Dell Encryption Uninstaller Fails with a Generic Error Due to active Pre-Boot Authentication

Affected Products:

• Dell Encryption Self-Encrypting Drive Manager
• Dell Full Disk Encryption

Affected Versions:

• v10.6 and Later

Affected Operating Systems:

• Windows

If you are attempting to uninstall Dell Encryption, using the Dell Encryption Uninstaller executable (C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell\Dell Data Protection\DataSecurityUninstaller.exe) on endpoints with active Pre-Boot Authentication, the uninstaller exits immediately with a generic error.

The DDPUninstall_Main.log in C:\ProgramData\Dell\Dell Data Protection\ does not show any additional information about the error.

2021-07-22 14:31:24,873 [3] INFO  CommonLib.Log - Worker.UninstallApps: Beginning uninstall for Dell Encryption Management Agent - x64 v10.7.0.1

2021-07-22 14:31:24,873 [3] DEBUG CommonLib.Log - MSIPackage.InstallApplication: Starting install of Dell Encryption Management Agent - x64 v10.7.0.1 version  with command line - C:\Windows\system32\msiexec.exe /x "{2D4F7762-D922-4F2C-85FB-07B0E17EA5F8}" /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress  /l*v "C:\ProgramData\dell\Dell Data Protection\DDP_ClientSecurityFramework_Uninstall_MSI.log"

2021-07-22 14:31:28,373 [3] INFO  CommonLib.Log - MSIPackage.InstallApplication: Installation of Dell Encryption Management Agent - x64 v10.7.0.1 complete. Return code = 1603

2021-07-22 14:31:28,373 [3] ERROR CommonLib.Log - UnInstallation of Dell Encryption Management Agent - x64 v10.7.0.1 failed! Please contact your Administrator immediately for troubleshooting before continuing.

Checking the DDP_ClientSecurityFramework_Uninstall_MSI.log, it is possible to read the below error at the time of the uninstall attempt.

MSI (s) (C4:F4) [14:31:28:279]: Product: Dell Encryption Management Agent - x64 -- The PBA must be deactivated prior to uninstall. Retry this uninstallation after the PBA is deactivated. 

The PBA must be deactivated prior to uninstall. Retry this uninstallation after the PBA is deactivated.

To run the Dell Encryption Uninstaller on an endpoint that is protected with Dell Full Disk Encryption or Dell Encryption Self-Encrypting Drive Manager, you must first deactivate Pre-Boot Authentication.

To deactivate Pre-Boot Authentication reference Dell Encryption Enterprise Advanced Installation Guide.