App Remover and Avira 9

wdhpr · 18. Feb 2011, 04:48 PM

I just wanted to share an experience I encountered while trying to uninstall Avira 9 antivirus. (not the suite)

I decided to use the latest version of App Remover. First I shut down all avira protections. I then ran App Remover. Everything appeared to go well. App remover finished the process and directed me to reboot to finish.
See the security applications App Remover can uninstall

After the reboot I noticed my CPU usage was high and because I removed Avira I didn't expect it to be as high as it was. I checked my start programs and found all of Avira's protection modules running. (how could this be?) I checked my program folders and found Avira fully intact. Tried to stop Avira's running process with no success. Of course I couldn't delete Avira's folder or files I even tried Unlocker

After checking the web for a way to Uninstall Avira I was only able to locate the registry cleaner. I couldn't even remove the the Avira items from the registry using their tool!

I finally went into Avira's program folder located the Setup.exe file, started it and selected remove. After it was done I was told to reboot. (which I did)Wouldn't you know It Worked.
Not only did it delete all files it cleaned up all registry items, which I verified using their registry cleaner.

My subscription ran out with Avira so I decided to give MSE a whirl. MSE took a while to settle down and so far its running very well with a small foot print.

Wdhpr

eyeb · 18. Feb 2011, 05:11 PM

I dont know but i tend to not use those 3rd party apps to install/uninstall software. Avira can be uninstalled by itself and it's uninstaller is made by the company that made the product so it'll work. 3rd pt software may/may not work and may/may not be updated for newest version.

MidnightCowboy · 18. Feb 2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdhpr

My subscription ran out with Avira so I decided to give MSE a whirl. MSE took a while to settle down and so far its running very well with a small foot print.

Wdhpr

Was this 9 Premium you were uninstalling, and what are your OS specs?

wdhpr · 18. Feb 2011, 05:44 PM

I have installed and uninstalled a number of anti-virus applications. Almost all provided their own uninstall tools. Avira only provides a registry cleaning tool and it is designed to clean up left over registry entries to allow installation of other security software. I have run Avira for 8 years and I really liked it. Even though you can disable the nag screens on the free version of Avira anti-virus I decided to give MSE a try. So far so good.

Wdhpr

Anupam · 18. Feb 2011, 05:48 PM

I tend to agree with eyeb here. If an uninstaller is available from the vendor, it should be the first thing to go. AppRemover could have been used afterward to make sure the remnants were removed. And AppRemover does have that option to perform clean-up.

Removing security software can be quite tricky. I would always go for the built-in uninstaller first, and then for removal programs after that.

After reading your experience, I feel that AppRemover might be good as a clean-up program, but it cannot be used as a replacement for the uninstaller of the security software.

Thanks for sharing your experience though. It will help someone who decided of going the same route as you did.

wdhpr · 18. Feb 2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MidnightCowboy

Was this 9 Premium you were uninstalling, and what are your OS specs?

Now that I have thought about it I was running 9 premium however during various updates it may upgraded itself to version 10. I only boot to Windows 1 or 2 times a month

Anyway I have a AMD Sempron processor, 2 gigs of rams and Nvidia cards for everything else. Running winxp sp3 and of course dual booting to Linux

Wdhpr

kendall.a · 18. Feb 2011, 05:54 PM

All I can say is that after a recent experience with Revo (detailed in another thread), I'll not be using 3rd party uninstallers unless it is absolutely necessary. I've come to the point of "who cares if a few hundred registry entries are left after I uninstall something".

Taurus · 18. Feb 2011, 07:36 PM

I resently installed Avira 10 Free as an on-demand scanner (without the guard) and used it for a while. I then decied I didn't need it and uninstalled it with the native windows add\remove progams. Avira uninstalled fine. After having a bad experience with Revo Uninstaller, I wanted to try using the windows add\remove programs.

I did download the Avira Registry Cleaner and it ran fine. I did a regedit after using the Cleaner and I could find no remains of Avira.

I have to agree with kendell. The registry is best left alone unless you know what you're doing.

