Solved Cannot open Windows Security due to McAfee?


dencal

Octogenarian
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St Albans
OS
W11 Pro 22H2 Insider Preview
Updated my Desktop Dell Vostro from W10 PRO TO W11 PRO. Version 22H2 {OS build 22621.963} Today.
This came with McAfee installed, prior to Updating used Revo to uninstall, yet was still able to do manual Defender scans.
Now I find cannot open Windows Security although it appears to be working ok, but not manual scans.
"Services" now show McAfee running. "Everything" show 63 McAfee entries, is it perhaps Dell has reinstalled these?
Would it be safe to stop McAfee in "Services", they do give a warning when I tried.services.jpgeverything.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    W11 Pro 22H2 Insider Preview
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Go
    CPU
    Intel core i5 - 12400
    Memory
    7GB
  • Operating System
    W11 PRO 22H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro
    CPU
    Intel i5 - 12400
Updated my Desktop Dell Vostro from W10 PRO TO W11 PRO. Version 22H2 {OS build 22621.963} Today.
This came with McAfee installed, prior to Updating used Revo to uninstall, yet was still able to do manual Defender scans.
Now I find cannot open Windows Security although it appears to be working ok, but not manual scans.
"Services" now show McAfee running. "Everything" show 63 McAfee entries, is it perhaps Dell has reinstalled these?
Would it be safe to stop McAfee in "Services", they do give a warning when I tried.View attachment 48050View attachment 48051




When attempting to remove an Antivirus product, use that companies removal tool.
Almost all AV products require a similar method.
You may have to re-install the product, then run the removal tool...

McAfee removal tool



For future reference, just Google: <AV Name> removal tool
Even with the removal tool, most companies don't make it easy... so read ALL the instructions carefully. :-)
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Home ♦♦♦22631.3374 ♦♦♦♦♦♦♦23H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® [May 2020]
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
    Motherboard
    Asus Pro WS X570-ACE (BIOS 4702)
    Memory
    G.Skill (F4-3200C14D-16GTZKW)
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA RTX 2070 (08G-P4-2171-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1220P / ALC S1220A
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell U3011 30"
    Screen Resolution
    2560 x 1600
    Hard Drives
    2x Samsung 860 EVO 500GB,
    WD 4TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    WD 8TB Black FZBX - SATA III,
    DRW-24B1ST CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling 750W Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Cooler Master ATCS 840 Tower
    Cooling
    CM Hyper 212 EVO (push/pull)
    Keyboard
    Ducky DK9008 Shine II Blue LED
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-100
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox (latest)
    Antivirus
    Bitdefender Internet Security
    Other Info
    Speakers: Klipsch Pro Media 2.1
  • Operating System
    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Ghot® (not in use)
    CPU
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ (OC'd @ 3.2Ghz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition
    Memory
    TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX (2 x 1GB, DDR2 800)
    Graphics card(s)
    EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SSC
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ViewSonic G90FB Black 19" Professional (CRT)
    Screen Resolution
    up to 2048 x 1536
    Hard Drives
    WD 36GB 10,000rpm Raptor SATA
    Seagate 80GB 7200rpm SATA
    Lite-On LTR-52246S CD/RW
    Lite-On LH-18A1P CD/DVD Burner
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad EPS12V
    Case
    Generic Beige case, 80mm fans
    Cooling
    ZALMAN 9500A 92mm CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech Optical M-BT96a
    Keyboard
    Logitech Classic Keybooard 200
    Internet Speed
    300/300
    Browser
    Firefox 3.x ??
    Antivirus
    Symantec (Norton)
    Other Info
    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
Finally managed to get Windows Security to work including quick scans.
As for McAfee Removal Tool tried numerous times (F***ing useless) although each time it stated uninstalled successfully.
To tell the truth I tried so many different methods over many hours to finally rid my computer of its interference including Powershell commands,
that I could not give a definitive answer as to how it was solved, though lastly deleting certain McAfee settings in "Everything" might have done the trick.
 
Last edited:

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    W11 Pro 22H2 Insider Preview
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Go
    CPU
    Intel core i5 - 12400
    Memory
    7GB
  • Operating System
    W11 PRO 22H2
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro
    CPU
    Intel i5 - 12400
Finally managed to get Windows Security to work including quick scans.
As for McAfee Removal Tool tried numerous times (F***ing useless) although each time it stated uninstalled successfully.
To tell the truth I tried so many different methods over many hours to finally rid my computer of its interference including Powershell commands,
that I could not give a definitive answer as to how it was solved, though lastly deleting certain McAfee settings in "Everything" might have done the trick.
Different issue with Defender to yours but same cause. I had to do a lot of registry searches as well as deleting list in Everything.
I also agree the removal tool is a non starter. :(

 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro & 🐥.
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3700U with Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx
    Motherboard
    ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. X509DA (FP5)
    Memory
    12GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    RX Vega 10 Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (1920x1080@60Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080@60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 2TB NVMe 1.3
    Internet Speed
    25 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ACER NITRO
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 5800H / 3.2 GHz
    Motherboard
    CZ Scala_CAS (FP6)
    Memory
    32 GB DDR4 SDRAM 3200 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6 GB GDDR6 SDRAM
    Sound Card
    Realtek Audio. NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" LED backlight 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) 144 Hz
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 970 Evo Plus 2TB NVMe M.2
    PSU
    180 Watt, 19.5 V
    Mouse
    Lenovo Bluetooth
    Internet Speed
    25 Mbps
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender
Don't remember the name but have found there's 2 things McAfee to remove, the antivirus part and an Internet protection service.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 2TB WDC HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security

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