Greetings,
My BitDefender 2008 AV subscription ran out last night so I proceeded to install the "2010" version. After installing, configuring and making my way around the new 2010 (very different) interface, a few things just didn't seem right.. then I realized I'd neglected to uninstall the old one first (urrg). I'm no "expert" but felt safe using BitDefenders "Expert" mode at least to begin with.
On to the un-install debacle..
Both BD versions (2008 & 2010) showed-up in the "Add/Remove", upon attempting to remove BitDefender 2008 I received a few different types of error messages:
*"The installer has insufficient privileges to modify this file:
C:ProgramFilesBitDefenderBitDefender2010IniDefaultTBD181.tmp"
* "The windows installer service could not be accessed..."
Then I decided to un-install the 2010 and start over, when I tried to do that this came up:
"Could not delete key SystemCurrentControlSetServicesbdfm Verify you have sufficient access to that key, or contact...support personnel"
I also employed CCleaner for uninstall attempts and got this:
"An installation for BitDefender [AV] 2008 is currently suspended. You must undo changes made by that installation to continue. Do you want to undo those changes?"
I didn't know what "changes" they even meant...during different attempts I clicked both the "Yes" and "No" -of course to no avail.
Very confusing with all these differing error messages.
I was of the mind this probably had to do either with unrelated past issues with my computer or my neglecting to uninstall BD 2008. I google searched "The windows installer service could not be accessed" (and such) and found a few possible solutions that included using the command prompt and a registry edit. I also download a new Windows Installer version from the MS support site but still a no-go..same errors, so I rolled back to a time (via system restore) before all these things were done and called it a night.
Note: Last night in "Services" I could not find the Windows Installer app that I'd just installed but saw it there today (!) and so was able to "start" the service and change it from "manual" to "automatic". (yay!) I then used the uninstall tool I found in this post from Alex Stanciu. As I watched it uninstall..many "failed" red-x's were showing up, (boo) however when it was done "un-installing" it informed me that the uninstall had been "successful". (huh?) I did the re-boot.
Another note: Upon several of those un-install attempts/reboots last night the BD icon/s seemed to disappear and re-appear randomly in different places, (Add/Remove; taskbar; CCleaner; etc). Today after using the uninstall tool and rebooting BD is now off the desktop and taskbar and out of Add/Remove, but is still seen in my "Services". (hmm..) as: "BitDefender Virus Shield (Manual)" and as: "Desktop Update Service (Auto)".
Question: With all the "failed" red x's showing in BD's uninstall tool whom/what to believe? -Can I assume both BD programs are wiped clean enough off my system to do a clean install of my BD AV 2010? ugg, $25 and my computer's been vulnerable all day..
Thanks for any help or advice,
Suzanne
Windows XP Home/SP2
Intel Pentium III 863MHz (256KB L2 Cache)
512MB PC133 SDRAM
Win SP2 Firewall
DSL/ IE7
