Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAfee

[JaPanAt]

Hello.
I tried to install McAfee with 30 days eval.
Then I tried to uninstall it.
And here came the problem.
After rebooting right after the uninstall procedure, Windows Vista 32 bit sp2 get just a black screen with the mouse pointer and I can't do anything.
ctrl+alt+del and ctrl+esc don't work, safe mode ain't helping either, that means i get black screen+pointer as well with no interactivity.
I tried everything (or so I guess) I found on the internet, log folder, checked the rpc thing on the registry (and it was already ok), checked every possibility, all to no avail.
I tried last known good configuration also, but it didn't work, I tried to get the oldest "SOFTWARE, SAM, SYSTEM, etc." backup files under system32\config, still to no avail.
I wonder what this software made to my computer to mess up my logon configuration.
Can anybody help me, please?
Thanks.

 

[SIW2]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

Did you try system restore to a point before mcaffee was installed?

Another possibilty:
Ther is a mcafee uninstaller. You might be able to run it in safe mode.
McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool Download


If not, looks like a clean install is the next step.

 

[JaPanAt]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

I can't use system restore since I disabled it long time ago, so there's no restore point.
Safe mode behaves in the same way as normal boot, so it's futile.
Clean install is out of the options.

 

[SIW2]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

Clean install is out of the options.

Can you translate that? Do you have the installation media?

 

[gonzo24]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

Maybe a silly question, but now long did you leave the black screen and mouse running before hitting keys again? Vista can show this screen for a minute or three, at least mine does, particularly after changes to the system. Did you try just letting it run for some time like that?

 

[JaPanAt]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

Can you translate that? Do you have the installation media?

It means that I don't want to do a clean install, and that I can't do, for several reasons: can't and I don't want to lose everything.

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[JaPanAt]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

Maybe a silly question, but now long did you leave the black screen and mouse running before hitting keys again? Vista can show this screen for a minute or three, at least mine does, particularly after changes to the system. Did you try just letting it run for some time like that?

Yes, several hours. I left home leaving the computer on and when back I found the login screen saver running. But when I moved the mouse, or hit a key on the kb, screen saver went away and black screen unresponsive went back.

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[Ex_Brit]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

Do you have any second device attached to your graphics card (TV or other place to view the desktop)? If so try unplugging it. I have experience the odd occasion when something triggers the graphics settings to switch the default device.

 

[JaPanAt]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

Do you have any second device attached to your graphics card (TV or other place to view the desktop)? If so try unplugging it. I have experience the odd occasion when something triggers the graphics settings to switch the default device.

No, only one monitor, but I'm thinking about this possibility too. I'll try something to check this eventually, next time.

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[JaPanAt]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

Connected a second monitor, no avail.

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[Vistaar]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

For future reference, McAfee does not support Vista. The issue you describe often affects systems with two or more antivirus programs installed (or improperly uninstalled). Vista ISO downloads are available in a nearby forum thread.

 

[JaPanAt]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

For future reference, McAfee does not support Vista. The issue you describe often affects systems with two or more antivirus programs installed (or improperly uninstalled). Vista ISO downloads are available in a nearby forum thread.

I don't need to know that McAfee doesn't support Vista (anymore), I need to know how to fix my issue. I don't even care about that crappy antivirus that mess up working computers with its inefficiency.
BUT it came preinstalled with the OS, SO I need support about this exact problem.

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[Ex_Brit]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

You should pursue support through McAfee Support by phone or online chat. It's free. I know you already did that but you need to ask them to escalatre the ticket number they gave you. On the face of it this sounds more to me like a graphics card issue if all you get is a black screen. Have you tried removing the graphics card, reinserting it and rebooting?

Personally, I used to have Vista and I also uninstalled McAfee many times, as I was a tester for their software, and never once experienced this sort of issue. I think it's merely a coincidence.

 

[albertz]

Re: Windows Vista 32bit sp2, black screen with pointer after trying to uninstall McAf

Since from what I've gather you didn't backup Vista. Re installation may be your only option. You will need a hard drive or backup media large enough to backup necessary files from your current Vista Installation.

If your current Vista Install isn't corrupted I would choose the option to install over it and not to delete your current install.

You should be able to re-install using an iso file, though you may be prompted for a COA and to activate from MS website.

I'm not certain about MS activation since Vista is no longer supported, but may require input of a COA during installation.

Windows Vista Download - Free All Versions ISO DVDs - Softlay