Expert: Carolyn Meinel - 7/13/2005

Question
I have a Dell computer running Windows XP. I downloaded a free trail of Sunbelt's Counterspy and now I've decided I don't want it. It keeps popping up asking me to renew so I tried to delete this. Now it keept starting a loop where it tries to update, says it can't, then gives me an error. I click on "cancel" and it starts over so I click "cancel" over & over maybe a dozen times and then it is gone but when I restart my computer, there it is again. When I search for it on my PC it locates it in "C" but when I try to delete it, it starts sending it to the recycle bin, then I get the following error: "error deleting file or folder" and "cannot delete sunAntiSpywearLibrary.dll: Access is Denied.   Make sure the disc is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use."  I click "ok" and nothing happens.   What disc ?   Happy to give you more info if you need it, but please help. Thank you!

Answer
Here's how to overcome its self-defenses against being deleted or uninstalled. First, have you shut Counterspy down before trying to uninstall it? You can either shut it down from the system tray, or ctrl-alt-del to bring up Task Manager and look under processes.

If this doesn't work, you can use System Restore. However, this will also uninstall anything else you installed after that restore point.

Another way to get rid of Counterspy, but only as a last resort, is to reboot your computer and press F8 while rebooting to get into DOS (comamnd line) mode. You can then delete the program . Use the command rmdir/s to remove the entire directory that holds the program.

This will leave behind some entries in the registry and system startup files, so it's a sloppy way to get rid of Counterspy. These remaining entries might be entirely harmless. If, however, you get error messages regarding Counterspy after deleting its files, there are two programs that can help you remove the offending items. Click Start --> run --> msconfig to look through the startup files on your computer. This program enables you to delete anything that looks like is has to do with Counterspy. Then run regedit and choose edit --> find and search for any references to Counterspy and delete them.

If this doesn't work, Norton System Works from symantec.com can search out and remove the offending items for you.