Kill the McAfee SplashScreen

I dunno about you, but I'm not a big fan of splash screens per se. Not at all. It seems that nowadays every crappy little shareware application and his dog has its own prissy little popup "App is now starting - isn't that wonderful!" thing. Mann, talk about self-congratulations, I think we've entered a new era of software egocentricity.

It's the same with the films - you rent out a DVD - how many logos and splash screens displaying corporate logos do you get to see until the main film (or even the menu) actually kicks in!? Sometimes you get 'em twice! (thank-you 21st century Fox).

Now I must admit I suppose it's fair enough with shareware/freeware utilities, after all the programmers are giving away their hard work for bugger all. Fair go. However, I do get the shits when 'paid-for' software does the same thing..and I get really angry when there's no easy way to turn it off. Well hellooo Mcafee Antivirus!

Not only does this thing pop up every time you log in, it has the potential to slow down other apps which are waiting to load..

MCAFEE IS LOADING - WHOOPEE-FRICKIN-DOO!!!!!

MCAFEE IS LOADING - WHOOPEE-FRICKIN-DOO!!!!!

Just look at that thing! So big! So red! What were they thinking of? Don't you think it's just a bit over-the-top? I do. Imagine if every application did this when you computer starts up - you'd never get to use the thing. Mannn, it makes me sooo angry I could bash a rhinoceros to death with my penis. What arrogance! Why, I even resent the 26.2KB the thing is taking up on my website.

Scanning through the McAfee menus, there is of course nothing which lets you turn the bloody thing off. So we're gonna have to get down and dirty with the registry editor..

START | Run | Type regedit
Drill down to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Network Associates\TVD\VirusScan Enterprise\CurrentVersion
Double click on bSkipSplash in the right pane
Under Value Data type in a 1 and under Base click the Decimal radio button
Click OK and close the registry editor

I'm happy again. The desktop world is once more, a comfortable place to be. Now where did I put those blood pressure tablets..?