Removing other anti-viruses, Before installing Kaspersky Options

[Don Pelotas]

The first thing you should be aware of is that running two (or more) anti-viruses is often a receipe for disaster. Never install Kaspersky without uninstalling previous installations of anti-virus software, it's not recommended by Kaspersky.

General removal instructions:

1. Uninstall the anti-virus(es) you have installed via add/remove programs in the controlpanel, then reboot after the uninstall is finished.

2. Next you delete the folder most likely left behind after the uninstall, use explorer to open "Program files" and delete the folder of your previous AV, if you get a "In use by other persons or programs" then try to use a program called Unlocker (free), simply rightclick on the folder and choose "Unlocker" for your options to appear. Very useful tool for difficult files/folders btw. You can also use "Search" in Windows to hunt down & delete any files/folders still there after an uninstall. Another thing you could do at this stage, is to run a tracks-eraser to remove files not used and just using HD space, two free tools are: CCleaner (both builds with the Yahoo toolbar and versions without this)

3. Now would be a good time to use a registry cleaner, there are many different vendors, but the one which i find most thorough and safe is JV Powertools or Powertools lite (Freeware) run it (use normalmode only, not aggressive), when finished scanning you rightclick and select "All", then you click "Fix" at the bottom, it will ask you if you wish to make a backup and you do, just to be safe. Regcleaners should IMHO only be used in these circumstances = when you are cleaning programs of your HD that you do not intend to use again, running regcleaners daily or weekly is a vaste of time IMHO.

Most vendors make removal-tools for use after removal via add/remove programs to remove registry entries/folders, you can contact the support of the AV in question for a copy. A few will be listed at the bottom of this post.


Removing Norton (even when it is already uninstalled via add/remove programs)

Norton remnants is often a source of problems when installing Kaspersky, these problems can vary from small and perhaps unnoticed by the user trying Kaspersky for the first time and therefore thinking that it is normal for Kaspersky to be a little heavy because this is what he/she reads on some forums, to very severe slowdowns prompting the user to perhaps either contact support or post here at the forum.

Well, the good news is that Norton make some very good removal-tools and if you follow the suggestions below, even if they may seem overkill to you, then a better experience with Kaspersky can almost be guaranteed and with better overall system performance to follow in most cases too!

Download these: Norton removaltool and the trial JV Powertools or Powertools lite (Freeware).

Uninstall Kaspersky if installed, reboot and do this:

1. Install JV Powertools or Powertools lite (Freeware).
2. Use search to find/delete any files/folders left of Norton AV using the words Symantec & Norton.
3. Run the Norton removaltool.
4. Use JV Powertools/Powertools lite, run it (use normalmode only, not aggressive) and select "Registry cleaner", when finished scanning you go to the topmenu and choose "Select > All", then you click "Fix" at the bottom, it will ask you if you wish to make a backup and you do, just to be safe.
5. Reinstall Kaspersky.

Tools/tips from other vendors:

Avast: here
Avira/AntiVir: here
Bitdefender: here
McAfee: here and this one here
MsOneCare: here
Norman: Here
Norton Security Scan: Here
Trend-micro: here
AVG: here, Kaspersky also has an AVG remover: http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208279831

AVG can be a little tricky and sometimes manual removal og regentries is necessary:

Look if one (or more) of these regentries exist and delete them if they do: Enter the registry (Click start > run > type regedit and then click ok), in there simply follow the path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AVG7Uninstall and then check for the next one and the next etc etc.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AVG7Uninstall
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AVG6INSTALL
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AVG8Uninstall
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\AVG\Avg8

Or these if it is 64bit:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AVG7Uninstall
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AVG6INSTALL
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AVG8Uninstall
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\AVG\Avg8