Uninstalling McAfee Impossible

durzet Posted messages 64 Status Member -  
durzet Posted messages 64 Status Member -
Hello,
My computer is a Lenovo G50 (running Windows 8.1) that I bought recently. The McAfee antivirus (which came pre-installed) has just expired, and I don't want to buy the license because I want to replace it with Avast.
I want to uninstall it, but I can't find it in Control Panel > uninstall a program.
Please let me know, if possible, how I can proceed.

Configuration: Windows / Chrome 42.0.2311.135

12 answers

nadellen Posted messages 11941 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   7 351
 
hello
you need to download the specific uninstaller
1. Download the removal tool from:
Download the uninstaller

http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe

2. Click Save and save the file to any folder on your computer.
Save the file to a folder on your PC
3. Navigate to the folder where the file is saved.
Open the folder where you saved the file
4. Make sure all McAfee windows are closed.
Make sure McAfee is disabled
5. Double-click MCPR.EXE to run the removal tool.
Double-click MCPR.EXE to start the uninstallation
that said, Avast against McAfee? hmm ;; we'll see!
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starwolf12 Posted messages 24 Status Member
 
Yep, that's exactly the procedure to follow +1
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fabul Posted messages 42073 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 054
 
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durzet Posted messages 64 Status Member 8
 
Thank you for your help.
Sorry, but how do I disable McAfee??? I don't know where it is!!!
It sometimes tells me: real-time scanning is disabled

I just went to Start > Services and there are 12 McAfee services. I disabled 8 of them and the other 4 are set to "automatic" and I can't disable them.
I ran MCPR but without success.
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nadellen Posted messages 11941 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   7 351
 
re
you normally need to uninstall before deleting the rest
now, search in the registry?
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durzet Posted messages 64 Status Member 8
 
Hello, but my first problem is precisely uninstalling. And as for the registry, I've never touched it, I'm far too scared! But if I'm guided, I'm willing to give it a try.
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nadellen Posted messages 11941 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   7 351
 
you are right, bdr = don't touch that!
but now, you have no choice but before anything else, you will back up this registry.
create a folder that you will rename bdr backup

Scroll to the right edge of the screen, then tap Search. Or, point to the top right corner of the screen, then click Search.
In the Search box, type regedit.exe and press ENTER. If prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide the confirmation requested.
In the Registry Editor, locate and click on the registry key or subkey that you want to back up.
Click on File > Export.
In the Export Registry File dialog box, select the location where you want to save the backup copy and then type a name for the backup file in the File name field. (the folder created just before if possible)
Click Save.
when that's done we can continue
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durzet Posted messages 64 Status Member 8
 
I created the BackupBDR folder
I typed regedit.exe and there are several keys
you write:
In the Registry Editor, find and click on the Registry key or subkey you want to back up.
I agree, but which key should I back up?
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nadellen Posted messages 11941 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   7 351
 
well normally all of them!
I'm on w7, I don't have the same thing
I just click on "file" then export
and then choose the already created folder if it appears in the list, or choose the Windows suggestion, it doesn't really matter, the main thing is to be able to find the backup later just in case
in case of future issues, you just need to do the same operation: "file" -> import (from this folder)
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durzet Posted messages 64 Status Member 8
 
ok I'm going
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durzet Posted messages 64 Status Member 8
 
I have saved the Registry.
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nadellen Posted messages 11941 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   7 351
 
good
you have a list of tabs with a small arrow at the beginning of each line
->hkey-classes-root
->hkey-current-user
->hkey-local-machine
->hkey-users
->hkey-current-config
by clicking on the arrow of each tab you will have all the files
look for each tab, everything that bears the name mc afee select the key and delete
do not touch anything else, except for any subkeys you find under mc afee
then close everything
the big problem is that the remaining files do not necessarily have the name mc afee, neither closely nor remotely; and these files can go unnoticed
that is what the uninstaller is for
so if examining the registry does not solve anything, then the only solution will be to reinstall mc afee, or reactivate the functions, to be able to reuse the uninstaller (start from scratch!)
at worst, restore the pc to a date prior to any modification on your part, and use the specific uninstaller for your version of mc afee

keep me updated?
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durzet Posted messages 64 Status Member 8
 
Yes, of course, I'm starting while crossing my fingers.
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durzet Posted messages 64 Status Member 8
 
Good evening,
I deleted all the keys I could find.
I probably didn't delete everything since an icon is still present in the taskbar on the right. However, when I click on it, nothing happens.
Now, when I search for McAfee, it yields nothing.
So far, everything seems fine.
Thank you very much for your help.
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durzet Posted messages 64 Status Member 8
 
Darn it! I went to C:\windows_ > ProgramData, there is a McAfee folder
Deletion is impossible: access to the folder denied!!
Same in Programs > mcafee and mcafee.com
Same for Program Files > mcafee and mcafee.com!
I went back to regedit and there in H key local machine > Software > Mcafee unable to delete the key: key deletion error: deletion impossible.
Now I don't understand anything. Why can't I delete these keys or the folders and files???
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