Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Wittmann on January 10, 2019, 01:41:23 PM
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My PC is only 4 weeks old with Win 10, both new to me.
It came with a McAfee AV. I uninstalled McAfee using their normal uninstaller and
all went well. I then installed Avast which is performing perfectly.
I am aware of the "clean uninstall" programs that go with these AV programs extra
to their normal uninstaller, but I have never used them and never had any trouble
covering several different AV's over the years.
What is done is done, there is nothing I can do about it.
Avast is working perfectly as it always has and any clutter left behind by McAfee
is not affecting it in any way.
To be honest if these AV vendors consider "left overs"from normal uninstall as being
important, then they should include such elements in their uninstall program, not
provide separate special programs.
Me ? I cannot go back in time so will simply carry on regardless of any McAfee clutter
left over in my system.
Edit - Is a clean uninstall really necessary ?
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Any question or is this meant as a statement..?
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My PC is only 4 weeks old with Win 10, both new to me.
It came with a McAfee AV. I uninstalled McAfee using their normal uninstaller and
all went well. I then installed Avast which is performing perfectly.
I am aware of the "clean uninstall" programs that go with these AV programs extra
to their normal uninstaller, but I have never used them and never had any trouble
covering several different AV's over the years.
What is done is done, there is nothing I can do about it.
Avast is working perfectly as it always has and any clutter left behind by McAfee
is not affecting it in any way.
To be honest if these AV vendors consider "left overs"from normal uninstall as being
important, then they should include such elements in their uninstall program, not
provide separate special programs.
Me ? I cannot go back in time so will simply carry on regardless of any McAfee clutter
left over in my system.
I had hoped somebody would comment on the clinical uninstall as opposed to the regular uninstall
that 9 out of 10 users do world wide and that Armageddon will not happen.
I have added a question to my OP.
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Revo Uninstaller scoops up all the left-overs, why bother with special AV programs provided by the vendor.
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why bother with special AV programs provided by the vendor
Because third party uninstallers can often be "over-zealous" or incomplete, whereas the dedicated AV uninstallers are targeted to remove exactly the programs/drivers/services/registry entries that are required to fully uninstall the product.
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All I can say is that I have uninstalled several AV's using just the basic uninstall program supplied with the AV.
AND nothing awful has ever happened. The same with McAfee a week ago - nothing..
Whilst I accept the technical aspect of this special uninstall, 14 years of experience using normal uninstall
programs with nothing untoward happening, puts it in the frame of over sensitive paranoia.
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All I can say is that I have uninstalled several AV's using just the basic uninstall program supplied with the AV.
AND nothing awful has ever happened. The same with McAfee a week ago - nothing..
Whilst I accept the technical aspect of this special uninstall, 14 years of experience using normal uninstall
programs with nothing untoward happening, puts it in the frame of over sensitive paranoia.
Not really. Don't think you ever ran into an instance where you've needed to resort to a specifically designed tool for final clean-up.
McAfee and Norton antivirus were known to brick networking drivers in the not too distant past if their specialised uninstallers were not used after uninstalling normally. It was tough to diagnose the first few cases, so until that happened we were thrashing around for solutions...
Not the case anymore, maybe, but when one is in the helpdesk field, one must cover all the bases just in case. Best practices.
A happy customer is a satisfied customer.
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The only problem with a vendor program uninstaller is that the vendor can choose what to delete and what to remain.
With Revo Uninstaller it all goes.
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Official info from Avast here: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/11/
Before installing Avast Antivirus software, ensure no other antivirus software including expired or trial versions are installed on your PC. When multiple antivirus programs are installed on one PC, conflicts such as false-positive detections, performance degradation, and system instability occur.
Most vendors offer special removal tools to completely uninstall their antivirus software from your system. If available, such tools are the preferred mode of uninstallation because uninstalling programs via the Windows Control Panel may leave files behind which prevent Avast Antivirus from being installed correctly.
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Official info from Avast here: https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/11/
Before installing Avast Antivirus software, ensure no other antivirus software including expired or trial versions are installed on your PC. When multiple antivirus programs are installed on one PC, conflicts such as false-positive detections, performance degradation, and system instability occur.
Most vendors offer special removal tools to completely uninstall their antivirus software from your system. If available, such tools are the preferred mode of uninstallation because uninstalling programs via the Windows Control Panel may leave files behind which prevent Avast Antivirus from being installed correctly.
