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Question

Firewall removal

by Sep 8, 2012 6:24AM PDT

I have discovered through my Windows Security Center that I have a firewall running through AVG Internet Security 2012. I once downloaded it, but thought I removed it entirely. I have been running AVG Free 2013, but I removed it today, and the firewall is still showing up. The 2012 program does not show up on Add/Delete programs, in my Program Files folder, or anywhere else. Does anyone have a clue how I can remove this?

I am running XP with DSL on an older HP laptop. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Discussion is locked

9 Posts
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Answer
Changing Antivirus Suites
by Sep 8, 2012 7:58AM PDT

You will need to look at this site for complete removal of old, obsolete software:

http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/

Be aware that this removal tool may also remove AVG Free depending on the settings available and the ones you select. So have a fresh copy available in case this happens and do all work offline.

Anytime an user changes a/v software protection, a complete uninstall using this site is recommended, so the new install has no conflicts with the old software remnants left behind. Use Add/Remove to begin the uninstall process and then use the appropriate link to completely remove (downloaded when online and then offline of course). Some require the use of Safe mode only to work and the uninstaller must be on the admin desktop.

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Firewall Removal
by Steven8557 Sep 8, 2012 10:17AM PDT

Thanks mchainmchain,

I ran the AVGIDPUuninstaller and rebooted as directed. I checked the Security Center and it hadn't changed, still showing AVG Internet Security 2012 as being active. I'm thinking I need to find an online tool to tell me if this is correct. I also need to find out if there is anyway to manually reset the Windows Security Center Firewall notification if it is incorrect. Any suggestions? Thanks again

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Answer
Revo Uninstaller Should Do It
by Forum moderator Sep 8, 2012 9:24AM PDT
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Firewall Removal
by Steven8557 Sep 8, 2012 11:10AM PDT

Thanks for the link Grif. It's a nice tool, but the uninstaller only works for programs listed in the Add/Remove Programs utility. If one of those programs don't have their uninstaller included, the Revo should work. My problem is the AVG firewall isn't listed. It doesn't show up on CCleaner, or EZClean either, only on the Windows Security Center under Firewall. Thanks anyway.

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Just a guess
by Bob__B Sep 9, 2012 12:17AM PDT

Does this firewall or Avg show up in the control panel?

If so...... that might be an entry point.

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Firewall Removal
by Steven8557 Sep 9, 2012 4:23PM PDT

Thanks for the response bob b,

Neither shows up in the control panel. I've tried some tests and it seems that if I turn off my Windows Firewall, the Firewall section in the Security Center shows that AVG Internet Security 2012 is currently on. There is no evidence of any AVG2012 files anywhere else on my computer. I've used several registry checker/cleaner tools, Windows file search, and several different diagnostic utilities, and the only AVG files I can find are the latest downloaded but unopened AVG Free 2013 files. I've tried the firewall Leaktest from Gibson with my Windows Firewall turned off and the system was penetrated and appears to not be firewalled. When I turn the Windows Firewall back on, the Security Center tells me that 2 or more firewalls can conflict with each other. I think my only alternative is to find a way to reset the settings on the Security Center Firewall detector. I'm hoping that I can find something on the Microsoft website. If anyone has another alternative to try, I would appreciate the suggestions.
Thanks,
Steven

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Answer
It's A Weakness Of The Security Center Application
by Forum moderator Sep 10, 2012 9:25AM PDT

Unfortunately, certain antivirus and firewall programs don't play well with the Windows Security Center identification app.. Sometimes they don't show up at all and sometimes that don't get removed as they should..

Have you tried the AVG removal tool from the link below? (Select the one which is appropriate to your AVG 2012 version. It should remove all AVG items from the machine, and hopefully from the Security Center:

http://www.avg.com/us-en/utilities

If that doesn't work....

Use the instructions in the link below:

http://www.pchell.com/support/multiple_antivirus_in_security_center.shtml

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Firewall Removal
by Steven8557 Sep 10, 2012 1:30PM PDT

Thanks Grif!!!

AVG's uninstaller didn't fix the problem, and I was researching a way to reset the Security Center.
I had just come across the existence of the WMI Repository, when I saw the 2nd link you sent. Went step by step, and it worked! Security Center showed "no firewall" when I rebooted. (I had turned off the Windows Firewall before the steps)
I had originally discovered the problem when I had to replace my wireless router, and it wouldn't let me connect to my wifi network, messaging me "low or no connectivity, multiple firewalls".(real or imagined?) I just retried setting the system up again, this time it was successful! I now have a wireless house again. Thanks again, and much thanks to everyone else who tried to help. This is a great community forum.

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(NT) Good Job & Glad We Could Help !
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Sep 11, 2012 3:50AM PDT
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