cannot uninstall Panda antivirus software

[Baxter984]

i installed the trial version of pandas antivirus softwareyesterday, i then chose to uninstall it and install AVG instead. I went to add/remove programs and atteempted to uninstall, it went though the first menu and started to uninstall it when "cannot delete ICL_CFG.DLL:Access is denied" came up and i had to choose to exit uninstallment. Doesn anyone know what could cause me not to be able to uninstall it, if so feel free to comment. Thanks

[Darthtanion]

Make sure the program is not running and that it isn't showing up in the Processes portion of the Task Manager. If it is running (even hidden in the background) you will often get this type of error. It cannot delete the file because it is in use.

Don't know if this will solve your problem, but it is the first place to start looking for the answer.

[Adionik]

Man I had this VERY SAME problem. I don't rememer how I got rid of it though..I know it was a real pain though. I remember system restore didn't fix it, and I think it messed up my system for a while.

Good luck

[groucho]

Panda Software's 2006 products have a very serious bug in them. Their setup program installs five new services in your Windows XP Services folder, all of which start automatically. When you try to uninstall the software, the uninstallation program tries to delete those services, but it cannot, because they are active processes in your computer's memory. Your computer may lock, and you may only be able to restart it by cutting off its electric power and reconnecting it. You will then have to start Windows XP in Safe Mode to uninstall the software. Panda is aware of this serious issue but has not been able to solve it. I have posted a special new thread about it on the MajorGeeks forums, but a bizarre MajorGeeks co-owner named Tim Tibbetts, aka Major Attitude, instead of thanking me for it, has unleashed a storm of abuse upon me at http://forum.majorgeeks.com/showthre...4&page=1&pp=20This hotheaded guy (as he describes himself) uses foul street language and is beyond repair. However, this issue is extremely important and I would urge all of my fellow TweakTown Forums users not to use Panda's new software until this major bug has been fixed.

[casecutter]

I don't understand the issue. Just either start up in safe mode and delete them, of stop the processes and then run the uninstalling program. All antivirus programs create processes that can cause grief when trying to uninstall. One should be mindfull of that fact when changing antivirus programs like their shirt. It is never a good idea.

[groucho]

If you think a software product whose uninstallation program locks your computer and forces you to cut off its electrical power in order to turn it off is not an issue, here is what Igor Rodríguez Epélguez of the PSI Technical Support Department at Panda Software wrote me on Septmber 20 and 21: "It is a known issue that with some system settings the uninstallation freezes and our developers are working on it for further software versions ... As it is not a usual behavior of the application, it is considered an issue, and as an issue, it will be treated on [sic] our Technical Support Department." Unlike you and me, most computer users do not know how to disable their Windows XP services or how to stop their running processes. Many users don't even know how to go into Safe Mode and what they can and cannot do in it. They will panic when the uninstallation program locks their computer and there is no way for them to turn it off. Panda Software should not have released this software before resolving this issue. It should now withdraw this software from all websites that have trial versions for download, recall all the copies that have been sold, refund their buyers their purchase price, and inform all its resellers to stop selling this software until this issue is resolved. Your statement "All antivirus programs create processes that can cause grief when trying to uninstall" is inaccurate, to be charitable, and your conclusion, "One should be mindfull of that fact when changing antivirus programs like their shirt. It is never a good idea" is both gratuitous and rude.

[casecutter]

While I agree that I may have not used much tact in writing my response, too many people out there who do not know how to stop processes or use safe mode feel it is no problem to just download and install programs off the internet. If a person has no knowledge of how to uninstall programs other than windows uninstaller, they should NOT be downloading any program to install on their PC. I have fixed more "broken" PCs for people who say "I just downloaded and installed this and now my PC doesn't work" or "now I have an Xrated search engine" or what have you. I do not sympathize with people like that as they treat the internet like a toy and have no respect for their PC. While the problem you are describing is very frustrating and annoying, it just goes to show that we need to be very careful about what we download and use. You should not have taken offense to what I said as I never insulted you and I just was expressing my point. If people took the time to understand how their PCs worked, they would not do this to themselves in the first place.

If a person does not know how to fix their PC, they absolutely should NOT download and install programs off the web. PERIOD.

And using bold letter is like using capitals, which is also very rude.

[groucho]

Hi casecutter, you seem to know so very clearly what computer users should and should not do. Unfortunately, many people do exactly what you say they should not do. It is your job and mine on this forum to help them avoid such mistakes. BTW, my previous message was not in bold type, it was in larger point size than yours, which made it look bold to you. But you are right, both large and bold text is indeed rude, like shouting, and therefore this message is in normal point size.

[casecutter]

I understand your point completely and it is a good thing to post what you did about being cautious of Panda software. I am not trying to tell people what they should to download on their PC. I just hate when someone freely downloads anything and everything (and I am not inferring you) and they mangle their OS and blame it on the software. Except in the case of spyware/malware, it is almost never the software's fault for the damage it does to the OS. I just wish people would educate themselves a little bit before they decide to download and install something just because it's free. It's usually free for a reason. Most freeware does not have all the bells and whistles to make it easy to use like commercially available software. If you ask me, Panda should have a warning that the freeware is intended for advanced users. In fact most freeware should say that. I know it will never happen, it's just one of my pet peeves.

That being said, I am glad you did bring this problem with Panda to light so that I don't make the mistake of installing it. I hate any program that makes me take extreme measures to uninstall it.

[female dominatrix]

Originally Posted by Baxter984

i installed the trial version of pandas antivirus softwareyesterday, i then chose to uninstall it and install AVG instead. I went to add/remove programs and atteempted to uninstall, it went though the first menu and started to uninstall it when "cannot delete ICL_CFG.DLL:Access is denied" came up and i had to choose to exit uninstallment. Doesn anyone know what could cause me not to be able to uninstall it, if so feel free to comment. Thanks

Panda antivirus and AVG are too slow and uneffective if you ask me. I've been using only Nod32 for the past 3 years and I've been very happy with it.