Windows Defender doesn’t do anything that Avast doesn’t do and what they both do, Avast does better. You can’t uninstall Windows Defender but you can turn it off.
Slightly O/T, but you might want to think about a 3rd-party defragger. I like Puran (freeware) mainly because it includes the option for a boot-time defrag, before anything to speak of has loaded.
I would not trust advice of anyone running Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE)
Thanks so much to everyone.
But now I’m getting very nervous about uninstalling MSE. I am not that knowledgeable about pcs, and can’t get in too deep with procedures. I googled “uninstalling Microsoft Security Essentials” to see if there was any info about problems doing it.
Sure enough, there were problems. The advice given by Microsoft forum people was way over my head. I am not able to deal iwth involved/complex pc issues, and I can’t afford to lose the use of my pc.
So far I’ve been told to uninstall using the Add/Remove Programs and then run the MSE removal tool to clean up leftovers. (http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9748340)
I have not tried to uninstall MSE yet for I must be sure it will not cause problems with the OS or avast, etc. I did click on the above link just to see if it was similar to what I’ve seen as advice on the Microsoft site. But it wanted to be run right then, so I got out of it.
Also, did anyone see the explanation of what happened when I just tried to turn off the MSE Real-time protection? Shortly after doing that, I panicked and tried to turn it back on. It hung up and wouldn’t end with a Contro/Alt/Delete. I had to do a hard close (if that’s what it’s called). When I restarted the pc, MSE’s Real-time was back on and things were back to normal.
I really do need to get rid of MSE because I know it is taxing the system. But I’m scared to make a big mess.
Have any of you actually uninstalled MSE yourselves? And with avast, Malware Bytes, and Spybot on your system at the same time? Does the Add/Remove Programs usually work? How will you know it’s worked correctly? Should you immediately run the link I was given after doing this?
Does Microsoft have numerous cleanup/removal tool links???
I know I’ve asked a lot of questions. But please, if you can, answer each one.
Thank you. Thank you.
You can uninstall it on XP.
Using the windows built in uninstaller method is easy and not problematic in my experience, download the MSE uninstaller tool i supplied and save then go to Add Remove programs click and highlight MSE then click uninstall, once completed reboot your system and run the uninstall tool - after this step is always a good time to run CCleaner to tidy.
You don’t have to worry about that since I’m giving the advice to the OP, not you. It’s a sincere advice to her. Either she can take it or leave it, that’s for her to decide not you.
I personally don’t see why you’re in here giving advice on the avast forum if you’re not even using the product ???
Certainly smells like trolling to me. :o
+1 ;D
Guys,
I now totally believe and agree with you that I should have only one AV program on my pc. But as I recently stated, I’m afraid of the uninstall of MSE creating problems I don’t have the capability or time to handle.
(I am going through tremendous financial difficulties and health problems and am not able to deal with pc problems.)
May I ask about craigb’s recent advice:
-
“Download the MSE uninstaller tool I supplied, . . .”
Will it let me save it to a file I can get to easily? Or does it want to be run immediately upon clicking on the link for it? -
“. . . run CCleaner to tidy.”
I would have to DL that. Does that mean it would be sweeping through the Registry? I’ve been told in the past not to deal with the registry unless you know what you’re doing (I don’t). Or can it be set to clean up areas other than the registry for this purpose???
Let’s simplify things. Uninstall MSE you will find the uninstaller here http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/
See this http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic260844.html/page__p__1441638#entry1441638
Use CCleaner to clean the registry. Don’t worry it’s safe.
Disable Windows Defender (it’s useless)
Install avast http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=95170.msg758853#msg758853
Install MalwareBytes http://filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/
Install Super Anti-Spyware http://filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/
I get the distinct feeling you are worried you might screw something up. Follow Bob’s, Asyn’s, YoKenny’s, Dch48’s, craigb’s and my advice and you won’t go wrong or mess anything up. It seems as if you want to complicate things. Keep it simple.
Let us know if you need more help. That’s what we are here for. 
Is the singularlabs.com link a better uninstaller for MSE than the Add/Remove programs I have?
Do you click on that link–and then what?? Does it specifically have to do with MSE, or do you choose MSE from a list of things it will uninstall?
Should I DL CCleaner before I try to uninstall so the program will be on the pc, ready and waiting?
