Most Effective Way to Reinstall/Update CIS to Avoid/Fix Problems

Comodo Internet Security - CIS Install / Setup / Configuration Help - CIS
101

Hi Folks,

I installed CIS on my 7-year old PC (XP Professional, XP3) only to find it wouldn’t update at all. After reading through a few threads, I studied the above.

I have come to the conclusion that the wise choice for me is to reinstall the operating system or replace it with another while I’m at it. This old guy (both this PC and yours truly) has seen a lot of programs, including antivirus and firewall, come and go. The registry and drivers department has to be one fine mess by now.

So I’m stopping by just to mention this optional approach because I haven’t seen it mentioned in all the threads I have read. I am assuming there must be a few folks in a similar situation who might come across this thread for whom it might be worth considering.

(It was Step Four above, “Clean Any Remnants Left From Former Security Products,” at which point I came to this conclusion; my guess is there are a lot of folks sharper than I who would have seen it a lot quicker. )

It should at least be mentioned as an option, thinks I.

I invite comment on this by people who actually know stuff–I just sort of stumble along. :slight_smile:

My sincere thanks and gratitude to those who volunteer their experience, time and energy against all odds trying to help others through these problems–much appreciated! :-TU :-TU :-TU

102

Bic, you are correct that reinstalling the OS will solve nearly any problem, unless it is caused by a bug in the programming. The only reason I don’t mention it is because the vast majority of people who read this would likely find that option somewhat offensive (meaning they may mistake it as me saying that CIS is so unstable that you have to reinstall your OS just to make it work). However, you are correct that it is a very good idea, assuming you are having issues with many programs.

Let me know if you have any questions, or run into trouble.

Thanks.

103

Why does the installer not check for leftovers of previous installs, and any of the other issues mentioned in the OP, and offer the user the option of performing a clean install, and suggestions on what to do for the stuff that requires user intervention?

104

I don’t actually know enough to fully answer this. Hopefully someone else will be able to do a better job than me.

However, I do know that this is a problem shared by all security software. Thus, it’s not as straightforward as it seems to create an uninstaller which always works perfectly. I believe this has something to do with how each system is different, but I really don’t know the specifics. As I said above, hopefully someone else who understands this better, can do a better job of explaining.

105

Hi TiagoTiago and Chiron,
Changes to files, registry and system can continuously be changing (Dynamic) during general use of a program.
Most built-in uninstallers monitor the installation only and would require functionality similar to Comodo Programs Manager to be thorough in removing all remnants.

I quite like the idea from TiagoTiago to have an option to perform a clean install, maybe something for the wishlist.
Some driver software offers this when you update or run the installer.
Wishlist - CIS
Required Wish Format

Have an option during updates or when you run a new versions installer,
‘Perform clean installation’ checkbox.
Note: This action removes all personal customization and configuration, returning CIS to its default state.

Thanks.

Edit: Have an option to perform a clean install during updates or installation.

106

Quick question: as I always do, I will be removing the network cable from my computer (no wifi in my desktop, gasp) before I uninstall comodo and not plugging it back in until the new version is installed. I have downloaded both uninstaller/cleanup tools; am on winXPpro x64 so no revo for me. Is there anything else I should download before I start? I will be able to check for info or ask questions via my touchpad, and if necessary I can download extra tools via thumb drive to my husband’s computer, but he’d prefer I not disturb his gaming if it’s unnecessary.

So, are there any other useful tools I ought to download first?

(Note: I’m reinstalling due to serious issues since the latest auto-upgrade, per the thread I started in this category.)

107

Those two tools will likely be all you need. However, if you run into any other problems be sure to let me know.

Thanks.

108

Hi Guys

Captainsticks and Chiron helped me thus far from getting my other system win 7 ultimate 32bit from a black screen after comodo firewall install, to be able to login again. The above removal tools were suggested to run to assure all remnant files etc are removed as well.

I ran those exactly as prescribed & said I must restart afterwards, now my mouse and keyboard don’t work in normal or in safe mode.

