HELP- Removing ActivClient Program from PC

Shift518 Automotive Shift518 Off Topic
1

I have a laptop that has ActivClient (some security program that requires USB stick to start computer and eats RAM).

I want to remove this program from the laptop but since it appears attached to the startup, I am afraid removing it manually will prevent me from starting the computer.

I am thinking the best thing to do is make an image of the laptop WITHOUT this program, but I’m not sure if that would work

IT gurus, can anyone out there help me to make an image of my laptop and do a fresh reinstall WITHOUT this so I can get rid of it?

I’m open to a fresh reinstall but I want to be sure all my drivers / programs stay intact (aside from the stupid security one). I have the USB stick to use the laptop but may not have the Admin password (as it was set up by IT).

The laptop is an HP 8510, by the way.

Anyone who can help, PM me or reply here.

I’ll definitely compensate you if you are confident you can remove this resource-hogging program from my computer and keep everything else functional. Thanks.

2

If it opens up upon startup, go to start-> click Run (or press R) -> type: msconfig then it should bring you to systems utility or whatever.
then go to start up programs. you can check or unckeck what programs you want upon startup.
i hope this works:ohnoes

3
  • Click Start, and then click Run.
  • In the Open box, type regedt32, and then click OK.
  • In Registry Editor, locate the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
  • In the left pane, click the Uninstall registry key, and then click Export on the File menu.
  • In the Export Registry File dialog box that appears, click Desktop in the Save in list, type uninstall in the File name box, and then click Save.
  • Each key listed under Uninstall in the left pane of Registry Editor represents a program that is displayed in the Currently installed programs list of the Add or Remove Programs tool. To determine which program that each key represents, click the key, and then view the following values in the details pane on the right: DisplayName: The value data for the DisplayName key is the name that is listed in Add or Remove Programs.

-and-

UninstallString: The value data for the UninstallString key is the program that is used to uninstall the program.

  • After you identify the registry key that represents the program that you removed but which is still displayed in the Currently installed programs list of Add or Remove Programs, right-click the key in the left pane of the Registry Editor window, and then click Delete.

Click Yes in response to the “Are you sure you want to delete this key and all of its subkeys?” message.

  • On the File menu, click Exit to quit Registry Editor.
  • Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Add or Remove Programs.

In the Currently installed programs list, verify that the program whose registry key you deleted is no longer listed.

  • Do one of the following:

  • If the program list is not correct in Add or Remove Programs, double-click the Uninstall.reg file that you saved to your desktop in step 5 to restore the original list of programs in the registry.

-or-

  • If the program list is correct in Add or Remove Programs, right-click the Uninstall.reg file on your desktop, and then click Delete.
4

First things first. Make an image of the laptop as it sits right now. Hopefully this program isn’t like encryption and masks the file system. I use PGP at work, and if I try to image a machine with a drive ‘secured’, setup doesn’t see the NTFS system. It just says ‘unknow partition’.

THEN…

Do what Xreaction said with msconfig. That would take it out of the startup.

At that point if it starts/runs fine…you can start > run > appwiz.cpl (add/remove programs - faster) and remove it completely.

5

Just read the rest of your post.

I can help ya Archie. Let me know. I typically charge $20/hr for side work, but for a upstanding Shift member such as yourself, I can do $10. It shouldn’t take too long. I’ll also do the image and everything. I won’t be able to burn it for you or anything, but at least if something happens, I can just revert everything back to how it was.

I can also remove the Admin password (or any user password) off the machine if it’s XP or older.

6

Thanks to all who posted, I appreciate the detailed information. I am just a bit scared to delete the program because it may make the computer a brick. Probably not, but since I am ignorant I assume the worst.

Ilya, I will contact you about your offer, definitely interested. Thanks.

7

No problem man. Glad I can help.