Alright it looks like I got the solution posted in the FAQ stickied thread to work, so this is solved.
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.
the update program installs punkbuster, pbsetup.exe is the one.
run it and add the game to it, it will download all the required files.
afterwards you can check its working ok, by running the pbsvc found in your bf3 folder, it will test the punkbuster service for you
