I cannot uninstall or delete malwarebytes 3

[rmowrey]

Malwarebytes updated to version 3, and it worked for a few days. Then i started getting a error message that said it was unable to connect to the service. I've tried uninstalling, but the uninstaller is unable to start. I could not find the chameleon mode files in the program file, so I downloaded chameleon, but it is unable to proceed past initialization. I tried deleting the folders, but they are locked even though I'm the administrator. I then tried to delete with Revo uninstaller, but that didn't work either.

I'm running a PC with Windows 10 Pro, all updates are installed. I ran my virus scan, and several online malware scanners and virus scans with no luck.

Any ideas on whats going on?

 

Thanks,

Ray

[Aura]

Hi rmowrey

If you cannot uninstall Malwarebytes 3.0, please use mb-clean.exe and see if that works for you.

https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/196955-malwarebytes-mb-clean-tool/

 

[rmowrey]

That seemed to work. I ran the removal program and restarted, the empty folders were still in the programs folder. I deleted them and restarted, everything is gone now.

I attached the text file left by the removal program in case you need/want it.

Do you know what would cause this issue? And how to prevent it in the future?

 

Thanks,

Ray

mb-cleanresult.txt

[Telos]

2 hours ago, rmowrey said:

That seemed to work. I ran the removal program and restarted, the empty folders were still in the programs folder

Check /ProgramData as well for MBAM remnants before reinstalling.

[Aura]

It looks like mb-clean.exe wasn't able to fully remove Malwarebytes by itself. Most of the deletions failed with an error code 5, which means Access Denied.

@dcollins

[Telos]

Try running mb-clean in safe mode.

[rmowrey]

I ran mb-clean in safe mode, I have attached the text file it produced.

I looked in the program data folder and could not find any mbam files/folders.

mb-cleanresult.txt

[Firefox]

Looks like it is now removed.... the error (3) means that the folder or item did not exist so there was nothing for it do do...

Now that you have a clean slate, you can try the latest CU4 update if you want that...

[Telos]

That's a much better result. Re: 

15 hours ago, rmowrey said:

Then i started getting a error message that said it was unable to connect to the service

Are you using F-Secure or Spectrum (Charter) Security Suite?  If so you must whitelist the MBAM Program Files ( or Program Files (x86)) folder among the virus scanning exclusions. See this post:

When reinstalling use the latest CU4 version...

Hope this helps!

[rmowrey]

I followed all the above steps, excluded MBAM from F secure's virus scan, downloaded and installed the latest version, and I'm back to where I started.

Unable to connect to service error message, after restart.

[dcollins]

@rmowrey did you exclude C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-malware from F-Secure, or something else?

[rmowrey]

F-secure

[dcollins]

Sorry, I meant did you exclude the listed folder, or a different folder/file?

[rmowrey]

I excluded C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-malware

I just excluded C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\ right now, and that seems to have fixed it.

[Telos]

1 hour ago, rmowrey said:

 

I just excluded C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\ right now, and that seems to have fixed it.

Yes! This is the exclusion that keeps F-Secure from blocking MBAM connections. Glad you have it fixed. No other exclusions are required.

[rmowrey]

Thanks for all the prompt responses, you guys are awesome!