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.

I thought I had upgraded to IE7 at one point. Yahoo wants me to upgrade to IE8, but after reading about it here, I was reluctant to do so. I did go to windows updates last week to see if there were any I needed to do, but after scanning it said there were none. How do I get IE 7?

ok that helps now we at least know it is an older used desktop and not brand new. some of the newer ones do come with wifi cards installed. I would go with one of the usb type much easier for you to use, just plug it into the usb port on the desktop and then you will need to have it find your wireless network and when you select it you will need to enter your wireless networks password. Personally I prefer the type that have a cord that goes to the usb plug rather than the little ones that look like a flash drive and plug directly in, with the cord type you can move it around on the desk to find the best spot for reception. this is what I mean USB Wireless WiFi LAN Adapter With High Gain 7dBi Panel Antenna or this Belkin and not this type WIFI USB WIRELESS the ones that plug right in like that can be easily bumped and there is no way to move them around for better reception. Just a personal preference, but sometimes placement does matter. the type that you would have to open your pc case and install into one of the slots is like this Wireless-G PCI Adapter

I can see that you already have lots of input but I might as well add our experiences. I had two desktops before I switched to a laptop. I would never go back again. It is great to be able to use it where ever you are. We have our house set up to be wireless. So my daughter and I can both use our laptops. The printer and router are set up in one of the bedrooms, which I rarely see. We could make the printer wireless if we wanted to but we don't use it often enough for it to be an inconvenience to just go to the printer with the laptop and dock it for long enough to print what we need. As for the keyboard, I think they have as you mentioned some extensions that you can add, but you are right, to keep it portable, you have to keep those to a minimum. I don't know if any companies make the natural keyboard. I did want to mention that we bought the extended warranty with our last laptop and then extended it another year to the maximum allowed which expired in March. So we are almost to 5 years on this one laptop. In that time, our warranty has covered everything but a replacement cord or battery. We had the whole motherboard replaced at one time and a new screen in year four. No additional cost beyond what we were paying for the warranty. If you still want a desktop station, you might consider wireless and that would allow you to use a rolling cart and not have all the wires to deal with. pm2