I posted this at HP, but here's my solution that worked.
Backup data first, of course.
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I combed the net and compiled this resolution for Windows 7 (some or all may apply to WinXP if that's your flavor.)
I did all the steps below except for the last part about removing Sec. Mgr, ITconcepts, Infineion, and Cognizance entries from the registry.
These are among the steps I feel were critical:
Remove the HP applications listed when you try to uninstall ProtectTools from the "Programs and Features" control panel (additional programs are listed in the first step, but not all may be necessary)
Removing the specified VBscript and all Protecttools entries from registry
removing HP items from Startup items using msconfig tool
Disabling HP services in the services.msc console
Not all of these were necessarily required.
You may be able to refine the process to fewer steps.
If you're in a hurry and don't mind risking disaster with regedit, you may wish to skip to these steps.
Removing HP Protect Tools
Using the Programs and Features Control Panel, remove the following, in order:
Credential Manager for HP ProtectTools
Java Card Security for HP ProtectTools
Drive Encryption for HP ProtectTools
Smartcard security for HP ProtectTools
Embedded Security for HP ProtectTools
BIOS Security for HP ProtectTools
HP ProtectTools Security Manager"
If you run into trouble,
NOTE: Log in as admin for all remaining steps.
Try disabling the service "hpqwmiex":
As Administrator, open the "Services" console (part of Administrative Tools) then:
Scroll down to find "hpqwmiex" (without quote marks) under the "Name" column
Right click on hpqwmiex and select "Properties"
The "hpqwmiex Properties" window opens to the "General" tab
Click the "Stop" button to halt the service
Once the process stops, click the "Startup type:" drop list button (little down arrow) and select "Disabled"
Click the "OK" button
The process is disabled - you can close out of the "Services" window.
You may also wish to disable:
HP ProtectTools Device Locking / Auditing
HP Software Framework Service
HP support Assitant Service
If still no luck,
Using cmd as admin, enter:
cd %windir%\syswow64
regsvr32 /u vbscript.dll
regsvr32 vbscript.dll
If you still cannot uninstall,
Set a restore point then:
Type "regedit" in the START prompt field, right click it as it appears in the list and select "Run as Administrator"
Delete:
"HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{B54F3741-5B07-11CF-A4B0-00AA004A55E8}"
AND / OR
"HKey_Classes_Root\CLSID\{B54F3741-5B07-11CF-A4B0-00AA004A55E8}"
Delete the value set to "REG_SZ: VB script language" leave the subkeys intact.
The PROG ID subkey also has VBscript. It may need to go too.
If these don't exist or do not solve the problem, there may be other keys at fault, but thsi risks hosing your whole system. Be prepared to lose everything.
Try your uninstall again
Ready for desperate measures?
Set a restore point.
Remove from the registry any reference to "protecttools" (all one word) (NOTE: There are DOZENS of them.)
Reboot.
Try to remove HP ProtectTools again. (It may already be gone.)
You may need to kill HP products from the Startup Items list using msconfig and kill the HP services again in the services.msc console
STILL no luck?
Set another restore point.
You may also erase the all keys mentioning "Securitymanager", "Security Manager", ITConcepts, Infineon, or Congnizance. Some of these may be related to other software though and could be essential to something important.
