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Uninstalling SEP remotely

Created: 28 Jan 2013 | Updated: 28 Jan 2013 | 7 comments
jfriedland's picture
jfriedland Partner
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I have multiple clients that are running SEP Enterprise 12.1 (some are running 12.1.2).  I need to downgrade them all to Small Business Edition 12.1.

 

I am trying to do this as silently as possible and without end-user assistance if possible. 

 

Thoughts?

 

Thanks,

Jackie

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Brian81's picture
Brian81 Trusted Advisor
Uninstalling SEP remotely - Comment:28 Jan 2013 : Link

You can't downgrade from Enterprise to SBE as it's a separate product. You would need to do an uninstall.

You can try this:

Methods for uninstalling Symantec Endpoint Protection

Article:TECH184988  |  Created: 2012-03-27  |  Updated: 2012-05-30  |  Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH184988

 

SEPprep competitive product uninstall tool

Article:TECH148513  |  Created: 2011-01-19  |  Updated: 2011-04-13  |  Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH148513

 

Third-party security software removal support in Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1 RU2

Article:TECH195029  |  Created: 2012-08-15  |  Updated: 2012-11-26  |  Article URL http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH195029

 

SEP Knowledge Base

Endpoint SWAT

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jfriedland's picture
jfriedland Partner
Uninstalling SEP remotely - Comment:28 Jan 2013 : Link

I've seen all those options...where would I get the Competitive Uninstall Tool on CD2 if I am downloading files off of FileConnect?

 

MSI uninstall sounds like it might work, but I am a bit clueless when it comes to scripting that to run on each computer in the company.  Any hints/tips on that?  I need to be able to do this remotely as I work with their IT Consultant and don't have the ability to touch every computer myself.

 

the third-party removal support - can I run that on its own?  I have seen the option to run it with the install package but not where I can just put out that command to each workstation.  Would that also uninstall Symantec?

 

Each workstation is going to have to be rebooted after the uninstall with all of these options as well, correct?  So no matter what, I'm going to have to contact the client to have them reboot once or twice.

 

We were hoping to be able to do this behind the scenes without contacting them if possible.

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Brian81's picture
Brian81 Trusted Advisor
Uninstalling SEP remotely - Comment:28 Jan 2013 : Link

It's in the \Tools\NoSupport\SEPprep directory

There is a PDF that accompanies SEPPrep which should should you what to do.

Yes, each workstation will need a reboot to complete removal.

You can also d oit via GPO or PsExec, which this thread has some detail on

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/uni...

SEP Knowledge Base

Endpoint SWAT

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JS@support's picture
JS@support
Uninstalling SEP remotely - Comment:29 Jan 2013 : Link

Hi,

Two reboots would required on client machine. One reboot after removing SEP client and other one after installing SEP.

You are doing downgrade however you can do it silently with the help of Competitive unintaller utility

It's not supported by Symantec however given as an additional tool & would be preswent udner \Tools\NoSupport\SEPprep directory

Follow the PDF to create a full package.

You can create a batch file also to remove SEP silently.

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Mithun Sanghavi's picture
Mithun Sanghavi Symantec Employee Technical Support Accredited
Uninstalling SEP remotely - Comment:29 Jan 2013 : Link

 

Hello,

Take a glance at these 2 links and let me know if this answers your question.

http://www.symantec.com/connect/forums/uninstalling-sep-remotely

http://www.symantec.com/connect/forums/remote-uninstallation

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/forums/uninstall-client-remotely

Hope that helps!!

Mithun Sanghavi
Symantec Technical Support Engineer, SEP
MIM | MCSA | MCTS | STS | ITIL v3

Twitter: @mithun_sanghavi

Don't forget to mark your thread as 'SOLVED' with the answer that best helps you.<&a

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jfriedland's picture
jfriedland Partner
Uninstalling SEP remotely - Comment:29 Jan 2013 : Link

Thanks everyone!  Looking into it now along with the help of a senior engineer that can maybe help me through some of this scripting, batch file, etc.

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Chetan Savade's picture
Chetan Savade Symantec Employee Technical Support Accredited
Uninstalling SEP remotely - Comment:30 Jan 2013 : Link

Hi,

There is another way to remove SEP client using msiexec command. You need to create a small batch file with the help of following article.

To uninstall the Symantec Endpoint client using comand line 12.x:

  1. Log on the system with administrator rights.
  2. Find the Symantec Endpoint Protection uninstallation product key:
  3. Click Start, then Run.
  4. Type regedit to open the Windows reistry editor.
  5. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
  6. Browse the Uninstall sub keys in the left-hand pane, check the values in the right-hand pane to find a value for DisplayName that is Symantec Endpoint Protection.
  7. Copy the uninstallation key.
    For example the key for Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1.671.4971 is A3AEEA68-AC93-4F6F-8D2D-78BBF7E422B8.
  8. Click Start, then Run.
  9. Type cmd to open the Windows command prompt.
  10. At the Windows command prompt type:
    msiexec /X {product uninstall key}
    For Example: msiexec.exe /x {A3AEEA68-AC93-4F6F-8D2D-78BBF7E422B8} /passive

    To generate a detailed uninstall log type:
    msiexec /X {product uninstall key} /I*v! log file path

  • Example: msiexec /x {A3AEEA68-AC93-4F6F-8D2D-78BBF7E422B8} /lv!* c:\uninstallSEP.txt

Note: If the MSI uninstall has stopped responding:

  1. Click Start, then Run.
  2. Type taskmgr
  3. Click the Processes tab.
  4. Click End Process for all of the running windows installer processes by: Right-clicking on msiexec.exe then clicking End Process.
  5. Repeat this task for each instance of "msiexec.exe" listed.

Refer this article:

How to uninstall the Symantec Endpoint Protection Client using the Microsoft Installer (MSI) command line interface.

http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH102470
 

 

Chetan Savade
Technical Support Engineer, Endpoint Security
Enterprise Technical Support
CCNA | CCNP | MCSE | SCTS |

Don't forget to mark your thread as 'SOLVED' with the answer that best helps you.&

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