I recently posted info on removing Symantec / Norton products using the Norton removal tool (http://techgeekandmore.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/software-symantec-norton-removal-tool/ (http://techgeekandmore NULL.com/2009/06/26/software-symantec-norton-removal-tool/) ) .  I said that Symantec security products were not high on my list (My opinion) of products I would buy.  McAfee is not high on my list and with the recent .dat file update that is making computers crash, I figured I would post the information on how to completely remove McAfee from your system.

It is important to have a good antivirus product installed on your pc, for standard home users. Once you get your antivirus software installed on your pc, you need to make sure that it is set up to update on a regular (regular = no less than once a week or sooner)

Here (again) is a list of antivirus software that is offered for free (“For home use”).

AVG FREE -http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition (http://free NULL.avg NULL.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition)

Avira – http://www.free-av.com/en/download/index.html (http://www NULL.free-av NULL.com/en/download/index NULL.html)

Avast – http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html (http://www NULL.avast NULL.com/eng/avast_4_home NULL.html)

All 3 of these have pay versions of their software, but for the average home user, the free version is all you will ever need.

**The other thing to keep in mind is that you should never install / run more than one antivirus program on your pc.  What will happen is that the programs will think they are each a virus and basically as they fight to see who wins your pc will not work right.  So if you have an old antivirus and you would like to replace it, please make sure to uninstall the old version before installing the new antivirus.

     With all that being said here are the steps for removing McAfee completely from your system.  Continue thru all the steps no matter if Step#1 shows like it removed your McAfee product. 

Step 1 – Uninstall your McAfee consumer products using Add/Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel

Windows 2000/XP

1. Click Start, Settings, Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
3. Select the McAfee SecurityCenter product.
4. Click Remove and follow the steps provided.

Windows Vista

1. Click Start, Search, type Programs and Features, and click Go.
2. Double-click Programs and Features.
3. Select the McAfee SecurityCenter product.
4. Click Uninstall and follow the steps provided.

Step 2 – Download and run MCPR.exe

1. Download the removal tool from:
   http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe (http://download NULL.mcafee NULL.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR NULL.exe)
2. Click Save and save the file to a folder on your computer.
3. Navigate to the folder where the file was saved.
4. Make sure all McAfee windows are closed.
5. Double-click MCPR.exe to run the removal tool.
   Note: Windows Vista users must right-click MCPR.exe and select Run as Administrator.
6. Restart your computer after receiving the message CleanUp Successful.
   Your McAfee product will not be fully removed until the system is restarted.