From my experiences, any software program, whether downloaded from an internet site or pulled off a cd/dvd, can cause trouble for a Windows based operating system. Its a hit and miss process, especially with free software. Haven’t worked with Vista yet, but I doubt its any different. Before MS came out with OneCare, I used primarily CA anti-virus and Avast anti-virus free -— along with Spyblaster and Spybot S&D -— and found it to work best. Used it on an old Win98SE opsys and it worked well. Avira anti-virus free version was also a good choice. Always had problems with AVG free. If you’re running XP you can get Windows Defender for nothing. If you have Qwest DSL they offer OneCare Security package free. Some people choose expensive and bloated security packages like Nortons and McAfee. Never went there. You can Google many problems you’re having with your operating system and solve issues as they arise. With computers, patience is a virtue.
One Care is better than nothing, but AVG and Avast are at the top of low cost scanners.
AVG 7.5 had a genuine problem with malicious websites. Some sites pop up a message that looks exactly like a message from the virus scanner, asking if you want to send a file to the virus vault.
When you click OK, you have authorized installing a Trojan horse.
Unfortunately there is no way to protect people who have administrator rights and are inclined to click OK every time they are asked. Except to block access to malicious websites, and there’s a cost involved in that approach.
Thanks for the reply. I’m using XP and should have said so. Also, I needed the motherboard replaced a while back, long before this problem arose. E vidently the fan wasn’t working properly and cooked the processor and MB. I now have an ASUS motherboard, K8V-VM series is on the disc. I understand that registration(?) is one of the things that cause the problem I have. Do you think this (not having the original MB or processor) will effect going the Google route? Thanks again.