I must thank you for replying in detail and I feel really comfortable working with you since you seem to be incharge the machines there ..
Now could you please try this step on any one computer and revert back that will help me understand something on it?
uninstall SA
reboot
locate and delete the SA folder under program files and inside the McAfee folder (under program files).
reboot
then install the SA from Website via IE
reboot
open the IE
click on the arrow near the SA tool bar and then on the About and post the version number..
the new service seems to be from the 2.8 ver (read new version)..
see if this worked on the BATCH file fixed the issue or a combination of both.
thanks a lot for your patience
happy