Removing other Antivirus programs before installing F-Secure.

When changing from another AV to F-Secure, AV remnants can often be a source of problems when installing F-Secure.

 

These problems can be relatively minor such as a  slowing down performance to major problems such as severe slowdowns/BSOD/cannot boot machine.  

But the good news is that many vendors have specific removal-tools and if you completely remove your previous AV then your trial/use of F-Secure will be a much better experience.

 

As there are a lot of AV vendors, here are 3 choices to find your particular uninstaller link; which may be quicker to use than trying to find it on the vendors site!! This was the case even with F-Secure up to a few weeks ago!

 

 

1. Antivirus Remover; a great little application which I have recommended before. It contains the uninstallation program for any of the supported security software listed in the main window. Highly recommended, as the author updates the program nearly daily;  http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/Antivirus-Remover.shtml

 

Capture 2.GIF

 

 

The download file is safe, and if you computer is 32- bit you will only see the 32-bit products in the list and the same for 64bit OSs.

 

2. List of Uninstallers; as the name suggests this is simply a link list of 26 common uninstallers; http://www.raymond.cc/blog/comprehensive-list-of-uninstallers-or-removal-tools-for-antivirus-software/#more-2878

 

3. List of Uninstallers; again a list to links; http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/

 

 

Suggested removal of old AV and installation of F-Secure;

 

1. Remove old AV normally from Add/Remove/Programs and Features. Download specific removal tool. Reboot.

 

2. Use specific remover (preferably in Safe Mode). Reboot.

 

3. Install F-Secure; wait for ALL updates and until main Window shows that "all security features are up to date". Reboot.

 

 

 

However, if trying out a number of different AVs before F-Secure in a short period of time, I would recommend rolling back to a clean image restore after each trial instead of uninstalling/installing all the time. 

Comments

  • Simon
    Simon Posts: 2,667 Superuser

    That's very useful, Blackcat.  Have a Kudos!  hatoff.gif

     

    It would also be very useful if a list of other AV uninstallerscould be included either in the Knowledge Base, or as a sticky on the forum.

  • Simon
    Simon Posts: 2,667 Superuser
    It seems this might be a good place to include a list of other AV uninstallers:

    http://community.f-secure.com/t5/Security-for-PC/How-do-I-remove-conflicting/ta-p/15374
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Former F-Secure Employee
  • Blackcat
    Blackcat Posts: 503 Influencer

    Hi Jayson

     

    I like the Microsoft list.  

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Former F-Secure Employee

    Hello,

     

    There is also a Knowledge Base Article describing advanced F-Secure product removal here. It is relatively old-
    schooled and served as a last resort when everything else has failed..

     

    Important note:
    - Please note that these steps is dedicated to "Advanced user" ONLY.
    - DO NOT make any changes to the system but read carefully on the instructions provided and make sure that you are fully understand the steps suggested.
    - DO NOT proceed if you have any doubt or uncertainty, contact Technical Support for further assistance.

    Best Regards,
    Jayson

  • NikK
    NikK Posts: 903 Forum Champion

    If you are unsure what antivirus program you have, try the free version of http://www.appremover.com/

    It can detect most anti-virus products, but maybe not all versions unfortunately. At the top of that page there's a link "Supported Applications", with a list of applications for different OS, 32-bit and 64 bit.

     

    How to use

    When you start AppRemover it will scan for 2 things: Security Applications and Public File Sharing Applications

    You either just take notes of the detected Security Application and uninstall it manually, or you can continue and let AppRemover try and remove it.

    Note that it also displays "Public File Sharing" applications which is not antivirus products.

     

    Example if you have the antivirus product "ESET NOD32" installed:

    AppRemover.png

  • mulkku
    mulkku Posts: 1

    @Blackcat wrote:

    When changing from another AV to F-Secure, AV remnants can often be a source of problems when installing F-Secure.

     

    These problems can be relatively minor such as a  slowing down performance to major problems such as severe slowdowns/BSOD/cannot boot machine.  

    But the good news is that many vendors have specific removal-tools and if you completely remove your previous AV then your trial/use of F-Secure will be a much better experience.

     

    As there are a lot of AV vendors, here are 3 choices to find your particular uninstaller link; which may be quicker to use than trying to find it on the vendors site!! This was the case even with F-Secure up to a few weeks ago!

     

     

    1. Antivirus Remover; a great little application which I have recommended before. It contains the uninstallation program for any of the supported security software listed in the main window. Highly recommended, as the author updates the program nearly daily;  http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/Antivirus-Remover.shtml

     

    Capture 2.GIF

     

     

    The download file is safe, and if you computer is 32- bit you will only see the 32-bit products in the list and the same for 64bit OSs.

     

    2. List of Uninstallers; as the name suggests this is simply a link list of 26 common uninstallers; http://www.raymond.cc/blog/comprehensive-list-of-uninstallers-or-removal-tools-for-antivirus-software/#more-2878

     

    3. List of Uninstallers; again a list to links; http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/

     

     

    Suggested removal of old AV and installation of F-Secure;

     

    1. Remove old AV normally from Add/Remove/Programs and Features. Download specific removal tool. Reboot.

     

    2. Use specific remover (preferably in Safe Mode). Reboot.

     

    3. Install F-Secure; wait for ALL updates and until main Window shows that "all security features are up to date". Reboot.

     

     

     

    However, if trying out a number of different AVs before F-Secure in a short period of time, I would recommend rolling back to a clean image restore after each trial instead of uninstalling/installing all the time. 


     

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