Bitdefender Uninstall And Install Nightmares
Hi there seems to be a lot of problems with installing or upgrading this software. I have never been a fan of uninstalling or upgrading any virus checker, (or installing printer drivers and those horrible creative lab Audio drivers in the 90's 
) as in previous virus software I have used, there is always a problem. So I was a bit peeved when my upgrade to BDTS2015 did not go smoothly at all. Here is the list of what I done and now it finally works. It's not a fix, but a "what the ###### is up with this install and why won't it work" log of my work 
. It is a yawn-fest but just wanted to get it down here to show the problems I experienced to whoever tries an install.
I am on Windows 8.1 with Media Centre, Dell Inspiron laptop running BD 2013.
Download 2015 upgrade (if only I'd known what was to come)
1st Run 2015 upgrade
Clicked "
Downloaded 2013 uninstall tool - uninstall OK
2nd Run 2015 install
So system crashes. I restart system and BD is not installed (no icon) so reinstall
3rd Run 2015 install
I reboot and Windows informs me I am unprotected, but there is a red Bitdefender icon!!
Click Bitdefender icon and lots of screens just blank in there, so not good.
Tried to uninstall this BD install but not listed in "
4th Run 2015 install - in the hope that it repairs or uninstalls the 3rd run
I thought wonder if manually updating will help, so downloaded 64bit update here , ran it and it wouldn't patch as it thinks there is no BD installed.
So thought OK let's take it back to 2013 it was happy with that and ran installer "bitdefender_tsecurity.exe" got a BSOD "WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR".
Rebooted got following errors titled:
"
"
The general error for the 3 above was:
"C:\Program Files\Bitdefender\Bitdefender 2015\FILENAMES_ABOVE is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support. Error status 0xc000012f"
Bitdefender icon shows "Bitdefender Services are loading now, please wait". Sill not listed in "Programs and Features" in Control Panel.
Downloaded offline installer from link in this thread.
1st run offline installer bitdefender_ts_18_64b.exe
2nd run offline installer bitdefender_ts_18_64b.exe
Installer tells me to reboot.
Reboot and no notification area icon and the desktop icon has disappeared too and service (BVS) is set to disabled. Bitdefender 2015 program files do not exist either!
3rd run offline installer bitdefender_ts_18_64b.exe chose not to update from online
So wanted to make sure all was OK I uninstalled via “programs and features” as I wanted it nice and clean.
Restart system – no bitdefender service – so looks clean
1st run offline installer after success and told installer to update from online
Services exist, desktop icon exists and BVS service running, notification area icon appeared very late.
2nd run offline installer after success and told installer to not update from online
Noticed services disabled and notification area icon have gone as well as processes and Program files directory empty.
Rebooted.[/indent]
3rd run offline installer after success and told installer to not update from online
Rebooted
All fine at present I daren't upgrade to 2016 or whatever comes next!!
Comments
Oh my ticket number was 2014092110050002, you might as well close it.
Seeing how you are running Windows 8.1 you might want to buy/install this http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/windows-8-security.html because it is tailored for Windows 8/8.1
I hope this helps.
Thanks, not all my PC's are win 8.1 or windows 8 for that matter- thankfully
I suppose question for support team is I have just paid for BD Total Security 2015 license so don't know if it will transfer across to an 8.1 license, also if can do this, whether I can still use normal BD Total Security 2015 on my non Win 8 PC's.
The big problem being the installers seem to be real add for this product - do I want to go through the above scenario again for a product that is probably just the same as 2015 anyway..........###### yeah I'll give it a go - if support say it is ok with my license.
Also following link shows compatibility of both products are fine.
What happens if they release win 9 at the end of the year and I buy it?
OK so cut a long story short - I was asked to install BD Win8 and found out none of my licenses for BD TS 2015 worked. So pointless. In the call they asked me to downgrade to BD TS 2015!!!
Anyways, i used the new uninstall tool and then ran the offline BD TS2015 installer an dall seems well. No BSOD at all.......thank god
I don't think Windows 9 will be that far different from 8/8.1 and by then Bitdefender will have sorted any changes in the OS that will effect the AV.
Yeah, the BD TS license won't work for Windows 8 Security - but if you have a BD Internet Security license it will work for it.
Having exactly the same issue, ticket #2014110616000004 and those guys seem clueless. more than 2 weeks and no response
Let me know how did you finally install it? I do not want to got through 20+ attempts you had
Hi SMS, have you tried that yet?
Unfortunately, I'm running into the same problem with my sisters Windows 8.1 PC as you mentioned in your 1st post (bought her BD Internet Security). I may have to go visit her and work it out myself. She tried twice using my email instructions (total uninstall of previous version, uninstall tool, CCleaner, full offline installer etc.), and sounded a bit put off, I think I need to intervene, as I want to install it (2015) on both of her PCs without her losing faith (I've had her on BD for years, with no problems as far as malware, so I don't want her to get discouraged)
rarester, you mentioned you used the 2014 (The New Bitdefender) uninstall tool with success, Rough, do you know of a 2015 uninstaller that I'm not aware of, or will the 2014 version be capable enough? Thanks
Hiya
You missed an "h" from my name, maybe I am a rough!
I have always run the un-install on 2015 from Control Panel>Programs and Features an never had any problems. It is what BD recommend http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/support/how-t...-2015-1323.html (just ensure you untick the 60 second Scanner during the uninstall windows)
.
Ro.
lol, see it's been awhile, thank you Rohugh, my friend