Can't uninstall antivirus


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows10 Pro 64bit
       #1

    Can't uninstall antivirus


    Before I updated to Win10, I ws using Bitdefender, free version. It was working fine until the next update of Win10, during which MS Defender activated itself. I didn't realise this at first, but started getting dire warnings about viruses, but no amount of scanning could find anything.
    Eventually I noticed that Defender was running, so figured that the two were clashing, hence the false positives. I attempted to disable Defender, but it refused to let me. Hence, I had no choice but to disable BitDefender. That solved the problem, but I would still prefer to use that, instead of Defender.
    Someone suggested I uninstall BitDefender and re-install it, saying that may tell Defender to go away.
    So, I attempted to do so. I couldn't find it listed among the installed programs. Googled how to uninstall it and found this: "If you want to repair or remove Bitdefender Free Edition, follow the path from the Windows start menu: "Start → All Programs → Bitdefender Free Edition → Repair or Remove." Couldn't find that either. Eventually, I clicked on the install file, which gave me the option to "repair and remove" so I did that. It gave a message that it was successfully removed, but there were a huge list of files left.
    I rebooted, in the hopes that they will disappear - no such luck. I ran CCleaner, that didn't help either.
    So, now I am not sure what to do next. Not game to delete all those files (I will attempt to attach them here) but not game to try anything in case I end up in a bigger mess
    Can't uninstall antivirus Attached Files
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 5,443
    Windows 11 Home
       #2

    csutak40 said:
    Hence, I had no choice but to disable BitDefender. That solved the problem, but I would still prefer to use that, instead of Defender.
    To disable Defender completely, download bat file, run as admin, then restart.
    Can't uninstall antivirus Attached Files
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 824
    Win10/64 Pro 1511 (and 2 Win 7/64 Ult & Pro systems)
       #3

    Hi:

    In addition to the excellent advice already offered, it sounds as if you are now in a bit of a no-man's-land between BD and WD.
    BD is partially uninstalled, but not enough to properly enable WD. And the remaining BD installation is likely corrupted by now.
    WD is partially enabled, but not fully operational? But you would rather disable it fully, anyway?

    If you want to return to BD, then you'll probably need to fully and cleanly remove it first, using the REMOVAL TOOL, and then cleanly reinstalling it.
    (Sometimes one has to first REINSTALL the program and THEN perform a proper, clean uninstall.)

    Once most 3rd-party AVs are properly installed they will disable at least the real-time protection of WD (by design), even if they now leave the new, background, "idle" scan feature enabled. You can run the bat file to fully disable it.

    Perhaps someone personally familiar with BD can help out here (I use neither BD nor WD).

    I hope you get your issue resolved,
    MM
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 2,834
    Windows 11 Home (x64) Version 21H1 (build 19043.1202)
       #4

    One way I found to make sure it was all gone is
    Go to C drive then Programs also Programs x86 you should find it listed there.
    Right Click on it and you should be able to delete it, I have done it that way to get rid of stubborn folders and files or you could try Revo uninstaller
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 39,795
    Win 7 32, Win 7 64 Pro, Win 8.1 64 Pro, Win 10 64 Education Edition, Win 11 Pro
       #5

    Suggest you run the Bitdefender uninstall tool. Even if you've already uninstalled it via Windows, run this tool to try & remove any leftover orphan files associated with it.

    To be sure everything is removed properly, we also recommend using our dedicated uninstall tool. Download it from this location and then run it on your system:
    http://www.bitdefender.com/files/Kno...nstallTool.exe
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 824
    Win10/64 Pro 1511 (and 2 Win 7/64 Ult & Pro systems)
       #6

    Hi:

    I agree with @Borg 386's advice for starters.
    Especially for security applications, it's often best to use the publisher's own specialized removal tool first.
    If that fails, then a 3rd-party uninstaller, such as Revo, would be the next step.

    Cheers,
    MM
      My Computer


 

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