Well I successfully uninstalled punkbuster, but it seems that everything on evenbalance.com that can be download is meant only to update punkbuster, and not to install it. I tried running the origin "repair install" option but that did nothing. I am now getting a new error:
Game disconnected: you were kicked by PunkBuster. Stated reason: PunkBuster kicked player 'TrueEpic' (for 0 minutes) ... RESTRICTION: Service Communication Failure: PnkBstrA.exe
Presumably, this is because punkbuster now fails to exist on my computer.
Steps I have taken:
1. Uninstalled punkbuster via the windows "programs and features" utility
2. Downloaded this: http://websec.evenbalance.com/downloader/download.php?file=1 and added Battlefield 3 to it
3. Downloaded this: http://evenbalance.com/downloads/bf3/pbsec.htm and put it at C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Battlefield 3\pb\htm
4. Used the origin "Repair Installation" utility
5. Restarted browser
6. Restarted computer
Thanks for the help so far, but it seems I am not reinstalling punkbuster correctly.
