Antivirus Product Removal Tools

(Last Update 28Aug2013)

Kurt Wismer certainly got it right in anti-virus rants: av product removal tools when he said:

"on the subject of doing your job horribly wrong, i think we can all agree that both symantec and mcafee are doing their job of providing quality anti-malware software horribly wrong when you consider they make removal tools to get rid of their own products..."

Providing help on the forums, I frequently see logs with left-overs from incomplete uninstalls of Symantec. However, in researching the most widely used subscription antivirus softare, Norton and McAfee are apparently not the only vendors who have found it necessary to provide removal tools in order to completely remove their software products.

Below are links to the removal tools and instructions available. If not listed, the software should be completely removable through Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs, as shown in the instructions. Follow the removal with a shutdown/restart of the computer.

To uninstall from Windows XP:

1. Click Start, then click Control Panel.
   
2. Under Pick a category, click Add or Remove Programs.
   
3. Under Pick a task, click Remove a Program.
   
4. In the Currently installed programs list, click the software being uninstalled and then click Remove.

To uninstall from Windows Vista or Windows 7:

1. Click the Vista Orb, then click Control Panel.
   
2. Click Programs and Features.
   
3. In the Uninstall or change a program list, click the software being unisntalled and proceed with the uninstall.
   

If the software was not completely removed the removal tools provided by the vendors can be found at the links below. It is, however, advisable to use the built-in uninstaller first.

Another option is the Microsoft Fix it solution available here. 

1. avast!:  http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-uninstall-utility.html
2. AVG: http://www.avg.com/us-en/utilities
3. Avira AntiVir: Uninstall via control panel, restart and then use the Avira RegistryCleaner
   
4. BitDefender:  http://kb.bitdefender.com/KB333-en--How-to-uninstall-BitDefender.html
5. CA Associates:  See Total Defense
6. Comodo Internet Security:  https://support.comodo.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=298
7. Cyber Defender Early Detection Center:  http://cyberdefender.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/207
8. Dr. Web  http://www.comss.ru/page.php?id=309, Registered users only:  https://support.drweb.com/support_wizard/?lng=en 
9. eScan: Direct download link: http://www.microworldsystems.com/download/tools/esremove.exe
10. ESET:  http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN2788
11. FRISK F-PROT:  http://www.f-prot.com/support/windows/fpwin_faq/25.html 
12. F-Secure: Direct download link: ftp://ftp.f-secure.com/support/tools/uitool/UninstallationTool.zip 
13. G Data:  https://www.gdatasoftware.co.uk/?eID=PushFile&dl=f4b2f2fd23%3AAFEIBgU%3D
14. Kaspersky Lab's Removal Tool:  http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208279463
15. K7 Total Security: Direct download link: http://www.k7computing.com/en/tools/K7RT.exe
16. Lavasoft:  http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=28 
17. McAfee Removal:  Direct download link: http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe
18. Microsoft Security Essentials:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2435760
    
19. Norman Antivirus: Direct download link: http://download.norman.no/public/Delnvc5.exe
20. Norton Removal:  https://www-secure.symantec.com/norton-support/jsp/help-solutions.jsp?lg=english&ct=united+states&docid=20080710133834EN&product=home&version=1&pvid=f-home
21. Panda Antivirus (All Versions): Direct download link: http://www.pandasecurity.com/resources/sop/UNINSTALLER_08.exe
22. Sophos:  http://www.sophos.com/support/knowledgebase/article/11019.html
23. Total Defense:  http://totaldefense.iyogi.com/?p=368
24. Trend Micro: http://esupport.trendmicro.com/1/How-do-I-remove-old-or-new-versions-of-Trend-Micro-products-in-my-comp.aspx
25. Vipre (Sunbelt Software) http://kb.gfi.com/articles/Skynet_Article/Error-1612-Installation-source-for-this-product-is-not-available-when-attempting-to-uninstall-VIPRE
26. Webroot:  http://support.webroot.com/cgi-bin/webroot.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1761
27. Windows Live OneCare: Direct download link: http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/c/b/4cb845e7-1076-437b-852a-7842a8ab13c8/OneCareCleanUp.exe 
28. Zone Alarm: Direct download link: http://download.zonealarm.com/bin/free/support/download/clean.exe

Edit Notes: Can't find an uninstaller? Check the lists maintained by Fred de Vries at Singular Labs:

• List of Security Software uninstallers
• List of Driver uninstallers
• List of Pre-Installed Software uninstallers
• List of Other Software uninstallers

If the Microsoft Fix it does not solve the problem, an alternate option is to use AppRemover.  See AppRemover.

Additions:

1. Edit Note: Thank you, Clark76! AVG Added.
2. Edit 02Oct08: avast! removal tool added. Thanks, Ripley. This Song's for you!
3. Edit 10Oct08: Bit Defender and F-Secure added. Thanks to GravityGripp, the developer of one of my favorite Firefox Add-ons, Malware Search.
4. Edit 15Nov08: McAfee and BitDefender links updated.
5. Edit 14Dec08: Added Norman Antivirus. Info provided by Cel.
6. Edit 24Jan09: Added ESET NOD32.
7. Edit 14Jul10: Added reference to Ultimate List of Uninstallers.
8. Edit 06Jun12: Updated AVG (Thanks R-C!)  and other broken links, Added many additional products as well as Singular Labs lists and added AppRemover.
9. Edit 08Aug13: Updated broken links.
   

Remember - "A day without laughter is a day wasted."
May the wind sing to you and the sun rise in your heart...