove programs.  Reboot and run the McAfee uninstall program MCPR.EXE.    Reboot.   

Download and install Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) from Microsoft here:   http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/security-essentials-download

An excellent FREE antivirus and antimalware program.   It runs in the background and consumes very little resources unlike McAfee.    MSE is very fast unlike McAfee.   MSE automatically updates with Microsoft update and never costs anything for a subscription.   Best antivirus program I have used.   I have recommended deleting McAfee for quite sometime and using MSE in its place.   I have not heard of any significant problems with MSE.    Whereas McAfee was always having some sort of problem and interfered with many programs.  

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!

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.

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

Hi Hal,

The instructions are still there. They are on the page before this. You have landed on the last page of the McAfee discussion. Here they are again:

Assuming you want to remove McAfee: 1) Open the Control Panel [or its equivalent on Windows 8] and disable any McAfee Anti-virus, Anti-spyware, firewall programs that are running. 2) Open the Control Panel [or its equivalent on Windows 8] to UNinstall the McAfee products you want to get rid of. 3) reboot your system. 4) by this point (or perhaps after step 2), Windows Defender should have automatically turned itself on.   This is a new feature of Windows 8.   Windows Defender, on Windows 8, is a full-fledged anti-virus program.   It's the new name for what used to be called Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) on Windows 7 and earlier versions of Windows.   As such, there is no need to download/install MSE on Windows 8... in fact, if you try to do so, it won't let you!!! If Windows Defender shows as running, you're all set with an anti-virus that replaces McAfee.   Just make sure that the Windows Firewall is also turned on. ---------- You can keep Windows Defender, if that's the anti-virus program of your choice.   It's a good one.   Or you can now install another anti-virus program, if you wish.   That's entirely your call. ---------- Assuming Windows Defender automatically came on as I've described, I would not risk running the McAfee Removal Tool (MCPR), as some people have encountered major issues with it. ----------

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: