Uninstalling CSS

[Muse]

Went down to the wire on my nag screens to register CSS, and I just uninstalled it. Just previous I responded to a nag to do Windows Update and was presented by the Microsoft Genuine Advantage installation nag. Knowing that my installation of XP Pro is genuine (new T60, duh), I figure why install this thing whose purpose is to assure me that my installation of Windows is valid?

I get a message that updates were not installed. WTF. I run Windows Update manually, and again have the option to install WGA, and I go "why do this?" I better investigate. Googling it I see nothing but cracks for it. After cancelling I get message that Windows Update was successful! This stuff is hell of confusing. Thanks, MS.

Well, I subsequently uninstalled CSS but see that Live Reg and LiveUpdate (Symantec stuff) is still there in Add/Remove Programs. Do I want to now uninstall that stuff before I proceed with my installation of Zonealarm Free and AVG Free 7.5 (probably in that order)?

[RonS]

Here's what I did. First, use CSS to register your fingerprints with the BIOS. Go into the BIOS and enable password/fingerprint for the system AND for the hard drive (make sure to use the same password for both you can swipe just once to unlock your whole system). AFTER that, uninstall CSS.

With this setup, the Thinkpad is essentially a brick at power-on unless it gets the correct fingerprint or password. Even removing the hard drive is a waste of time because it's hardware locked. Once you get past POST, the system is wide open, without CSS getting in the way.

I uninstall Symmantec Norton Anti-Virus on every system I maintain. It's worse than any virus I've seen. I think it IS the virus. I've been using the free Kaspersky AV with good success, which is available through AOL here:

http://www.activevirusshield.com/antivi ... /index.adp?

I use Windows Firewire and it seems to work well and it's easy. ZoneAlarm give yo more visibility into the port traffic, but after a while it just gets annoying.

[Muse]

I wish I'd seen your post before I uninstalled CSS. I guess it's history now on my system, unless I restore it somehow or install it from Lenovo's site. I've never gone into the BIOS. I've only ignored that screen that comes up at boot about the BIOS. I did register my fingerprints and after uninstalling CSS, I still log into the machine/windows with a single swipe (if I'm lucky!). I presume that Symantec AV is gone as well, by virtue of the CSS uninstall, the firewall too. What would you do now?

[ThinkFanatic]

The Symantec products have no relevance to CSS, and I would uninstall them just to get them off your system before you install another AV program.

BTW, the BIOS power-on with fingerprint is also independent of CSS, you can get that feature just by downloading the ThinkVantage Fingerprint Software, and enrolling your fingerprints. You have the option of enrolling them for power-on/HDD passwords at that point. Once you do that, when you reboot for the first time, you will be prompted to swipe your finger, and then you will still have to type your passwords for power-on/HDD to associate them with your fingerprint template. Then you are good to go.

[Muse]

The Symantec products have no relevance to CSS, and I would uninstall them just to get them off your system before you install another AV program.

BTW, the BIOS power-on with fingerprint is also independent of CSS, you can get that feature just by downloading the ThinkVantage Fingerprint Software, and enrolling your fingerprints. You have the option of enrolling them for power-on/HDD passwords at that point. Once you do that, when you reboot for the first time, you will be prompted to swipe your finger, and then you will still have to type your passwords for power-on/HDD to associate them with your fingerprint template. Then you are good to go.

Taking your advice, I just went into Add/Remove Programs and uninstalled LiveReg (I think that was the name), and my inspections revealed that only one Symantec application remained in Add/Remove Programs, namely LiveUpdate. However, when I go to remove LiveUpdate I get a headscratcher:

---------------------------------------------
LiveUpdate Installer
---------------------------------------------


? We have determined that you still have some Symantec applications registered with LiveUpdate. You should not remove LiveUpdate unless all Symantec applications have been uninstalled first.

Are you sure you want to remove LiveUpdate?

Yes/No
---------------------------------------------

I have looked carefully at every application remaining in Add/Remove Programs and it seems clear that none of them are involved with Symantec. What am I to do here?

This does not surprise me. I've thought for years that Symantec is more pose than power. I'm sure this is unfair, but I've seen too many quirky and nasty things happen with Norton AV and Systemworks to feel confident when using anything Symantec with one exception, being Ghost. However, unless I'm mistaken they can't take credit for that since they acquired Ghost. They had little (or maybe basically nothing) to do with writing it.

[egibbs]

Just say yes if you don't have any Symantec apps left.

You don't really expect the Symantec uninstallers to be smart enough to unregister the apps with LiveUpdate, do you?

Ed Gibbs

[Muse]

Just say yes if you don't have any Symantec apps left.

You don't really expect the Symantec uninstallers to be smart enough to unregister the apps with LiveUpdate, do you?

Ed Gibbs

Actually, I'm not smart enough to know what this entails. I'd hope that the Symantec folks would have it all sorted out, but like I say, I'm not surprised they don't. Anyway, I got Zonealarm Free (zlsSetup_65_737_000_en.exe) installed today, and AVG Antivirus Free 7.5 as well and got them pretty much configured. Well, I'll have to configure my firewall to get my wireless network set up, but that's for another day.

I'll uninstall LiveUpdate next time I fire up the laptop. Thanks!