Antivirus software lingering in Security Center

XP Home SP2 - Apparently this PC had Defender Pro Internet Security installed on it at some point. It is listed as 'out of date' in the Windows Security Center, but it is not listed in Add/Remove Programs, or in the Start Menu's All Programs list. In C:\Program Files there was an empty Defender Pro folder, and there are numerous listings in the registry for it (why am I not surprised that it's a Kaspersky based program?). How do I remove it from the Windows Security Center? Should I manually remove all its entries from the registry?

 

You could go to this site : http://www.spywarevoid.com/remove-windows-security-suite-windows-securitysuite-removal.html

 

@ITTomas: thanks, but not what I'm after. The link you posted goes to info on how to remove a rogue infection called "Windows Security Suite". This is not the problem I'm having. The PC is virus free. I'm just doing some cleanup and maintenance, and getting everything right. Thanks anyway.

@ Halo: Thanks! When you find the small app you mentioned, please send me a PM. It sounds like it would come in handy from time to time. I'll take a look at the steps you mentioned.... would simply removing all the DefenderPro entries from the registry help? IIRC, I saw an entry (or two) for DefenderPro in the registry that mentioned Windows Security, I think. :rolleyes I'll have to take a second look.

If anyone else has anything of help, feel free to post! Thanks!

 

I do apologize for giving you the wrong info, I'm still in the learning process of all Windows, Linux, and Programming. This forum is also allowing me to learn from the other users as well.

 

@ITTomas - no worries We're all here to help and learn.... and welcome to Major Geeks! :major

@ Halo - thanks again. I'm headed to the WBEM folder right after I remove the dead reg links....
:-D

EDIT - Well, I just removed all the related keys from the registry, and browsed to system32\WBEM, and the freekin' folder is EMPTY!!!!
:confused
I'll try a reboot and see what happens....
:banghead

 

:-o rolleyes Duh. I was in the wrong folder. Sheeeesh. I'm a stooge. So, the system32\wbem folder is full of all sorts of files, but I don't see anything that screams "Defender Pro Internet Security" in the wbem folder, or in the Repository folder. In the Repository folder, I see one folder called "FS" and a file called "$WinMgt.CFG". The FS folder has two INDEX files, two OBJECTS files, and three MAPPING files (MAPPING, MAPPING1 and MAPPING2). The extensions here are .MAP, .VER, .BTR, and .DATA. Maybe I'll just rename the Repository folder just in case.....
?

 

This tool? Security Center Reset 1.0

There is also a quick way to reset it with a .bat file.

Code:

@ECHO OFF
net stop winmgmt
cd /d %windir%\system32\wbem
ren repository repository.old
net start winmgmt
exit

 

Well, to be on the safe side, I renamed the Repository folder after turning off the WMI service. I then turned it back on and rebooted. Everything worked out fine, and the WSC is now clean!! :celebrate. I didn't have any security apps installed yet, so I didn't really need to worry about reinstalling anything that may have been altered by the Repository folder. This is a neat 'trick', and could be handy when dealing with malware too. Thanks Halo!

@ evilfantasy: thanks for the link and BAT. Good stuff!