abustraan
asked on
Registry Key "Doesn't Exist"
I'm trying to upgrade my Mcafee Anti-Virus Enterprise from 8.7i to 8.8 and it won't install.
It gets an error that it can't write to HKLM\Software\Mcafee\Syste
I've tried regedit and it shows the Key in question, but when I try to delete it it says it doesn't exist.
I tried Win PE and imported my software Hive and it claims that the "McAfee" key doesn't exist.
I've also ran sfc /scannow, chkdsk /r to no avail.
As another test, I just went to an elevated DOS prompt and tried to query the key: HKLM\Software\McAfee and it lists both the McAfee and SystemCore Keys but when I tried to REG Delete either key it says "The System Was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
It gets an error that it can't write to HKLM\Software\Mcafee\Syste
I've tried regedit and it shows the Key in question, but when I try to delete it it says it doesn't exist.
I tried Win PE and imported my software Hive and it claims that the "McAfee" key doesn't exist.
I've also ran sfc /scannow, chkdsk /r to no avail.
As another test, I just went to an elevated DOS prompt and tried to query the key: HKLM\Software\McAfee and it lists both the McAfee and SystemCore Keys but when I tried to REG Delete either key it says "The System Was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
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ASKER
Against the advice of most every page that I visit about registry Cleaners, I tried it. I did find 60 entries related to McAfee and Network Associates.
I removed them, rebooted and still there. I did try and export the McAfee Key and I got the following:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWA
@=""
I just tried regdelnull from sysinternals and it didn't list the McAfee Key.
I removed them, rebooted and still there. I did try and export the McAfee Key and I got the following:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWA
@=""
I just tried regdelnull from sysinternals and it didn't list the McAfee Key.
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ASKER
Prior to the sevenforums and reply by msifox, I did an reg query for everything under HKLM for mcafee and came up with 164 entries. Is there any way that I could convert that log into a script to remove those entries? Attached a couple of reg query results.
msifox the mcafee tool is only good for home use, not for enterprise products.
The other tool listed under Kaspersky did a lot (removed 12 entries) but the key that I am trying to remove still remains:
2013-04-28-1508-McAfeeEntries.txt
msifox the mcafee tool is only good for home use, not for enterprise products.
The other tool listed under Kaspersky did a lot (removed 12 entries) but the key that I am trying to remove still remains:
FAIL Failed to modify HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWAR
FAIL Operation failed.
INFO Removing registry key...
WINERR RegOpenKeyEx() failed. Error: 2
FAIL Failed to modify HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWAR
FAIL Operation failed.
2013-04-28-1450-McAfeeEntries.txtFAIL Operation failed.
INFO Removing registry key...
WINERR RegOpenKeyEx() failed. Error: 2
FAIL Failed to modify HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWAR
FAIL Operation failed.
2013-04-28-1508-McAfeeEntries.txt
ASKER
I'll wait a bit on the sevenforums process. Pretty involved, and if it comes down to that, I may just wipe and reload.
Thanks again for the advice and prompt responses. EE never fails...
Thanks again for the advice and prompt responses. EE never fails...
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Thanks, your instructions were for Version 8.7i and I have 8.8 and was found here: https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=KB71179&actp=search&viewlocale=en_US&searchid=1367184698458
I've also tried Win PE (I'm guessing similar to Bart PE) and it told me the McAfee Key doesn't exist. Even though it shows in regedit, and in normal windows it allows me to click on it and the SystemCore subkey gives me the error it doesn't exist.
I'm now down to 4 McAfee Entries left in the registry. 1 says it doesn't exist and the other 3 just give me "an error while deleting key".
I've also tried Win PE (I'm guessing similar to Bart PE) and it told me the McAfee Key doesn't exist. Even though it shows in regedit, and in normal windows it allows me to click on it and the SystemCore subkey gives me the error it doesn't exist.
I'm now down to 4 McAfee Entries left in the registry. 1 says it doesn't exist and the other 3 just give me "an error while deleting key".
ASKER
I distributed the points amongst every answer.
At this point, I'll consider the answer closed.
After removing several McAfee Entries that dealt with firewall settings, the "Base Filtering Engine" wouldn't start due to permission settings and I decided to just reload Windows.
I had made an image of the system and I could have reverted back, but I had spent about a week with McAfee and a pretty intense day with all of the help here on EE.
Some problems just aren't worth the pain of fixing when a few hours reloading the OS, Applications, Settings and restoring data makes for a nice clean machine.
I just hope when I roll out McAfee 8.8 SP3 to my other 85 clients, I don't encounter the same issue.
Thanks again.
At this point, I'll consider the answer closed.
After removing several McAfee Entries that dealt with firewall settings, the "Base Filtering Engine" wouldn't start due to permission settings and I decided to just reload Windows.
I had made an image of the system and I could have reverted back, but I had spent about a week with McAfee and a pretty intense day with all of the help here on EE.
Some problems just aren't worth the pain of fixing when a few hours reloading the OS, Applications, Settings and restoring data makes for a nice clean machine.
I just hope when I roll out McAfee 8.8 SP3 to my other 85 clients, I don't encounter the same issue.
Thanks again.
@abustraan - Thanks for the update. ... Thinkpads_User
ASKER
I've run utilities provided by McAfee for removing their software.
When I try and install the new version is when I get the error, it won't install successfully.
As for the RegEdit suggestion, I've attached screenshots showing the error messages I get when I try and delete it or adjust the permissions.
And I thought I had attached my DOS screen for attempting to delete it via DOS.
SettingPermission1.JPG
ErrorOpeningKey1.JPG
DOS-regedit.JPG