Please help!

109

Please create a new Help topic in this section, and send me a PM with a link to the new topic. That will be the best place to figure this out, which I am certain is fixable.

Thank you.

110

Hi Chiron,
Just a question about your detailed description on how to remove/reinstall Comodo. In section 6 you say ‘Then those users running a 64 bit operating system should run the removal tool they downloaded previously.’ Which removal tool is this? Not quite clear on which one I should use for 64 bit Windows.

regards

111

I believe you are referring to section 4. I looked that over, and did find it quite confusing. I’m sorry about that. I edited the first post. Does everything now make sense, or is it still confusing?

Thanks.

112

I am not a specialist with computers. I am getting lost with all the posts here. I just want to remove Comodo Internet Security and GeekBuddy.
Simple question:
I ran all the steps in 1) 2)… up to Autorun
After completion of those - I search my PC for “Comodo”. It found 120 folders with “Comodo” and 5 with “GeekBuddy”, a bit all over the PC, as in:
C:\windows\syswow64\config\systemprofile\appdata\local and locallow
C:\users\Username\appdata\local\packages\windows_ie_ac_001\ac
c:\users\Username\appdata\manyfolders
C:\program files(86)
C:\program files
C:\ProgramData
***…
There is still 191 “Comodo” and 25 “GeekBuddy” in REGISTRY .
After all the steps 1) 2)… Should I delete all folders found by Seacrh PC and in REGISTRY for all “Comodo” and “GeekBuddy”?

Windows8.1 64 bit

113

Just to be clear, you did follow all of the advice in section A first. Is that correct?
Also, I’m surprised that you have so many leftover, even after following the advice in section B to run a registry cleaner. Which registry cleaner did you use?

Thanks.

114

Did not work still won’t update T.T

115

What do you mean when you say it won’t update? Do you mean that after fully uninstalling the previous version, and running the removal tools I recommend, that the new version still won’t install? If so please state the error message you are getting.

Thanks.

116

Revo Uninstaller has got 3 levels for uninstallation, which one do you want we use ?
Is the highest level not too at risk ?

117

Hi :smiley:
I just need to ask one thing. Before the Geekbuddy uninstall tool was recently updated, it was possible to download it directly without having to login to the forum. Now, it jumps to the login screen.
Is it possible to make it downloadable without having to login like it was before? Thanks

118

This is for those that still have problems after using the removal tools. Problem is the left over Comodo stuff in registry which seems to be corrupted/locked/unable to delete and some Comodo files.

In my case installing Deep Freeze (now using an alternative Shadow Defender, until Comodo devs fix this compat issue, in Win8/8.1 Comodo+DeepFreeze works great). Installing DeepFreeze in Win7 causes 2 Comodo pop-up error messages on Windows startup. If you get these error messages Comodo will be unusable due to Firewall and HIPS losing/missing rules after rebooting with same 2 error messages on startup everytime. Even if you uninstall, removal tools and install Comodo again.

My Deep Freeze bug report
https://forums.comodo.com/format-verified-issue-reports-cis/comodo-firewall-7-error-after-installing-faronics-deep-freeze-81-m1213-t106796.0.html

Someone elses bug report without Deep Freeze(?) but same error messages
https://forums.comodo.com/format-verified-issue-reports-cis/comodo-security-agent-could-not-be-started-error-every-time-comp-boots-m1315-t107597.0.html

=================================================================================

For Windows 7. This should work the same way on Windows 8/8.1. Cleaning the remaining Comodo registry and drivers with Chirons uninstall/removal tools and manual cleaning should all be done in Safe Mode.

