600m and My Way Search Assistant

I have bought 2 600m's and 2 700m's in the last month, all with My Way preinstalled (although the Dell techs claim it isn't). Guess Dell doesn't want their techs knowing how to cut off their cash cow. Only solution they had was to reformat. Try that with no disks.

I was able to remove it for the first time today. Look for and delete these Registry keys.

HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\Software\My Way SA
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\7D44......89904
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products\7D44....9904

Also do a registry search for "myway" and remove any keys.

I got rid of MyWay very easily using Trend Micro's PC-Cillin 2005 version - used the scan for spyware function.   Pc-Cillin identified it immediately, and with another click or two, MyWay was gone.  MyWay appears to be totally gone now, and everything else is working fine ever since.  It really couldn't have been easier, and I wish I hadn't wasted so much time beforehand trying the "normal" things, like add/remove programs, calling tech support etc.  

I'd also note the demo McAfee antivirus suite that shipped with my Dell (even though I didn't order it) didn't detect MyWay.  Obviously there is a conflict of interest that's not being handled well.   

As a network admin, I don't want to get into another software for a couple of hundred computers. It's funny that I just recieved a package today with 2 copies of McAfee Anti Spyware software from Dell Marketing. I din't order or expect them.

I will not use anything from Mcafee and will probably trash these or give them away. Right now, I'm on a mission to cause Dell as much trouble as I can over this. I call Tech Support daily tying up phone lines and techs. I just sent a warning to everyone in my company to avoid buying Dells with My Way and to call support if they already did.

Even if I now know how to get rid it it, they shouldn't have been putting it there in the first place.

Cranium - I could not agree more.  I wasted so much time trying to figure this out.  You buy a PC to get work done, and you end up having to deal with this nonsense........

I called Dell tech support for help removing My Way from my recently purchased Dell Dimension. They indicated that I would have to pay for the phone time. Dell offers Spyware removal assistance over the phone for $49 per incident.

Does anybody see a problem with Dell charging to remove Spyware that they themselves installed?

I describe my ordeal with Dell's My Way Spyware over on my site at: http://www.michaelrighi.com/2005/07/21/dell-spyware-my-way/

Mike,
Your website gives a textbook example of what we are dealing with. The foreign techs accuse me of installing it every time I call. I've not heard of the charge to uninstall, but that may be the break we needed.

About a year ago, there was a company in Calif. installing web-based adware that continously created pop up ads. The ads were for a Pop-up blocker. The program was sold by the company that was installing the adware first place. They were sued by the state and lost.

This is no different than what Dell is doing. Anyone know a good class-action lawyer?? I'd join.

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@dtmiller wrote:
...
I also note that in order to find this thread I had to search at myway.com
Dell has deleted the forum entries on many updates regarding this topic.

After owning 5 Dell computers, I am pretty sure I will own no more.
Good luck to all on getting rid of My Way Search Assistant.

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In response to the MyWay complaints, Dell-ChrisM posted instructions for its complete removal on Aug.5th,
and again on Aug. 14th in this very forum:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=si_virus&message.id=42143 

These posts are still there.

[Edit] And I see the link to this info included in the FAQ message pinned to the top of this board.

 

Message Edited by joe53 on 08-21-2005 08:21 AM

I also have been a long time dell customer. However, I am becoming more and more discouraged with each purchase.

I really began to sour with the overheating of my 5100 Inspiron and the run around to get it fixed even after Dell admitted to Forbes magazine to the problem. Now this recent purchase of the 600m is my last with Dell.

First, the fact that no discs were sent with the pc. No windows reinstall. No driver reinstall. Nothing.

Further, this whole my way search thing. What was Dell thinking? I'm a privacy freak and when I seen that I about fell out of my chair. Now, I have it sitting in my add/remove programs area with no remove button. There is no folder in programs so I think it is just a registry error but how can I be sure?

Dell sold me a product and every time I boot I wonder if my internet activity is being monitored. You don't build customer loyalty by providing a product that the consumer feels uneasy every time they use that product.

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@thinker820 wrote:

Further, this whole my way search thing. What was Dell thinking? I'm a privacy freak and when I seen that I about fell out of my chair. Now, I have it sitting in my add/remove programs area with no remove button. There is no folder in programs so I think it is just a registry error but how can I be sure?

Dell sold me a product and every time I boot I wonder if my internet activity is being monitored. You don't build customer loyalty by providing a product that the consumer feels uneasy every time they use that product.

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You are correct- the persistence of the entry in add/remove is due to incomplete removal from the registry.
However, MyWay is effectively removed, and cannot monitor your internet activity.

The links I provided earlier do include instructions for complete removal of that persistent entry in add/remove,
if it would make you feel better.

FYI, my Dell installed McAfee virus protection identified MyWay this morning for the FIRST time, after 10 months of running their scans without picking it up and removed it for me.... Why now all of a sudden?  A coincidence?  Because they were outed?  I'm not a conspiracy theorist but the timing is very suspicious considering the posts here.

The same thing happened to me! The Dell installed McAfee program that came with the machine has not picked up on this until YESTERDAY, 8/30. I've had the computer and software since December. Last night I tried to follow all of those complete instructions Chris gave above. I did not find MyWay in the add/remove programs at all. This may be because when McAfee first asked me if I wanted to uninstall it, I let it. I found a few empty folders on a search of my computer and deleted them. I did NOT find the file called MsiExec.exe /X{78d944d7-a97b-4004-ab0a-b5ad06839940} when I looked for it using Start-Run etc. I deleted a lot from the registry.

This morning, guess what McAfee found? Another Potentially Unwanted Program. Some kind of restore file!!! restore{202550A8-7A33-4-BCA-958. I'm assuming it's MyWay again. I let McAfee delete that, but is this going to be a daily ritual??

I just received 2 600m systems and discovered the My Way Search Assistant while uninstalling some extra "stuff" they always put on. Anyway, I didn't have a remove button either but discovered after I uninstalled AOL, I was able to uninstall My Way Search Assistant with no problem. Checked the registry and couldn't find any keys remaining. Wonder if it's in the AOL install package. Hope this actually did work.

Message Edited by jimponder on 04-19-200609:34 AM

Ok... Just ran into this myself.  Cranium was the closest on the removal of this piece of sh*t.  Go into your registry and do a search for 'my way'.  Delete any FOLDERS that start with the 7d44...  code that he gave out.  There are I believe 3 of them.  Once that is done, reboot and you should be set.

 

Message Edited by jimponder on 04-19-200609:34 AM