How to remove Brilliant Digital software

[TankGirl]

These instructions were just published in ZDNet News:

Brilliant Digital Entertainment quietly installs its own software with every copy of the Kazaa file-swapping software. The Brilliant Digital software, which is being progressively distributed over the next few weeks, can later be remotely "turned on" to become part of a new network. Executives from Brilliant Digital and Kazaa's parent company say people can uninstall the Brilliant Digital or Altnet software from their computers without interfering with the Kazaa program itself. This is true, but it's not an easy process.

These three steps will remove most traces of the Brilliant Digital software from most machines. CNET News.com did it using a computer running Windows 2000, but the same process should work for other Windows operating systems. Please be aware, however, that these instructions represent just one uninstall method and may not be suitable for all machines and software configurations.

CNET Networks assumes no liability in publishing these instructions, which people may choose to follow at their own risk. As always, it's a good idea to make a backup of any critical files before proceeding.

1. In the Windows Control Panel, select an option called "Add/Remove Programs." One of the options will be "b3d Projector." Highlight this and click the "Change/Remove" button.

You may get a message that the uninstall has been successful. Search your computer for a "BDE" folder, which most likely will be found in the "WinNT" or "Windows" directory. In this folder will be a file called "bdeclean.exe". Run this to finish the first part of the process. Delete the BDE folder.

Caution: An unrelated piece of software called Borland Database Engine also creates a BDE directory. If you think you may have this software installed, or if there is any confusion whatsoever, do not delete this directory.

2. In the "Temp" directory (this will normally be found inside the "Windows" or "WinNT" directory) is a folder called "Brilliant." This contains many files. Delete the entire folder.

3. After performing steps 1 and 2, you will need to locate and remove some additional Brilliant Digital files that have been placed in critical system-level computer directories. CAUTION: Deleting the wrong files could interfere with the normal functioning of your computer. These files will most likely be in the "WindowsSystem" or "WinNTSystem32" folder:

bdedownloader.dll
bdedata2.dll
bdefdi.dll
bdeinsta2.dll
bdeinstall.exe
bdesecureinstall.cab
bdesecureinstall.exe
bdeverify.exe
bdeverify.dll

Delete these files.

- tg

[indiana_jones]

i think my BDE came with beloved "clean" morpheus 1.3.3.
I did like you said - there are still a lot of registry entries - i'm not sure how to get rid of them.

[ssj4_android]

Yeah, I believe it comes with grokster and the old morpheus too. Not sure though.

[TankGirl]

Originally posted by ssj4_android
Yeah, I believe it comes with grokster and the old morpheus too. Not sure though.

This is probably the case. As BDE software seems to be distributed through FastTrack supernodes any client connecting succesfully to the Fasttrack network gets soon 'infected' with it.

- tg

[Stoepsel]

Originally posted by TankGirl

This is probably the case. As BDE software seems to be distributed through FastTrack supernodes any client connecting succesfully to the Fasttrack network gets soon 'infected' with it.

- tg

TG,
so you're saying that even if I clean out my comp now, I will get 'infected' again later when I log on to FastTrack?

That would suck. And be the end of my Grokster/iMesh days... Bye bye birdy...

Stoepsel

[TankGirl]

Originally posted by Stoepsel
TG,
so you're saying that even if I clean out my comp now, I will get 'infected' again later when I log on to FastTrack?

This is the likely scenario. Kazaa seems to use supernodes to gain control over all clients connected to the FastTrack network, forcing them to upgrade to the latest software version and now also to install BDE into the host computers.

- tg

[goldie]

The arrow led right to morpheus 1.3.3. - all gone now.

Thanx TG

GR - whose sworn off the Fast track habit................for good!

[prggr]

I've done some checking around and Grokster doesn't seem to have the brilliant digital infection.

[BuzzB2K]

Originally posted by ssj4_android
Yeah, I believe it comes with grokster and the old morpheus too. Not sure though.

Originally posted by prggr
I've done some checking around and Grokster doesn't seem to have the brilliant digital infection.

The old 1.3.3 Morpheus installation file (Morpheus-b3d-v2.exe) was provided by Brilliant.
I didn't use either Grokster or KaZaA at the time so I can't say about those, but the current Grokster installations DO NOT HAVE BDE with them.
Their particular infection is with Cydoor and at one time NewDot.net although they have stopped including that.
iMesh however includes both Cydoor and NewDot and so can be tricky to install. That is why a program like StartupMonitor is so important, it can catch all those nasty little programs that try to sneak into your Startup and run themselves on the next reboot.

[goldie]

Originally posted by BuzzB2K

StartupMonitor is so important, it can catch all those nasty little programs that try to sneak into your Startup and run themselves on the next reboot.

As Elvis once said: "Thank-you, Thank-you Very Much!!

[JackSpratts]

Originally posted by TankGirl

This is the likely scenario. Kazaa seems to use supernodes to gain control over all clients connected to the FastTrack network, forcing them to upgrade to the latest software version and now also to install BDE into the host computers.

- tg

please view this thread immediately:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...ping~mode=flat

- js.