Assigned ZAL - How to safely remove driver after uninstall?

[oldschool]

@ZAM3_PO and @Miss Onnellisuus - Some ZAL users would like to know how to safely remove drivers manually in ZAL (and ZAM). In reference to @dragongate888's questions (posts 348 & 351) about keyboard issues & problems removing ZAL driver here: Discuss - Join Zemana Beta Group . I think this info would benefit those curious members and other users who wish to completely uninstall this software without problems. Thank you.

Edited To reflect safe manual removal re: .Discuss - Join Zemana Beta Group

 

[Vasudev]

@ZAM3_PO and @Miss Onnellisuus - I would like to know how to safely remove drivers in ZAL (and ZAM). In reference to @dragongate888's question about keyboard issues & problems removing ZAL driver here: dragongate888. I think this info would benefit those curious members and other users who wish to completely uninstall this software without problems. Thank you.

I used Rapr aka Driver store explorer in admin with force uninstall option to nuke it from Win store and prevent conflict when new version comes out. Same with Kaspersky free AV as well.

 

[Cortex]

I used Rapr aka Driver store explorer in admin with force uninstall option to nuke it from Win store and prevent conflict when new version comes out. Same with Kaspersky free AV as well.

That is one excellent program - I would think having a full image of C:\ is a wise precaution before using it? It found drivers from long lost programs - Thank You !

 

[oldschool]

I used Rapr aka Driver store explorer in admin with force uninstall option to nuke it from Win store and prevent conflict when new version comes out. Same with Kaspersky free AV as well.

Thanks for the tip. I am editing OP to reflect manual removal advice.

@Music4Ever - Thanks for the feedback. It might be nice if someone did a comprehensive review.

 

[Deleted member 178]

Doesn't work properly if you navigate to the driver and delete the .sys file?

 

[SumTingWong]

Q&A - Uninstalling Zemana leaves Drivers behind?

 

[oldschool]

Edited OP again to reflect user problem mentioned by OP here: Discuss - Join Zemana Beta Group

@Miss Onnellisuus asked the user with the issues to PM for help. I simpy posted to a new thread considering she didn't wish to mix different product issues in the ZAM Beta thread - which is understandable. I thought the new thread would help ZAL members/users generally.

Thanks for the suggestions but I myself do not need this help. I hope this clarifies the original intention behind by OP.

 

[HarborFront]

There were some discussions on this issue here previously. See below

Q&A - Uninstalling Zemana leaves Drivers behind?

One way is to use an utility from below. I'm using IObit Unlocker

6 Free Software To Force Delete Undeletable Files on Windows 7, 8 and 10

 

[Vasudev]

That is one excellent program - I would think having a full image of C:\ is a wise precaution before using it? It found drivers from long lost programs - Thank You !

Its much safer these days. Earlier when Rapr was hosted at codeplex a simple delete will remove everything w/o any prompts. Now if you can run at default w/o admin, it won't work. It needs admin privilege and will prompt you when you select delete and presents a window to Proceed with delete or cancel.
I used it when DDU was in earlier stage of production, I always Rapr on most PCs because Win 10 doesn't cleanup older driver and it gets stored in System32\drivers and bloats the entire system.

 

[ZAM3_PO]

Hi guys,

@oldschool, thank you very much for opening this post here. For all kinds of technical issues/suggestions/questions, you can tag me in threads or send me a PM anytime you want. For technical stuff, you dont have to tag @Miss Onnellisuus All other questions, you can also tag her anytime you need.

As for this topic. For a device which is running latest version of ZAL/ZAM, uninstall should not cause any issues. It is definitely safe to uninstall these programs.
However, keyboard malfunction issue which was reported by few users should be investigated thoroughly though this has a high chance to be a result of conflict with another security products. For instance, if a security product is holding keycrypt at the same time ZAL is holding, uninstall process can cause unexpected issues. However again, this should be investigated thoroughly by us. This is the reason why if anybody notices an issue like this we ask them to contact us directly so that we can check this and assist them solving their problems.

Regarding leftover driver files and such, at this point, you can use third party applications such as revo uninstaller etc. or manually delete these files. This leftover file issue will be solved in ZAM 3.0.

Let me know if everything is clear and if you have any other questions

 

[Vasudev]

Hi guys,

@oldschool, thank you very much for opening this post here. For all kinds of technical issues/suggestions/questions, you can tag me in threads or send me a PM anytime you want. For technical stuff, you dont have to tag @Miss Onnellisuus All other questions, you can also tag her anytime you need.

As for this topic. For a device which is running latest version of ZAL/ZAM, uninstall should not cause any issues. It is definitely safe to uninstall these programs.
However, keyboard malfunction issue which was reported by few users should be investigated thoroughly though this has a high chance to be a result of conflict with another security products. For instance, if a security product is holding keycrypt at the same time ZAL is holding, uninstall process can cause unexpected issues. However again, this should be investigated thoroughly by us. This is the reason why if anybody notices an issue like this we ask them to contact us directly so that we can check this and assist them solving their problems.

