McAfee Client Always Shows the System State as Inactive

Antivirus

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by Vladimir Popescu 

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Key notes

  • The McAfee drive encryption inactive issue is caused by the Boot Loader or a disk space problem.
  • Using a Windows command-line tool you can easily change the Boot Configuration Data.
  • You can also defragment the problematic hard drive to fix the low space issue.
  • If you still can’t get this antivirus to work properly, it’s time to consider using a better one.
What to do if the McAfee client always shows the system state as inactive

A large number of people have complained on different online forums that their McAfee client isn’t working properly.

The application always shows the system state as being inactive, no matter what changes they make in the settings of the software.

This issue can be frustrating over time, as it doesn’t allow you to be sure that you are being protected from online threats.

The error we’re discussing can be caused by either the Windows Boot Loader or Boot Manager not working properly, or a disk space problem.

The McAfee Drive Encryption [DE] process is the source of this error message, and we will need to use an elevated command prompt to fix it.

In today’s fix article we will discuss the best method to apply in this situation and get back to exploring the online realm without any security risks.

Depending on the version of McAfee that you use, the solution to the problem will differ, as it is being caused by different elements.

In one of the cases, the problem is caused by the Boot Loader, and in the other case, it is caused by not having enough free hard disk space available on the drive that you’re trying to encrypt.

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How do I fix the McAfee system state error?

1. Use PowerShell to fix the Boot Configuration Data problem

  1. Press the Windows + X keys on your keyboard to open the Start sub-menu.
  2. Choose the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.powershell admin gog
  3. Copy-paste this command inside the command prompt window: Bcdedit /set {default} path \Windows\System32\Winload.efi
  4. Press Enter to run the command.
  5. Copy-paste the following command: Bcdedit /set {bootmgr} path \Efi\Microsoft\Boot\Bootmgfw.efi
  6. Press Enter to run the command.
  7. Close the PowerShell window and restart your PC.

If Windows PowerShell stopped working, don’t worry, check our step-by-step guide to fix this problem right away.

Moreover, in order to get a full understanding of this problem, you can visit the official McAfee Knowledge Center.

2. Defragment the drive using PowerShell

  1. Press the Windows + X keys and choose the Windows PowerShell (Admin) option.
  2. Inside the elevated command prompt, run this command: chkdsk /r
  3. After the process is completed, please restart your system.
  4. Manually shrink the drive that’s causing the problem using the Microsoft Disk Partition tool named Diskpart (Check the Microsoft Build page for more information about how to do this).

Defragmenting the problematic hard drive will help you get the space needed for McAfee to function properly.

3. Try changing your antivirus with a more reliable one

If McAfee continues to produce more problems than solutions, you need to consider trying another antivirus that is less prone to such issues.

The security tool recommended below is light on your system and it protects all your devices with one license, including the router or the webcam.

Moreover, you will stay protected especially when you perform online payments or banking transactions.

It comes with a 30-day trial period so you will have plenty of time to know if you like it or not.

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In today’s fix guide we explored both of the possible causes for the McAfee error that doesn’t allow the software to show the correct system state, and we offered a quick solution for each of them.

Because this can expose your system and data to various risks online, it becomes an even more important issue if it is left unsolved for a long period of time.

If you have the same problem at the office, don’t hesitate to pick one of the best antiviruses for Windows Server to strengthen your security for your company data.

We hope that this guide offered you a solution to fix the McAfee drive encryption system state inactive issue.

Please feel free to let us know if this article helped you, or if you have any suggestions. You can contact us by leaving a comment in the box found under this article and tell us all about it.

More about the topics: antivirus, McAfee

Vladimir Popescu

Vladimir Popescu Shield

Being an artist his entire life while also playing handball at a professional level, Vladimir has also developed a passion for all things computer-related. With an innate fascination for research and analysis, and realizing many other people share his passion for this subject, he delved into writing Windows-related articles, so other people can also benefit from the acquired information. When not writing kick-ass articles, Vladimir likes to spend his time doing Crossfit and creating art.

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