I don't see an issue with AVG on 7. I do see an issue with McAfee see link. If you like AVG and are use to it then for sure consider it. Download it to the desktop and install it. If you restored to factory settings like you said McAfee should not be active, a perfect time to uninstall it. It should uninstall using programs and features, we don't even need to worry about that yet because no McAfee files are running yet. Note The McAfee removal tool is not removing some new versions of McAfee. "Enterprise Software Detected" please contact McAfee. Lets avoid that or it's off to Revo un installer. When you get home connect Ethernet cable to the laptop. Then try going to www.google.com. Only go there just see if Google opens. Let us know if you get this far and we can give you a direct link for AVG so you may install that. Then while McAfee is not active we can uninstall it as I mentioned. If you want I can look at a hijack log for you after.

Try a simple reboot first or restart, If that does not work then; un plug the router and modem. Then plug modem in wait for 30 sec. Then plug router in. See if that helps. I can't understand how it's possible to lose a network driver on a new machine or any machine for that matter drivers just don't disappear!

I just did this last week for my new laptop. To export Bookmarks: Go to the top row of the Firefox window...The one with File,Edit,History... Click on Bookmarks, then select "Organize Bookmark" A window will open...in the top line...click on "Import and Backup" then select Import. It will ask you for a file to copy to.. To restore the bookmarks onto the new laptop, follow the same steps, and select restore. Good Luck....it really works nice. The hardest part is finding where to do it.

Cat 6 is way overkill for a phone line - cat 5 or 5e will suffice on that front. Typical advice is that you should over-wire your current needs now while the walls aren't covered up. I'm going against the grain on that one. First off, running cable is expensive - depending on your area around $100 per cable per termination - so those costs add up quick. Second, every day more and more things become wireless, and fewer are wired - even DirecTV I believe has wireless cable boxes (though I wouldn't necessarily recommend those). I think an RG6 (that's co-axial for cable/satellite/antenna) and a Cat 6 are sufficient for most TV areas - perhaps you'll want another Cat 6 if you heavily use a streaming box and a gaming console. I'm not following the cable situation - you want to have all the various boxes in a central location, and then just have a wire from there to each TV? Problem there is that 1) you'll need some type of IR repeater to get the signal down to the box. 2) carry HD signals over long distances is not optimal. There are ways to do it, but they are expensive. Where is the source for the patio speakers? Do you want some sort of whole house audio system (you indicated as such with the Sonus)? What about alarm system and/or home automation - cause you'll need to pre-wire for that as well.