Regarding leftover driver files and such, at this point, you can use third party applications such as revo uninstaller etc. or manually delete these files. This leftover file issue will be solved in ZAM 3.0.

Let me know if everything is clear and if you have any other questions

Making a ZAM uninstaller will be helpful. Its helpful when reinstalling ZAM when upgrading to new versions.

 

[dragongate888]

Hi, all , thanks for the creation of this new thread. The tech issue re ZAL perhaps is a wide spread one, the question is the degree of awareness of victims. In my instance, there are several PCs are under my guidance, mishaps have created some degree of uneasiness among my folks. For public knowledge, I chose to divulge my experience to deal with this dilemma, rather PM to developer, after all they are the creator of this app.
The only AV is ESET endpoint antivius
The third party Uninstaller is Uninstall Tool
The force removal app is LockHunter
First, ESET's real time is paused
(2) Uninstall tool is applied to remove ZAL (the latest version, back in 2017)
(3) reboot , then able to remove ZAM driver and 2 files in Program data, successfully and manually. However the . sys driver is refused to budge.
(4) LockHunter is applied, was adviced to reboot and the said driver shall be removed. Failed to the claim.
(5) boot into SAFE MODE, again failed to delete it straightly from system32 file.
(6) move the said driver to document folder then to remove it in SAFE MODE again, ok done.
(7) reboot to normal state, surprisingly, keyboard rendered useless.
(8) My present remedy is to reinstall ZAL and remove all components EXCEPT the .sys driver. And keep finger very closely that it is harmless.
I am compelled to reveal these painful experiences and hoping any sort of these tech issues SHOULD be discussed PUBLICLY in this respectful FORUM. Thank all for the attention.

 

[oldschool]

Hi, all , thanks for the creation of this new thread. The tech issue re ZAL perhaps is a wide spread one, the question is the degree of awareness of victims. In my instance, there are several PC are under my guidance, mishaps have created some degree of uneasiness among my folks. For public knowledge, I chose to divulge my experience to deal with this dilemma, rather PM to developer, after all they are the creator of this app.
The only AV is ESET endpoint antivius
The third party Uninstaller is Uninstall Tool
The force removal app is LockHunter
First, ESET's real time is paused
(2) Uninstall tool is applied to remove ZAL (the latest version, back in 2017)
(3) reboot , then able to remove ZAM driver and 2 files in Program data, successfully and manually. However the . sys driver is refused to budge.
(4) LockHunter is applied, was adviced to reboot and the said driver shall be removed. Failed to the claim.
(5) boot into SAFE MODE, again failed to delete straightly for system32 file.
(6) move the said drive to document folder then to remove it in SAFE MODE again, ok done.
(7) reboot to normal state, surprisingly, keyboard rendered useless.
(8) My present remedy is to reinstall ZAL and remove all components EXCEPT the .sys driver. And keep finger very closely that it is harmless.
I am compelled to reveal these painfully experiences and hoping any sort of these tech issues SHOULD be discussed PUBLICLY in this respectful FORUM. Thank all for the attention.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, these sorts of issues should be addressed publicly.

 

[ZAM3_PO]

Thank you for details @dragongate888. Also, I agree with what @oldschool says. If there is such risk, I believe everybody would like to be aware. We will need to investigate this issue thoroughly and try to give more details.

 

[boombastik]

1)uninstall zal
2)run the cmd file from TairikuOkami to clear all the antimalware files.
3) download DriverView v1.47 -https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/driverview.html
this program list all drivers that run in yout pc. if you double click a driver you can find the service name for it.
4)find the service name from the anti logger service zemana (the driver as i remember is keycrypt64.sys but i dont remember the name of the service)
5) when u find it run cmd as admin and run the command sc delete servicename you found above
6)restart your machine you will have this in event viewer:

7)go in HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\AppInit_DLLs
and set registry from 1 to 0. Do it only if the Appinit_DLLs is empty.

The antilloger for me was dead for the beginning. When an antilloger hooks all the services is bad for stabilty. That why an approach to create a global antilloger for all the windows services usually fail.

 

[boombastik]

I forgot to write that the 7) that i wrote above will fix the event viewer event 11. (i write it here because i cant edit my post)

 

[boombastik]

Mozilla 66 will disable AppInit_DLLs, Windows Hooks, a11y hooks so antilloger for mozilla will not work. Also i dont think that it works for chrome also.

 

[Raur]

1)uninstall zal
2)run the cmd file from TairikuOkami to clear all the antimalware files.

Hi @boombastik , can you point me to the cmd file link you mentioned from TairikuOkami? Thanks

 

[boombastik]

Q&A - Uninstalling Zemana leaves Drivers behind? (post 24)

 

[Raur]

Thanks a lot @boombastik for the link