Installation of SCEP is the easiest part. It gets more complex when the administrator has to cover a large number of endpoints. However, several users have had trouble getting past the installation processes. The System Center 2012 Client Endpoint Protection terminates installation with error 0X80070002 saying that SCEP ‘cannot complete the system centre endpoint installation.’ The installer then asks you to restart your computer and try again. However, the same issue persists for the users. This article will tell you why you get this error during installation and how you can get rid of it and complete your installation.

Cause of error 0X80070002 during SCEP installation

Endpoint Protection cannot be installed on a computer that is running other security programs. Sometimes, even if you remove other security programs, they do not completely uninstall; usually leaving behind residual files and registry configurations. The other problem might be that your current antivirus does not include an installation key in the registry which SCEP can use to uninstall it. You must also be running a genuine version of the Windows operating system to install Endpoint Protection. SCEP will automatically remove the following antiviruses during installation.

Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition version 10Symantec Endpoint Protection version 11Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition version 12McAfee VirusScan Enterprise version 8Trend Micro OfficeScanMicrosoft Forefront Codename Stirling Beta 2Microsoft Forefront Codename Stirling Beta 3Microsoft Forefront Client Security v1Microsoft Security Essentials v1Microsoft Security Essentials 2010Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010Microsoft Security Center Online v1

Error code 0x80070002 can also be interpreted as a network error wherein the necessary files are not accessible by the computer where the operating system is being installed into. If you are installing SCEP on a network computer, it might be lacking permissions from the System Centre Client Manager (SCCM). Here is how to clear the System Centre Endpoint Protection error and complete your installation.

Method 1: Uninstall all antivirus programs

SCEP will automatically remove some antiviruses, and antispyware. But if yours lacks an installation key in the registry, or is not in the list above, then you will have to remove it manually. Make sure you remove all antiviruses, all internet security programs and all antispyware. You can also uninstall these applications from their user interface by opening their Graphical User Interfaces.

Method 2: Set permissions from the Client Manager (SCCM)

If method 1 fails, then the computer you are trying to deploy the SCEP into might be locked out by the server/System Centre Client Manager especially if you are trying to install over a networked client or via the client manager.

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