This article will describe the process of uninstalling PSU's McAfee VirusScan from your home computer. Like most anti-virus programs, McAfee VirusScan is resistant to uninstallation to protect itself from removal attempts by malicious software. This, however, means that it is also more difficult for you as an end user to remove it if you wish to use a different antivirus solution. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you leave your computer unprotected by any kind of security software. Note that this process requires more technical skill than uninstalling normal software; if you have questions about or difficulties with any of the steps below, or are uncomfortable using a command-line interface, contact the User Support Services Helpdesk for assistance.Do not remove McAfee from your on-campus workstation, as it will be re-installed remotely by OIT in order to maintain the highest possible level of network security. If you are concerned that McAfee is adversely affecting the performance of your computer, contact the USS Helpdesk for more information and support.
- You must have administrative rights to your computer in order to be able to uninstall software. If you do not, or are unsure, contact the USS Helpdesk. By default, accounts created during the Windows setup process have administrator rights. If you are using a PSU machine at home and do not have administrative rights, you will need to bring your machine to the Helpdesk during business hours for assistance uninstalling McAfee.
Removing VirusScan
- Click on the Windows Start button, and navigate to your Control Panel. Select the 'Add/Remove Programs' (Programs and Features in Windows Vista) and select 'McAfee VirusScan Enterprise.'
- Click on the 'Remove' button. The process may take several minutes, so please be patient. When it completes, McAfee VirusScan will have been removed. Proceed to the next section.
Removing the McAfee Agent
The McAfee Agent is a service that manages updates for all installations of PSU McAfee. It must be removed manually, as the default settings of the University's version of McAfee prevents it from being removed via the Add/Remove Programs applet. Malware will often attempt to prevent antivirus software from updating itself, and protecting the McAfee Agent from removal helps add an additional layer of security to your computer.
- Click on 'Start,' and select 'Run." At the prompt, type 'cmd' and press enter. This will open a command line window. Note that, in Windows Vista, you must run the program as an administrator in order for the process below to work.
- At the command line, type:
cd c:\program files\mcafee\common framework
- Press enter. This should change your working directory to the default installation location for the McAfee Agent. If the program was installed elsewhere, substitute the proper path for the one listed above.
- Once you are in the proper directory, type:
frminst.exe /forceuninstall
- Press enter. This will execute an uninstall program that will stop McAfee Agent services and remove the program from your computer.
- After the uninstaller completes, restart your computer. You should no longer see the McAfee icon in the system tray.
- If you follow the steps above and encounter errors mentioning rights or priveledges, you most likely do not have administrative rights to your computer. You will have to log onto your computer using an Administrator account in order to proceed.
- If the above steps fail to remove McAfee, you may delete the program folder manually. The procedure to do so is described below. Note that it involves editing your system's registry; modifying or deleting the wrong registry keys can cause your computer to stop functioning properly or at all. If you are not comfortable doing so, contact the USS Helpdesk for assistance.
- Restart your computer in Safe Mode by pressing F8 while your computer is booting up.
- Once in safe mode, press CTRL+ALT+DEL and start the Task Manager. Look for the running process 'FrameworkService.exe.' If you find it, end the process.
- Delete the McAfee Common Framework folder from your hard drive.
- Click on Start, then 'Run,' and type 'regedit' at the prompt. Press enter.
- Delete the following registry key and subkeys:
HKLM\Software\Network Associates\ePolicy Orchestrator\Agent
- Restart your computer in normal mode. You should no longer see any McAfee products in the system tray.
For further assistance uninstalling McAfee VirusScan, or with any questions or concerns, contact the User Support Services Helpdesk.