MidnightCowboy · 18. Feb 2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdhpr

Now that I have thought about it I was running 9 premium however during various updates it may upgraded itself to version 10. I only boot to Windows 1 or 2 times a month

Anyway I have a AMD Sempron processor, 2 gigs of rams and Nvidia cards for everything else. Running winxp sp3 and of course dual booting to Linux

Wdhpr

Strange because Premium 9 is fully supported by AppRemover for XP x32 and so is V10 for that matter unless something during the upgrade process (if this happened) confused it.

bo.elam · 18. Feb 2011, 08:34 PM

My experience installing and uninstalling Avira has always been perfect when using
Windows own uninstaller, then running their registry cleaner to finish it up. I think
we should always try to use the programs own uninstaller tools.

Bo

18. Feb 2011, 04:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
wdhpr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The north Coast Posts: 1,117	App Remover and Avira 9 I just wanted to share an experience I encountered while trying to uninstall Avira 9 antivirus. (not the suite) I decided to use the latest version of App Remover. First I shut down all avira protections. I then ran App Remover. Everything appeared to go well. App remover finished the process and directed me to reboot to finish. See the security applications App Remover can uninstall After the reboot I noticed my CPU usage was high and because I removed Avira I didn't expect it to be as high as it was. I checked my start programs and found all of Avira's protection modules running. (how could this be?) I checked my program folders and found Avira fully intact. Tried to stop Avira's running process with no success. Of course I couldn't delete Avira's folder or files I even tried Unlocker After checking the web for a way to Uninstall Avira I was only able to locate the registry cleaner. I couldn't even remove the the Avira items from the registry using their tool! I finally went into Avira's program folder located the Setup.exe file, started it and selected remove. After it was done I was told to reboot. (which I did)Wouldn't you know It Worked. Not only did it delete all files it cleaned up all registry items, which I verified using their registry cleaner. My subscription ran out with Avira so I decided to give MSE a whirl. MSE took a while to settle down and so far its running very well with a small foot print. Wdhpr Last edited by wdhpr; 18. Feb 2011 at 04:54 PM. Reason: Spelling, can't do it even with spell check

18. Feb 2011, 05:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
wdhpr Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The north Coast Posts: 1,117	I have installed and uninstalled a number of anti-virus applications. Almost all provided their own uninstall tools. Avira only provides a registry cleaning tool and it is designed to clean up left over registry entries to allow installation of other security software. I have run Avira for 8 years and I really liked it. Even though you can disable the nag screens on the free version of Avira anti-virus I decided to give MSE a try. So far so good. Wdhpr Last edited by wdhpr; 18. Feb 2011 at 05:54 PM.

18. Feb 2011, 05:48 PM	#5 (permalink)
Anupam Moderator Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 9,484	I tend to agree with eyeb here. If an uninstaller is available from the vendor, it should be the first thing to go. AppRemover could have been used afterward to make sure the remnants were removed. And AppRemover does have that option to perform clean-up. Removing security software can be quite tricky. I would always go for the built-in uninstaller first, and then for removal programs after that. After reading your experience, I feel that AppRemover might be good as a clean-up program, but it cannot be used as a replacement for the uninstaller of the security software. Thanks for sharing your experience though. It will help someone who decided of going the same route as you did. __________________ Anupam

18. Feb 2011, 05:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
kendall.a Foundation Editor/Forum Manager Intern Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 1,814	All I can say is that after a recent experience with Revo (detailed in another thread), I'll not be using 3rd party uninstallers unless it is absolutely necessary. I've come to the point of "who cares if a few hundred registry entries are left after I uninstall something". __________________ <-------Is looking for his brain....

18. Feb 2011, 07:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
Taurus Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Northeast US Posts: 422	I resently installed Avira 10 Free as an on-demand scanner (without the guard) and used it for a while. I then decied I didn't need it and uninstalled it with the native windows add\remove progams. Avira uninstalled fine. After having a bad experience with Revo Uninstaller, I wanted to try using the windows add\remove programs. I did download the Avira Registry Cleaner and it ran fine. I did a regedit after using the Cleaner and I could find no remains of Avira. I have to agree with kendell. The registry is best left alone unless you know what you're doing. __________________ T

18. Feb 2011, 05:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
eyeb Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Planet X Posts: 487	I dont know but i tend to not use those 3rd party apps to install/uninstall software. Avira can be uninstalled by itself and it's uninstaller is made by the company that made the product so it'll work. 3rd pt software may/may not work and may/may not be updated for newest version.

18. Feb 2011, 08:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
bo.elam Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,224	My experience installing and uninstalling Avira has always been perfect when using Windows own uninstaller, then running their registry cleaner to finish it up. I think we should always try to use the programs own uninstaller tools. Bo

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