McAfee Internet Security

[Robert John]

I have decided to replace my McAfee anti-virus software with Norton Internet Security (2010). The reasons are purely economic when my ISP (Tiscali) is offering a 40% reduction on Norton. I understand I shall need to remove McAfee Security Centre before downloading and installing Norton and know this can be done via the Add/Remove facility. However, in Add/Remove there is also listed ‘McAfee Uninstaller’, what purpose does this serve if I can remove Security Centre independently? Do I need to physically remove this as well? Or will I find this has been deleted once I have removed the Security Centre. I recall having some ‘conflict’ problems a few years ago when I did the same thing in reverse which I am trying to avoid.

 

My operating system is Windows XP and McAfee was pre-installed on my PC by Dell.

 

Your advice please on cleanly removing McAfee would be welcomed.

 

Thank you

[Tootech]

Uninstall everything - McAfee won't let you uninstall its Security Center until all of the other parts of the programs have been ticked to be uninstalled.

 

Reboot.

 

Download and run MCPR.exe from here

 

How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee consumer products using the McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR.exe)

 

Follow the instructions, reboot and then install Norton

[Robert John]

Thank you. Just to clarify, do I remove McAfee in Add/Remove (by ticking all the Boxes) and then download and run the removal tool?

[RandyL]

Hi Robert. As noted in the link Tootech provided Step 1 is to remove via the control panel. Step 2 is to run the cleanup tool. Read item 6 in step 2 also please. Reboot afterward and save the log if it doesn't work.

 

So yes you are correct. Hope that helps.

[Robert John]

Hi RandyL, Thank you for the clarification - it all makes sense. I notice too that McAfee include a very helpful video demonstration which is available on the link Tootech provided.

 

Regards,

Robert

[Jelly Bean]

Use the tool AFTER you have uninstalled it from add and remove.

[Robert John]

Use the tool AFTER you have uninstalled it from add and remove.

 

Thank you. Just out of interest, why is it necessary to download and run a removal tool after deleting the McAfee Securty Centre program? I do have a McAfee Uninstaller program already listed in the 'Add/Remove' facility, does this do the same thing, or will this too be deleted after running the downloaded removal tool?

[Tootech]

Both McAfee and Norton leave behind remnants of their programs after uninstallation.

 

You won't find 'leftovers' in Add/Remove - some of the background services are not removed, and the tool strips them out.

 

I do have a McAfee Uninstaller program already listed in the 'Add/Remove' facility, does this do the same thing

 

No it doesn't.

 

Remove everything McAfee from Add/Remove before using the MCPR tool.

[Robert John]

Thank you. Life is never simple is it! McAfee make no mention of removing the 'uninstaller' facility in their Video demonstration. There's no date displayed alongside so perhaps this was pre-installed by Dell. As you have kindly advised, I will remove everything McAfee before downloading the removal tool.

 

Regards