Computer help from someone that can dumb it down for me

[TykeClone]

I would like some help on the virus scan stuff because some of the products seem to just find viruses and you have to pay to remove them. I want to know how to find and remove them.

Uninstall McAffee and install one of these. They're both free for home users and seem to do a nice job of removing the nasties.

http://www.avg.com/filedir/inst/avg_free_stf_en_85_283a1450.exe - AVG's free virus scanner

http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/setupeng.exe - Avast! free home edition virus scanner

EDIT - those are the direct links to the virus scanner downloads (which can sometimes be hard to find!). AVG can be found at http://free.grisoft.com and Avast! can be found at http://www.avast.com

 

[isucyfan]

I'll throw Avira's latest into the ring as well. I've never used it, but heard good things about it. The latest version added spyware scanning along with virus scanning.

Download Free Antivirus Products

 

[mj4cy]

Uninstall McAffee and install one of these. They're both free for home users and seem to do a nice job of removing the nasties.

http://www.avg.com/filedir/inst/avg_free_stf_en_85_283a1450.exe - AVG's free virus scanner

http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/setupeng.exe - Avast! free home edition virus scanner

EDIT - those are the direct links to the virus scanner downloads (which can sometimes be hard to find!). AVG can be found at AVG Free - Download antivirus and antispyware software for Windows XP and Vista and Avast! can be found at avast! - Download antivirus software for spyware and virus protection

Which one would you choose?

 

[TykeClone]

Which one would you choose?

I've used both and they both seem fine. AVG's current version (8.5) is a little heavier than past products so I would probably lean toward Avast! right now. Either way, it should work fine.

 

[mj4cy]

there isn't really an option to uninstall my mcaffee virus scan in my program files...do I just disable and then delete the program before installing a new one?

 

[mj4cy]

I've used both and they both seem fine. AVG's current version (8.5) is a little heavier than past products so I would probably lean toward Avast! right now. Either way, it should work fine.

Is the Avasti one free for unlimitd time? I went to that website of theirs and it seemed like there was a 60 day trial.

 

[isucyfan]

Is the Avasti one free for unlimitd time? I went to that website of theirs and it seemed like there was a 60 day trial.

Avast is free for non-commercial use, no strings attached.

Just make sure you download the free Home Edition.

 

[TykeClone]

Avast is free for non-commercial use, no strings attached.

Just make sure you download the free Home Edition.

You'll also need to receive an e-mail with a code to activate it - if I remember right it's good for 14 months.

 

[TykeClone]

there isn't really an option to uninstall my mcaffee virus scan in my program files...do I just disable and then delete the program before installing a new one?

Start -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs (from XP - vista is a little different)

Find McAffee on the program list, highlight it, and uninstall.