I don’t need to uninstall Windows Defender–I don’t have it on my pc.
But I already have avast free antivirus, Malware Bytes, and Spybot–so I don’t need to install them. Oh, I see the last mentioned is Super Anti-Spyware. I am not familiar with that, . .
Yes, I think something could be screwed up, not necessarily what I do if I follow instructions, but the system itself can present problems I’m not equipped to handle. I know I can ask you guys things, but if I am locked out of the system or it’s acting caflooey (?) as a result of trying to uninstall MSE, I wouldn’t be able to contact you, . . .
Thus, my fears.
Q" Is the singularlabs.com link a better uninstaller for MSE than the Add/Remove programs I have? A" The singularlabs.com link connects you to the site from which i gathered the MSE removal tool for you, run that after uninstalling MSE normally.
Q" Do you click on that link–and then what?? Does it specifically have to do with MSE, or do you choose MSE from a list of things it will uninstall? A" See above
Q" Should I DL CCleaner before I try to uninstall so the program will be on the pc, ready and waiting? A" Yes, download and install it - Pick the slim build as it has no google toolbar included http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds
I don’t need to uninstall Windows Defender–I don’t have it on my pc. A" Good
Dont worry about installing SUPERAntiSpyware at the moment as you already have Malwarebytes for backup scan’s, “note” that in the past there have been issues with spybot and avast ( mainly with tea timer ) so i personally would uninstall that as well.
FYI, my system spec in my signature is my primary computer that I use most of the time. I have old Windows XP PC using Avast as it’s antivirus in my home (Avast running stable in this PC but not in my laptop). That’s why I still go to this forum from time to time to see any news about new version development of Avast.
For heaven sake, it’s just a simple and sincere advice to the OP not you. But, hey I welcome you to call me troll if that make you happy with your life… Cheers.
craigb,
- I was going to at least DL the CCleaner to have it on the pc (though I’m not ready to uninstall MSE, etc., yet). I went to the link, but it says “Builds below are for system administrators and advanced users” and the Slim build was one of those links. I’m not an advanced user, so how can I handle that “build”?
It is true that I don’t want a google toolbar, . . . though.
- Also, in reading some of the reviews about CCleaner, it is strongly recommended to back up the entire system before using CCleaner, especially before cleaning the registry.
I have most of My Document files on a Flashdrive in addition to the C drive. But I don’t know how to do an entire system backup, nor do I have an external harddrive on which to do it.
I told you I was in way over my head with all this. If I could just use the Add/Remove program to uninstall MSE and that would take care of it, and let me get on with the other great difficulties I’m trying to deal with personally, . . . . . . .
???
2. Also, in reading some of the reviews about CCleaner, it is strongly recommended to back up the entire system before using CCleaner, especially before cleaning the registry.Install Ccleaner, [b]use the default settings. [/b] Allow ccleaner to clean up the garbage left behind any time you visit the internet or use a program. The default settings are safe and you don't need to be an expert if you don't do any changes in the other options they offer. You also don't need to be afraid of the Google toolbar. If you don't want it uncheck it when you do the installation of Ccleaner.
bob3160,
Thank you. But what about using CCleaner to clean the registry after uninstalling MSE as I’ve been advised to do? That’s more than cleaning up after visiting the internet or using a program, isn’t it?
And that’s when it’s recommended a system backup be done beforehand. As I explained in my last post:
I have most of My Document files on a Flashdrive in addition to the C drive. But I don’t know how to do an entire system backup, nor do I have an external harddrive on which to do it.
Advice, opinions??
Use the removal tool that was already offered to you in order to remove MSE. Forget about the registry.
The removal tool will get rid of everything that might interfere with avast! Anything that may not be removed isn’t
anything to worry about.
It’s all I used when I installed avast! free on the new Windows 8 release.
bob3160,
Oh, I see. I thought the phrase “. . . and run the uninstall tool–after this step is always a good time to run CCleaner to tidy” meant to then use CCleaner to tidy the registry. I just connected using CCleaner with registry cleaning since a program had just been removed. My misunderstanding.
I had CCleaner on a prior pc, and I used to use it for “general” cleaning. But I knew it had the capability to clean the registry, which causes fear and trepidation, thus my concern before understanding what was meant.
Thank you.