This is my first encounter with Avast. I have just bought a new Dell computer (inspiron) fitted with a Vista (32 bit system) and which came with McAffee for a trial period (expires in about a week’s time). I really don’t like McAffee and even less the huge fee it want’s for my continuing patronage.
Is there a knowledgable person out there who can give me an overview of how to completely rid myself of my McAffee trial package and safely instal AVAST without leaving bits and pieces of McAffee behind. Does AVAST look for these fragments and get rid of them i wonder?
I guess none else can know better about McAfee uninstallation than the company its self.
edit://It kind of bothers me though since it’s about 2mb which is actually pretty small. I guess it patces its self on the allready existent McAfee uninstaller.
I think Pico has it correct. You don’t say what version of McAfee you have; there’s a forum page here that although dated, seems to contain comprehensive advice. http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/377891
General changing of security software advice:
-Download the new software; save it to desktop or a known folder (I’ve created a folder just for downloads.)
-Download any uninstall tools you need.
-Print out any instructions from webpages you think you’ll need. Or save them as a text file.
-If you’re about to uninstall a suite, that may contain a firewall, be sure you have another firewall available. (XP SP2 has a built in one. So does Vista.)
-Disconnect from the net.
-Exit the application you’re uninstalling. (Disable/turnoff.)
-Uninstall same. Restart as/when asked.
-Run the uninstall tool. Restart if asked, and if not asked earlier, restart anyway.
-Install the new AV. Restart as/when asked.
-Make sure a firewall is active.
-Reconnect to the net. Update the new AV.
Everything went “tickety-boo” with your kind advice. I managed to completely rid myself of McAfee trail pack (and messages inviting me to drain my bank balance in their favour) and am the proud user of the latest AVAST home-users package.