  1. Uninstall Comodo in Windows, restart. Restart once more into Safe Mode.

  2. Run Chirons tools, you’ll see some “error access denied” while it’s cleaning, see first screenshot attached below.

A) Open device manager click on “View”, select “Show hidden devices”, expand “Non-Plug and Play Drivers”.
Uninstall all the Comodo drivers “COMODO Internet Security Firewall Driver, COMODO Internet Security Helper Driver” etc. close device manager. See screenshot

Thanks to EricJH for this step. Though uninstalling these does not remove the Legacy keys in registry as EricJH noted.
B) open Device Manager from the command prompt using the following two commands (uninstall all COMODO drivers like previous step):
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
start devmgmt.msc

  1. Open Windows explorer and search for “comodo”, it found (delete them):
    “COMODO” folder in C:\Program Files
    “Comodo” folder in C:\ProgramData
    “Comodo Downloader” folder in C:\ProgramData
    “ComodoInternetSecurityCEF.evtx” in C:\Windows\System3winevt\Logs
    “ComodoInternetSecurityTrace.evtx” in C:\Windows\System3winevt\Logs
    “ComodoInternetSecurity.evtx” in C:\Windows\System3winevt\Logs

  2. Run reg cleaner like in CCleaner. After that search for “comodo” in regedit, it will find many comodo related keys like Comodo, ComodoGroup, LEGACY_CMDERD, LEGACY_CMDGAURD, LEGACY_CMDHLP, LEGACY_INSPECT, CMDAgent.

Delete them all and write down or take a picture of each reg key that were giving error on delete (you will need it for the next step with another regedit tool that doesn’t have search). Running regedit as admin/setting permissions/system account/PSExec etc. still will not allow you to delete the remaining Comodo reg keys. See the next four attached screen shots.

  1. To delete the remaining reg keys that were giving errors on delete you need to regedit outside of Windows from a recovery boot disk, only Lazesoft Recovery Suite Home Free Edition worked for me link below (you need a cd or burn ISO to USB stick or use USB multiboot like Yumi or Easy2Boot).
    Offline Registry Editor: 4 Methods to Try - Page 2
    http://lazesoft.com/
    http://www.pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/
    easy2boot.com has expired

“There does seem to be a slight bug on some systems where the main 4 keys in the editor (SAM, SECURITY, SOFTWARE, SYSTEM) will be empty, although there is a simple solution to get around this. Close the editor and also the Windows Recovery window so you’re back at the Recovery Suite Home screen, then just click on the Windows Recovery button, select the operating system again and then go back into the registry editor. This worked every time.”

Double check by restarting back in Safe Mode, if you still find ANYTHING Comodo related run the steps again. Restart and keep checking until your system is clean, I usually get it right on first try. Installing Comodo (not in Safe Mode) and you still get error messages then you must start all over as you missed something.

[attachment deleted by admin]

119

To add to the previous post.

To remove the socalled Legacy Keys, which are otherwise hard to remove, open Device Manager from the command prompt using the following two commands:
set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
start devmgmt.msc

Set Device Manager to show hidden devices under menu option View. Then see if there are Comodo Internet Security related drivers left in non Plug and Play drivers. If so select the driver → click right → uninstall. Do this for all present CIS drivers. Do a reboot when it has been requested.

120

Yup, I can confirm that uninstalling CIS7/8 and reinstalling using the guide provided on this topic damages comodo installation.
But this happens on Win7 and Win8.1. I’ve tried this on 3 different laptops (2 twin win8 laptops and a Win7 laptop).
On the Win8 laptops, after reinstalling, it should open the 1st scan window to download the database files… but, instead a geekbuddy window pops saying that a temp file (created by the comodo installation) is a threat. After this it is possible to update and run quick scans, but complete scans freeze Comodo. Also, it’s impossible to install Killswitch using normal methods… The diagnostis tool kicks in and installs it after running and showing a window with no problems.

On the Win7 machine, everything runs as it should after installation, but the complete scan still freezes and sometimes CIS hogs the system. After reinstalling/restoring windows to it’s factory settings, and reinstalling CIS, everything runs fine.

So, to sum things up: the uninstall process of CIS8 doesn’t work… It will only install correctly on a system that never had CIS installed on it. The only way to reinstall CIS on a system that already had another version of CIS uninstalled is to reinstall/factory restore windows.