Uninstall McAfee

Question

I'm going to be uninstalling the 90 day trial version of McAfee Security Center in the next few days. I sure don't like what I'm seeing on the forum on the problems Dell users are having trying to uninstall McAfee. Dell-ChrisM suggested the procedure below some time back. I wondered if She still suggests this procedure or does anyone have another suggestion that has a proven track record.

Another way to get rid of Mcafee. This from Dell Moderator-Chris M
* Power the system off
* Power the system on
* At the blue Dell, tap F8 to bring up the Windows boot menu
* Scroll to and select Safe Mode [Press the Enter Key]
* Select the first or only operating system [Press the Enter Key]
(2)
* Click Start- Control Panel- Add or Remove Programs
* Double-click the Add or Remove Programs icon
* Click Remove a program
* Click the McAfee application you want removed (if it isn't listed, close the Control Panel and skip to number 3)
* Click the Change/Remove button
* The InstallShield Wizard dialog box, select the Remove check box
* Click Next
* If you get a window for "Remove Share Component", click "Yes to All"
* If you get a window for "Remove Share File", click "Yes to All"
* Click Yes
* When finished, close all boxes
* Do NOT restart the computer when asked
(3)
* Click Start- Find or Search- Files or Folders
* "Look In" should say Local Hard Drives
* Type McAfee [press Enter]
* Delete any/all found, close all boxes when finished
(4)
* Click Start- Run
* Type regedit [press Enter]
* Highlight My Computer
* Click Edit- Find
* Type McAfee [press Enter]
* Delete any/all found, press F3 to continue searching. Delete any/all found
* Close all boxes when finished
* Click Start- Turn Off Computer- Restart

It's gone.

Sara408 · Answer

That sounds like a total nightmare.

I want to get a new Dell in the next month or so, but all this about getting rid of McAfee (which I do not want) sounds horrible. (I am told there is no uninstall button... and that there are tons of traces left on your computer which prevents you from putting on another AV.)

Is there no way to get Dell to send a "clean" computer - without McAfee or Norton? I hear both are terrible to get off your computer, and some have even suggested doing a "clean reinstall." That should not be what you have to do when you get a new computer.

You should be happy and worry free and able to enjoy your computer immediately.

Some have suggested that the lesser of evils would be letting Dell install P'cillan. (They say it is easier to remove.) But then there is the suggestion that McAfee/Norton are still included with an install button...

I now have avast AV and ZA. Both free and light on resources. Also have Spy Sweeper which I pay for.

Why do we have to tangle with this? Can't we order the computer we want? Or is Dell getting paid a bit to include Norton or McAfee on our computers? I'd like to get my computer clean so I can put my AV/firewall/spyware demolisher as I wish.

Sara408

E510Buyer · Answer

I'm having the same problem.  I've had my computer for less than a week.  I followed the instructions in the last post and was able to get McAfee off of the list of installed programs.  The problem is that it's really still there.  There are tons of McAfee files left on my computer, many of which I can't delete and I'm still getting error messages regularly.  Another problem is that I can't reinstall and try uninstalling again because now McAfee says I don't have a subscription.   I'm thinking about reformatting my hard drive and starting with a clean image, but I'm not sure if Dell includes all of the software that is needed for that along with the computer.  Does anyone have experience with that?

Ivesy · Answer

Hi, I've had the same problem with Mcafee. I don't or should I say didn't have a problem with using Mcafee until recently when the Firewall was deciding to disable itself for no reason at all! After spending hours on the woeful Mcafee chat helpline I decided I'd uninstall this rubbish! I used the Mcafee uninstall program and then used Reg Edit to delete the Mcafee files. I realise some files will be there and active I presume if I do a re-install. That doesn't really worry me as long as I can disable it as I (appear) to have done. I'm using Avast anti virus and Zonealarm which are working fine. Wouldn't it be great if Dell just gave us the installation disks so we could decide which programs we want installed on OUR PC's? or is that to sensible?

Sara408 · Answer

Ivesy wrote: 'Wouldn't it be great if Dell just gave us the installation disks so we could decide which programs we want installed on OUR PC's? or is that to sensible? ' Now that indeed would be real customer care. I ,too, wish they would do just that. I have read it somewhere on this forum, that if you HAVE to have Dell install an antivirus program on your machine (and it looks like no matter what - Dell is determined to put something on your new machine) that Trend Micro's P'Cillan is easier to live with and to get rid of. Sara408 (Still wanting a new computer but not sure exactly what to do.)

Ivesy · Answer

Hi Sara, I was in a similair position as you a few months back.  To be honest I never thought I'd buy a Dell because I'd heard loads of negative stuff about them.  I only really went for it after I compared it with the PC I was looking at eleshere the spec was near enough exactly the same and it worked out about £100 cheaper.  If you do order make sure you make it clear what you want when you ring Dell as I have a bit of chew (hassle) with my order.  I made sure I got an email confirming the spec of the PC before I committed myself!   As for your comment about the anti virus stuff.  Mine came with a 90 day trial of Mcafee as I said I got rid of it easy enough, saying that my PC is booting up slower than it was!   I like the fact you can come onto this forum with any queries.  Usually you get the answer you were after. I'd rather ask questions on here than ring Dell (unless I was desperate) as my experience with ringing call centres for AOL, Mcafee, Dell etc in India is not good!   Anyway good luck with your purchase!

E510Buyer · Answer

I had McAfee half off and half on but still giving me constant error messages.  I managed to get McAfee back onto my computer by doing a PC Restore.  This re-images your machine back to the way it was when you took it out of the box, destroying any other files you have on it.  Luckily I kept all my data in My Docs and backed-up.    Now that McAfee is back on and seems to be behaving, I've decided to try to live with it for at least another week.  Then I'll try to get rid of it again.....

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Uninstall McAfee

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