[ak03]

So I have been repairing my friends computer from spyware e.t.c. I came onto this problem when I went to install (Already uninstalled mcafee) AVG. It said that I already had a antivirus installed. I went to security center and it said that Mcafeee virus wasn't on! I need to uninstall Mcafee completly and nothing works! Please help.


Also, my friends computer is infected with virtumonde which spybot can't get rid of.

[techie4fun]

Hi!
What version of McAfee are running? If you list it we can provide you with a McAfee removal tool.

[mphenterprises]

Hi AK03. First, I believe this may have been addressed already but please be as descriptive as possible in both the heading of your Discussion as well as the post itself. This will avoid any potential miscommunication and misinformation. I have changed your Discussion title to give a clearer indication of your question.



Now, McAfee, as well as Norton, has its own Uninstall Utility which you can download here.

[ak03]

I have already tried that and it didn't work. Everytime I reboot it tells me that it is still disabled

[mphenterprises]

Have you tried that utility within Safe Mode?

[ak03]

Maybe this has something to do with his system being so infected... idk but it won't uninstall!

[techie4fun]

Okay, you have tried killing ALL services within Windows that associate with McAfee before using the removal tool? "right click disable on system tray"? That's all I know of.

* Try running the removal tool in safemode?
* What version of McAfee is he running?

[ak03]

I'll try to run it in safe mode. Post back soon

[techie4fun]

In the meantime, if you discover the phishing fitler enabled in Internet Explorer, go into Internet options and turn it off.

[ak03]

Ok, in safe mode and am running the tool. I'll also disable the phishing filter

[ak03]

btw I know that isn't helpful, but I don't know what version of mcafee he was running

[ak03]

I got an error to obtain full permissions in safe mode. I am going to boot it back into normal mode and see if that did anything

[techie4fun]

What?? That's odd.

Did you click "Yes" when the screen with the giant box of text appeared?

[ak03]

Nothing happened!

[ak03]

Yes, I clicked yes to reboot. Nothings working! Could it be that the infeted pc is preventing me from installing it? I had no troubles installing spyboy though.

ALSO: There is norton Ghost installed on here. Would that make a difference?

[mphenterprises]

Okay, let's regroup. Exactly what security applications do you have on this computer as of right now?

[ak03]

The remainder of mcafee, and spybot search and distroy.

[ak03]

Would you like a Hijackthis log?


EDIT: I am in the mist of running muti anti virus program with trendo Micro System Cleaner. I have just found 8 trojans on this system. EX:

Troj_delf.KBD

Troj_PURITYSC.BL

[mphenterprises]

So your friend has essentially only one anti-spyware application and that's it. This computer pretty much has no protection. Let's get you squared away. Download and install all of the following applications. Since you cannot effectively get into Safe Mode, run all of these, in this order:

CCleaner

SuperAntiSpyware

AVG AntiSpyware




Once you run all three of these applications:

- Restart the computer and access Safe Mode

- Run all three of these applications again in Safe Mode.

- Once all three applications are ran in Safe Mode run the McAfee Removal Utility.

- Restart as normal and attempt to install AVG Anti-Virus

- If you are able to install AVG, run AVG immediately

- After the first scan, restart the computer in Safe Mode and run another AVG scan in Safe Mode

- Finally, restart the computer as normal




I am not going to kid you, this is going to take some time; however, only having Spybot on this computer is really not doing you or your friend any good.

[Evildave]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, because this solution SUCKS, but it is guaranteed to fix it.

1. Find the Windows setup (and driver CDs) or 'System Restore' CD that came with your friend's computer.
2. Try to track down the registration codes and software installations that your friend accumulated over time and still uses.
3. Back up your friend's documents to an external hard drive
4. Reinstall Windows clean.

You know the drill. Sorry! :(

I've seen this before where expired or broken Antivirus won't uninstall. It's (almost) always a hopeless cause. You can try calling the AV software's technical support if it's 'free'. The process to fix it can take from minutes to... NEVER.

This time around, when you have it all working again, use some drive image software to back up the boot partition.

Restore the data files (My Documents, etc.) to a different partition or drive.

Next time his computer's a basket case, you'll be able to restore it in 15 minutes, instead of hours and hours of tedium.

Added:

Oh wait! Your friend has Norton Ghost installed?

Just restore the most recent backed up image from before the problem... assuming there IS a backup!