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Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

  • 1.  Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 14, 2014 11:39 PM

    Deplying SEP client including '...automatically remove existing security software' option but MS Security Essentials seems to be staying put. According to the Third-party security software removal support list.pdf, Security Essentials version 4.0.1526.0 should be removed but x86 only. The version I am try remove is 4.5.216.0. The two versions use the same numbers...coincidence? Also, I'm dealing with mostly x64 devices.

    My local Symantec guy says sepprep will do the job but looking at the included .ini file, there's no mention of any version of Security Essentials. Not been able to give a whirl yet but does anyone know if it will work?

    Is there a better way of moving that software? There's no system management tools (SCCM, Altiris etc)

     

    Thanks



  • 2.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 14, 2014 11:50 PM

    Yes, seprep should remove essentials

    https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/downloads/sepprep



  • 3.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 15, 2014 12:04 AM

    You can used Third-party security software removal feature

    Third-party security software removal in Endpoint Protection 12.1

    Article:TECH195029  | Created: 2012-08-15  | Updated: 2014-11-24  | Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH195029


  • 4.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 15, 2014 06:31 AM

    You need to add it to the ini file but it will otherwise remove it once that's done.



  • 5.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 16, 2014 08:57 AM

    Thanks, guys

    @ .Brian: yeah, discovered the need to add it to the ini file. I didn't have a lot of time for testing but managed to get sepprep to initiate the uninstall. What I haven't figured out yet is how to perform the unistall silently.

    @ James007: I tried removing MS SE as per that TECHNOTE but it was unsuccessful. Presumably because the version (4.5.x) is not in the supported 3rd apps PDF.

    More testing to be done...

     



  • 6.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 16, 2014 09:07 AM

    It should just be the need to use the /x and /s switches for silent uninstalls



  • 7.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 16, 2014 09:37 AM

    The logfile produced shows the /x switch was used but not the /s. Am I missing something?



  • 8.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 16, 2014 09:42 AM

    My understanding is /x tells it to uninstall the product and /s tells it to be silent.



  • 9.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 16, 2014 09:57 AM

    Yep, that's my understanding too. Any idea how I tell sepprep to add the /s?



  • 10.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment
    Best Answer

    Posted Dec 16, 2014 10:43 AM

    This where things get tricky :)

    Assuming the product name is/has been added, SEP will remove it. However, it can't forcefully make it silent. You may be able to write a quick batch file to remove MSE siltently and add it to the SEPprep.ini file on the "RunBeforeRemoval" line



  • 11.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 16, 2014 11:51 AM

    Added "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\Setup.exe" /x /s to the "RunBeforeRemoval" line.

    All's good, MSE removed with no user intervention apart from UAC. 



  • 12.  RE: Removing MS Security Essentials with SEP 12.1.5 deployment

    Posted Dec 16, 2014 11:52 AM

    Awesome! Glad that it's working :)