Need help with the order of installing security bundle

[pick the roost]

Hi,
I have purchased the security bundle from Gateway. Now that I have it, I am having problems intalling all of them. I do disable each as I am installing so there will be no conflict, but am still having a problem. Can anyone help with the order of this. Gateway sold the bundle but will not help with support. I have contacted some of the support for each item, but still having problems.

The bundle included:
GhostSurf 2005
Norton Internet Security
Window Washer 5
Spy Sweeper
Pre-Emt

Someone at Gateway stated they had to be installed in a certain order. One of the folks helped me for hours trying to get all installed, but that was a whole night wasted.

Can some of you guru's out there help me out if possible?

[Budfred]

I don't know what order they think it needs to be installed in and it seems like they would have that information if they believe an order is needed... Beyond the fact that I wouldn't have Norton on my system, that would be where I would start and install it... Having some protection in place while you get the rest installed would be crucial... If you posted this message without protection, it is likely that you are already infected...

After Norton, I would go to GhostSurf, WindowWasher or Spy Sweeper... I don't know what Pre-emt is, so I have no idea when and why to install it... I doubt the order of those other 3 matters...

[pick the roost]

Yes Norton is installed now, but I wanted to reformat and start over, not sure what to do. thanks for the help

[Paleo Pete]

I stay as far away from Norton as I can get too...

As far as the order goes I always install antivirus last. The reason being the antivirus program usually runs at startup and is the one thing most likely to cause trouble while installing other software, since it constantly checks any files saved, created, copied, renamed, deleted or accessed while it is running.

I'm not familiar with Ghost Surf or Pre Emt, I would forget about Spy Sweeper and install AdAware and Spybot instead, between the two they do a great job and very few anti-spyware programs come even close to either. Some say the M$ antispyware did a good job 6 months ago but is going downhill lately.

I would say install antispyware after Ghost Surf etc then antivirus very last thing.

To format and reinstall [assuming this is a newer system running XP] just put in the XP [or system restore] CD and reboot. Watch the first few screens of the XP installation, READ the prompts, you should get to a screen that lets you choose which partition to install to. Depending on the system it may or may not have a secondary partition from the factory, you don't want to partition that one normally, so watch which partition you choose and make sure you select the option (on the next screen I think) to format it instead of installing Windows on top of itself.

If it's a System Restore CD, again, READ the onscreen prompts, most system restore programs are fairly easy to use if you pay attention to the onscreen instructions. Use the Full Restore rather than Quick Restore, it should completely format the drive so you have no "leftovers".

[Paul Komski]

I agree about Norton. Get yourself a superb free antivirus and personal firewall in place of NIS, which is a huge bloat that installs itself like a cancer. Avast or AVG and Sygate or Kerio or Zone Alarm are generally the most recommended round here.