Sophos Anti-Virus for Windows 2000+: how to install Sophos Anti-Virus alongside a competitor's anti-virus software
Issue
Sophos Anti-Virus for Windows has a built-in mechanism to protect itself from unwanted interactions with other anti-virus software. This mechanism is known as 'competitor detection', and is invoked at deployment to client-computers. If a known competitor anti-virus product is detected, installation is aborted.
However, some customers need to use two anti-virus products on the same computer. Sophos
Sophos product and version
Sophos Anti-Virus for Windows 2000+, version 7.3.0 and above
Sophos product and version
Windows 2000+
What to do
This solution involves adding Windows registry keys, and setting options before the deployment of Sophos Anti-Virus to a client-computer. Please read the warning about editing the registry.
- Using 'RegEdit' - add the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Sophos\SAVService\SetupOptions\of 'Type'
SuppressCompetitorDetectionREG_SZ - Set its value to 1 - this will stop the Sophos Competitor Removal Tool from running on deployment
- Using 'RegEdit' - add the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Sophos\SAVService\of 'Type'
SetupOptions\SuppressPreSavCDTREG_SZ - Set its value to 1 - this will stop the Sophos Competitor List Check from running on deployment
- Using 'RegEdit' - add the registry key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Sophos\SAVService\of 'Type'
SetupOptions\DisableOnAccessREG_SZ - Set its value to 1 - this will disable on-access scanning (0 enables)
Technical information
- The
SuppressCompetitorDetectionkey is used to (enable / disable) the Competitor Removal Tool (CRT). The CRT attempts to detect (and / or) remove competitor software before the Sophos installation - The
SuppressPreSavCDTkey is used to (enable / disable) a 'quick check' - that checks on installation, and upgrade for the existence of competitor software. This check will find competitor software :- Installed already
- Installed between the Sophos installation, and the first upgrade
- Between any Sophos upgrade, and the previous Sophos upgrade
These registry keys are automatically removed when SophosAnti-Virus for Windows 2000+ is uninstalled.Note : You must disable on-access scanning if the competitor software performs 'on access' scanning - running two on-access scanners can cause the client-computer to 'lock up'.
If you need more information or guidance, then please contact technical support.
- Article ID: 13814
- Created: 14 Oct 2005
- Last updated: 4 Nov 2008
