How to Uninstall Zemana AntiMalware completely

Computer Help and Discussions Software
1

I uninstalled Zemana AntiMalware using CCleaner.

But I still see ZAM controller service in resource monitor.

With the show hidden devices checked in device manager and under Non-Plug and Play Drivers.

I also see ZAM Guard driver and ZAM Helper Driver

They both say:

This device is not present, is not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed. (Code 24)

There is also a empty file in program files (x86) that seems to be created every day.

How do I uninstall the above remnants?

Any help appreciated.

2

1. Reinstall ZAM - if it will let you, since you seem to have only partially uninstalled it.

2. After it's installed exit out of it so it's not running, including turning off real-time protection.

3. Uninstall it with Revo Uninstaller Free.

Note:

"Completely" removing an anti-malware, or anti-virus is unlikely as there will usually be leftovers in the ControlSet areas of the registry that all of them always leave behind.

You may want to look on their website for a removal/uninstall tool if they have one.

3

Here is the contact info

https://www.zemana.com/en-US/Support/ContactUs

4

1. Reinstall ZAM - if it will let you, since you seem to have only partially uninstalled it.

2. After it's installed exit out of it so it's not running, including turning off real-time protection.

3. Uninstall it with Revo Uninstaller Free.

Note:

"Completely" removing an anti-malware, or anti-virus is unlikely as there will usually be leftovers in the ControlSet areas of the registry that all of them always leave behind.

You may want to look on their website for a removal/uninstall tool if they have one.

It only gives me a uninstall and scan for hardware changes option

for the ZAM Guard driver and ZAM Helper Driver in device manager.

Or do you mean to reinstall the Zemana AntiMalware.

I tried looking on their website for a removal/uninstall tool and could not find anything.

Do you have any other ideas?

5

I meant reinstall ZAM (install it again), this is because when you originally uninstalled it the uninstall wasn't complete or had some failure. After reinstalling ZAM follow the instructions in post #2 as it they may provide a solution to more fully removing it.

6

@ jorb: just something you may wish to think about - keep Zemana Anti-Malware for on-demand scans.

7

This is the response from Zemana:

(Dear User,
Thank you for contacting Zemana technical support.
Usually you can uninstall Zemana AntiMalware using the standard Add/Remove Software control panel if you can not for some reasons your old installation files get corrupted. Most likely that is happens if you have used any third party uninstaller or registry cleaner software.please download the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility from here and try to uninstall with it.
NOTE:You must be logged on to Windows with a user account that is a computer administrator to run Windows Installer CleanUp Utility and before do it please close AntiMalware.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions.)
I am afraid to download the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility that they recommend.
Do you think it is safe to download ?
8

It's coming directly from the publisher, so what's there not to trust, you did after all contact them. :huh:

You can always upload files to VirusTotal to have them scanned by multiple antivirus scanners.

9

jorb, if you find that you still can't do a complete uninstall, one thing you could do is disable the ZAM controller service. This will prevent it from running. To open the services window, type "run" in windows search and then click on "Run desktop app". When the Run window opens, type in "services.msc" and then right-click on "ZAM controller service" (located at the bottom when the list is in alphabetic order). Click on "disable".

The CCleaner pros would know better than I, but I would imagine it would be safe for you to run the registry cleaner option within CCleaner and delete anything that refers to Zemana Anti-Malware.

For any future uninstall, it's a good idea to first terminate the program you will be deleting and then I personally would use Revo Uninstaller for the uninstall. It does a great job.

One last thought: By any chance, would you have a restore point that was created prior to when you installed ZAM?

10

This is the response from Zemana:

(Dear User,
Thank you for contacting Zemana technical support.
Usually you can uninstall Zemana AntiMalware using the standard Add/Remove Software control panel if you can not for some reasons your old installation files get corrupted. Most likely that is happens if you have used any third party uninstaller or registry cleaner software.please download the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility from here and try to uninstall with it.

The link for "Windows Installer Cleanup" opens a page with 404 not found

11

jorb, One last thought: By any chance, would you have a restore point that was created prior to when you installed ZAM?

I downloaded Zemana on September 2016 its been awhile so it would be a old restore point.

Thanks for the suggestions,

12

The link for "Windows Installer Cleanup" opens a page with 404 not found

I replied back to Zemana told them about dead link.

Waiting for a reply back.

Good catch!

13

I downloaded Zemana on September 2016

Just curious: prior to uninstalling ZAM, were you using the paid version (i.e. real-time protection) or did you just use it for on-demand scans? I guess what I'm getting at is why you want to uninstall ZAM. I'm running real-time protection and find it excellent.

14

razz,

I was getting Microsoft tech scam popups when I would go to the photobucket site.

So I tried to get some help on answers.microsoft.com and was directed to go to this malwaretips.com page.

At that page it says to download a couple of programs to see if you can find the bug and remove it.

The 1st program was the free malware scanner ZAM, which didn't find anything.

Well to make long story short, I flushed/cleared the DNS cache and the problem was fixed.

I have been using Malwarebytes free for a long time and figured I didn't need ZAM anymore.

15

I have been using Malwarebytes free for a long time and figured I didn't need ZAM anymore.

Nothing wrong with Malwarebytes, it's a very popular program. Many will advise, including myself, that it's good practice to use a few scanners for on-demand scans. Personally I use ZAM for real time protection and then I use Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware once a week for performing an on-demand scan.

Anyway, sorry for getting off topic here. I know your post was regarding trying to uninstall ZAM. Let us know how you make out when you run the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility.

16

>This is the reply back from Zemana:

Please use the following link;

http://www.techspot.com/downloads/downloadnow/388/?evp=b514a76d82bb7c6b0b7e44bc83a95848&file=1

>Do you think it is safe to download Windows Installer CleanUp Utility 7.2 ?

Looks like Windows Installer CleanUp Utility has been retired by Microsoft and replaced with Microsoft Fix It.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Installer_CleanUp_Utility

Now I'm confused.

Should I use Microsoft Fix It or Windows Installer CleanUp Utility 7.2 ?

Thanks,

17

Should I use Microsoft Fix It or Windows Installer CleanUp Utility 7.2 ?

I would contact Zemana support again and ask if there is a specific reason that they want you to use the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility as opposed to the replacement software, Microsoft Fix It. If they say you could use either one, then I would use the updated software. Keep in mind that apparently Windows Fix It does not work on OS prior to Windows 7. So if you are using XP, then you would have to use the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility.

Hope this helps.

18

I don't know why they'd want you to run that, I thought the installer they used for Zemana was Inno Setup which shouldn't leave references behind for Windows Installer packages (.MSI).

19

I don't know why they'd want you to run that, I thought the installer they used for Zemana was Inno Setup which shouldn't leave references behind for Windows Installer packages (.MSI).

Excellent point Andavari - why would they! Perhaps Zemana support hasn't grasped the situation correctly.

20

After downloading the latest ZAM setup file v2.72.0.388 and looking at the Properties tab they are using Inno Setup.