what virus program to use????????

[TheCozz]

Hello

I have a bfg 680i mobo
xfx 8800gts vid
e6600 core 2 duo
2gb Ram
2x 75gb raptor 100000 hard drives

i recently built this and tried installing system mechanic 6, Due to it seeing Nvidia Control Panel as another virus scanner it would not load. however when using the control panel to tuen my system si caused a crash, and i had to reinstall windows.
So since it seems a useless program i unstalled it and installed sys mech 6, wich when well untill it started its initial scan at which point it failed gave me a blue screen crash and i almost lost one of the raptor hard drives.
I am using bitdefender 8 free version for now.

Can any one recomend a security suite that wont crash my system? I don't want to spend money on one just to find out it will crash?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated?
Oh and IOLO, of sys mech has been no help.

Thanks
TheCozz

[George Hallam]

im using AVG at the moment it works lk a charm it may take a long time to run through one scan bit its good and best of all its free also try zone alrm as a firewall

[david eaton]

System mechanic is not an anti virus program. I'm with George Hallam, AVG for anti virus, and Sunbelt Kerio firewall. I am also behind a router.

[classicsoftware]

I personally prefer Avast. (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html) It has a low memory footprint. It updates more regularly than AVG, and it has an IM and a web-mail scanner. All in all a great AV program.

[jlreich]

I also like Avast. The Web-mail and IM scanner is what caused me to move from AVG to Avast.

[david eaton]

also like Avast. The Web-mail and IM scanner is what caused me to move from AVG to Avast.

Well, I don't use webmail or IM, so I'll stick to AVG for the moment anyway

[jlreich]

Yeah AVG is a good AV. If you don't need those services there is no reason to change. I used AVG for quite some time. It just so happens I use IM and web-mail, and Avast provides that extra protection so I changed.

[TheCozz]

Thanks i will take a look at them

TheCozz

[HomeSA]

I also like Avast. The Web-mail and IM scanner is what caused me to move from AVG to Avast.

Well, I guess I'll switch. My family uses web-mail and apparently Avast is preferred over AVG in that case.

How do I still keep AVG installed, but keep it from loading up and showing up in Sys Tray when I start up? I know I should not have two AVs running at the same time. I also know disabling it in msconfig is not the correct way.

I forgot how to do that. :confused:

[jlreich]

It best to just uninstall it. As I remember AVG will prompt you to save the config files when uninstalling in case you decide to go back to it.

With Avast I terminate the web scanner (not web-mail scanner) as it slows down browsing. I also terminate the P2P scanner. I don't do P2P and I practice safe browsing so I don't really need either. But you will have to decide if it's worth the slowdown according to your families browsing habits.

You will have to register to get a free product key for Avast. But don't worry it's quick and easy. And I have never gotten any spam from them.

[HomeSA]

It best to just uninstall it. As I remember AVG will prompt you to save the config files when uninstalling in case you decide to go back to it.


Thanks for the response jlreich.

[TheCozz]

i know system mechanic is not an anti virus , but kasperski that is included with it is. Any ideas if i try and only install the anti virus and not the other parts if it will work?
Also i have an oem version of win xp home, is there a limit to how many times i can reinstall an oem version? I installed with teh same key code on my old comp and tried updated, but it said registered to many time? Will screw me from being able to reinstall it in my new comp should the need arise?

[jlreich]

An OEM copy of windows is tied to the computer it was originally installed on and cannot be installed on another without violating the EULA. You will need a new copy if you want to install it on another computer. Or if you have a retail copy that is no longer being used on another computer you can install it to any other computer you like as long as it is on only one machine at any given time. This is the primary difference between OEM and retail versions.

You can, however, reinstall an OEM copy on that computer as many times as you like. You can even have multiple instances of it on the same machine.

If you install the same copy of XP to many times within a certain period of time activation will throw an error, the one you mentioned, and you will have to call MS to get an activation code. This is true with the retail version as well. The number to call will be on the activation screen when you get the failed to activate message. Keep the activation screen up when you call so you can give them the install numbers and enter the activation key they will give you.

This is a PITA and takes some time to go through all the crap over the phone but they will give you an activation key. I have done it many times and never had a problem getting a key. It just takes about 15-20 minutes.

[TheCozz]

Ok but if i get to that point of having to reinstall it again and need a new code. Is it legit to purchase just an oem version of win xp with out any other hardware? I just wanna make sure if i call they dont say i purchased it illegitimetally.

[jlreich]

It does need to be purchased with some type of hardware. I'm not sure how other vendors do it, but when you buy an OEM version of windows from Newegg without ordering other hardware they will throw a $5 cable on your order, then refund you $5 off the price of your order. Thereby fulfilling the requirements of purchasing it with hardware. :D :cool:

Then you can install it on any machine you want and it is tied to that system according to the EULA.

BTW, if you get to the point that it has been installed too many times and you have to call to get activation it's pretty easy. You don't have to tell them anything other than what country you are in and the installation number on the activation screen. They will usually say "while we are waiting for the activation code to come up, may I ask why you are reinstalling?". I usually tell them because of a bad virus infection regardless of the actual reason. You are not required to tell them anything, so I just tell them that because it's easier than trying to explain the sometimes complicated reasons I am reinstalling.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Thereby fulfilling the requirements of purchasing it with hardware.

I bought mine with a case badge of Calvin Hobbes 'P'-ing on Pentium :D

[jlreich]

I bought mine with a case badge of Calvin Hobbes 'P'-ing on Pentium :D

LOL! :D :D