Devvie -- sent you an email with details . . . basically the solution is entering the laptop's BIOS settings and:
1. Disabling the Fingerprint Reader (if your laptop has one)
2. Disabling and hiding the TPM IC (several steps):
a. If ANYTHING is using the embedded TPM for security, those security measureds MUST be reset and/or turned OFF
FIRST . . . including logins, drive encryption, drive protection, etc.
b. Go into the BIOS and set a BIOS access password if one has not already been set
(do NOT forget this password or you'll never get back into the BIOS)
c. This allows disabling the embedded TPM IC in the BIOS hardware settings
d. Disabling the TPM IC allows "hiding" it from the rest of the system (hardware) and the operating system
Save the BIOS settings and the system will reboot. There may be a confirmation during reboot regarding the disabling and hiding the TPM. Mine was "F1=yes" and "F2=no" . . . be certain to allow it or the BIOS will go back to the former settings.
This finally allowed successful uninstall of ALL the HP ProtectTools. I had to reinstall the Security Suite and then uninstall for its Uninstall to show up in the Control Panel's Software Uninstall listing as an unsuccessful uninstall will make it disappear from the list.
Hope this helps
John