Switching from McAfee to ESET – a few questions

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I have a few questions about switching from McAfee Live Safe, which came preinstalled on my HP Windows 10 Pro, V20H2 laptop, and installing ESET Security as an alternative.

Does McAfee need to be uninstalled before I can install ESET, or can it be just turned off? I found steps to uninstall through the Apps Settings, but wondered if that would actually remove what needs to be removed to allow a proper install of ESET?

I have a two computer license for ESET Security suite that I have already paid for (using one on my Win7 laptop), and don’t really want to continue with McAfee at its high renewal cost, but I wasn’t sure how to be sure that both the uninstall of McAfee and the install of ESET went smoothly!

Thanks for suggestions and help!

 

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You need to uninstall the McAfee first. But not only uninstall it in the Control Panel.
Download the McAfee Removal Tool from the Mcafee website.
Exit/quit the McAfee program.
Uninstall it in the Control Panel (all parts of it)
Restart.
Run the McAfee Removal Tool and restart. Repeat another couple of times and hope you got most of it removed.
Install ESET.

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jburk07, GoneToPlaid, LHiggins

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Great! Thanks! Seemed that there must be more needed than just “uninstalling” it. Thanks for the tip!

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On more question! Is it OK to download the ESET to that computer, so it is ready to install once the uninstall is finished?

Thanks!

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Yes.  Your download is an online installer that grabs the software online.  It’s very small, not the actual AV.

Make sure McAfee is gone first.  Really.

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LHiggins

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Eset will run an uninstaller during its installation, it should ask you what you want to do.  After running the McAfee uninstaller, I’d check for any remnants by going to C Drive and entering McAfee as a search term.  Many AV’s (Avast is super bad about this) leave stuff everywhere just in case you want to reinstall.  Delete everything you find unless you really don’t understand what a particular item is.  Can do the same in the registry if you’re comfortable there.

Before installing eset, you can always run their standalone uninstaller:

https://help.eset.com/AVRemover/1/en-US/

If not in USA, finding your version should be easy.   All our devices use eset.  JMO but just the AV (nod32) is all you need, the Windows firewall works fine for all else.

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Cybertooth, LHiggins

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Thanks for the help and the link. I have a couple of weeks before my McAfee expires, so I probably won’t do it till that date gets closer. Just wanted to be prepared for what was ahead.

And I would have Windows Defender(?) in the meanwhile, too, correct?

I’ll post back if I run into any questions – but since I have the two computer license, I might as well use it!

Thanks again!

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By default, MaAfee will turn off Defender A/V.

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LHiggins

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Thanks! So once McAfee is removed – if I am not quite ready to install ESET, should I turn Defender back on, of will it do that automatically?

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If it doesn’t turn back on automatically, turn it on in the mean time.

In Settings\Update & Security

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LHiggins

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OK, and one more – sorry…

If I make a good Macrium image backup copy of the C drive where McAfee lives before I start, would restoring that backup restore McAfee if the uninstall/install of ESET runs into problems?

Thanks!

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Restoring a macrium image would physically restore McAfee.  But you may want to look into how McAfee handles the license upon uninstall/reinstall.  Restoring an image doesn’t go through the reinstall process.

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LHiggins

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Thanks! I’m really not planning on having to do that, but wanted to have that option as a backup. Hopefully I won’t need it!

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