Thanks Asyn,
I must have scooped up all the flotsam because Avast is working perfectly.
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You're welcome.
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why bother with special AV programs provided by the vendor
Because third party uninstallers can often be "over-zealous" or incomplete, whereas the dedicated AV uninstallers are targeted to remove exactly the programs/drivers/services/registry entries that are required to fully uninstall the product.
+1
No doubt what so ever. Revo is well known for being overly aggressive and requires review before allowing to continue.
More information at Wilders: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/novirusthanks-osarmor-an-additional-layer-of-defense.398859/page-94 (https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/novirusthanks-osarmor-an-additional-layer-of-defense.398859/page-94) POST # 2339
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How to Successfully Install Avast: http://goo.gl/VLXde
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Once, on a new Windows 7 machine, I had a major problem after I uninstalled a factory installed McAfee and installed Avast. McAfee offers a program on their website to REALLY uninstall their program. I did and solved my problem.
This begs the question, why doesn't the Control Panel uninstall do a full uninstall? Why does McAfee require a separate uninstall program?
Way back in years ago, I had a similar problem with a factory installed Norton and had to download programs to really uninstall. Norton was famous for problematic uninstalls then. I haven't used them since.
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Once, on a new Windows 7 machine, I had a major problem after I uninstalled a factory installed McAfee and installed Avast. McAfee offers a program on their website to REALLY uninstall their program. I did and solved my problem.
This begs the question, why doesn't the Control Panel uninstall do a full uninstall? Why does McAfee require a separate uninstall program?
Way back in years ago, I had a similar problem with a factory installed Norton and had to download programs to really uninstall. Norton was famous for problematic uninstalls then. I haven't used them since.
Almost all AV programs require the use of a special program to remove what's left over.
Follow the link I posted.
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To include a standard uninstall program which is not apparently good enough, is both ludicrous and tantamount to being deceitful and shady. They should include the complete clean uninstall program in the first place and stop messing about.
After reading and investigating this deceitful practice, I have no further trust in AV vendors uninstalls. My solid intention is to use my trusted Revo Uninstaller every single time when dealing with the removal of an AV program. Revo is independent and has nothing to hide.
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To include a standard uninstall program which is not apparently good enough, is both ludicrous and tantamount to being deceitful and shady. they should include the complete clean uninstall program in the first place and stop messing about.
After reading and investigating this deceitful practice, I have no further trust in AV vendors uninstall. My solid intention is to use my trusted Revo Uninstallerevery single time when dealing with the removal of an AV program. Revo is independent and has nothing to hide.
Using Revo on a specific product could cause more problems that not using it at all.
Your computer, Your choice but the programs the AV companies make available are directed towards removing
their product. Revo and all other generic removers quite often uninstall things not meant to be removed.
This also isn't anything new. There have always been tools to totally remove an AV.
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I basically agree with the other guys/helpers.
While Revo can be quite handy, I wouldn't use it for AVs.
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How amazing to put your trust in shady vendors. Something I do not do.
9 out of 10 users are not competent computer geeks, if an uninstall is included in their AV program - they use it and so they rightly should.
The practice of hiding a "proper" uninstall is downright dishonest. I find it a disgusting practice.
I have used Revo Uninstaller consistently many, many times over 14 years, including for AV programs,
without a single hitch and will certainly continue to do so ad infinitum.
Revo gives a complete list of leftovers with check boxes, so that you can decide what exactly to keep and what exactly not to keep before deletion.
Deleting wrong and needed files - utter rubbish !
My advice is YOU keep your special AV uninstallers and I will keep REVO.
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Well, as has been said before, do as you like. ;)
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Your computer, do as you please.
It isn't advice that I would ever pass on to others.
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Your computer, do as you please.
It isn't advice that I would ever pass on to others.
With respect 90% of "others" know nothing of your advice or of "special" AV uninstall programs.
They are within their legal rights to simply use what is provided.
Edit - The manufacturers Legal Department would never allow an uninstall program to be included
in their product if it was not fully adequate.
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No sense offering advice since you already know everything. Have a good day
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@ wittmann44,
No one here is giving you a hard time, including us and a/v vendors.
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@ wittmann44,
No one here is giving you a hard time, including us and a/v vendors.
I never said I was having a hard time, on the contrary I am enjoying the comments made and the discussion.