If you have a multi-user subscription, you should be able to load it onto other computers at any time during the period of the subscription, and the clock starts ticking when you load the first one on. I have a 3-user subscription to Norton anti-virus and I loaded one right away, and another 6 months later. However, I have the disc. Since you downloaded yours, did you save the program on the first computer? If so, you could make a copy on a flash drive, and plug that into your netbook and install it. If you don't have that option, you should go go the Symantec web site. When you put the program on the first computer, there is typically a registration step that establishes an account at Symantec. Each time the program is installed and registered, the registration process takes you to the web site and the number of program installs is kept track of in your account. If you log into this account right now, it should show that you have two installs left of what you bought. If you don't have the program, and/or you can't remember how to get into your account (or can't retrieve the info), call Symantec tech support and explain the problem and they should be able to walk you through this. It would probably be helpful if you had your online receipt of the purchase handy when you do this.

the free ones like AVAST, AVIRA etc also have paid versions they make their money from those and are wonderful in that they also offer a free version to help those who can not afford to pay, the free versions have a bit less on them than the paid versions of course. It benefits everyone when each person can have good updated programs on their pc which is why many of the companies do offer a free version. In pay versions Kaspersky is an excellent choice, it is likely the one I would choose if I used a pay version it or Nod 32. I personally use AVAST free on my windows machines and feel it is an excellent product. The main thing to remember is layered security so along with your fully updated Antivirus you also need good antimalware programs like malwarebytes and superantispyware which are also free which should be updated and run full scans once a week or so. In addition having spywareblaster is another layer that protects you while online and requires no scans just update it weekly and hit the enable all protection button so the shield is green. And of course a firewall, if you have a properly configured router you have a hardware firewall there protecting you but you should have a software one also, vista and windows 7 have a decent one built in. SpywareBlaster SUPERAntiSpyware Free I think you have malwarebytes already? you will of course have to get Trend Micro fully removed from the pc before changing to any other antivirus program. as important these days is to make sure everything is kept updated and patched using Secunia tool makes that easy Secunia Online Software Inspector (OSI)

@harry_wild "know that in order to prevent a new virus or malware for your on going service; you have to get it from Microsoft in the first place!" You keep stating this, but provide no evidence. Why don't you provide some proof of it, if you think it's true. Just stating something doesn't make it true. . @ wolfie46 "Is there any problem running AVG and malwarebytes at the same time on a computer with windows 8.1?" Shouldn't be any problem. Although it would probably be a good idea not to run scans by each, at the same time.

"tired of the habit Windows has of constantly trying to plug me into deals to monetize me" I don't use Windows enough to know for sure what you mean but maybe you mean those "Modern Apps"? Maybe that's why they're willing to give it away for free? The last computer I bought came with Windows 10. The first thing I did was go though the menu, turn off the annoying (to me) live tiles. Then I removed whatever I wasn't interested in that I could. Some by just removing from "Start". Others by uninstalling (right-click and read). The others that offered no easy way of uninstalling, I used PowerShell to remove. (I think CCleaner now offers a way to uninstall them?) " ... I'm intending to replace everything on my new ssd with everything on my old, now Linux machine ... " That should work the same as the first time. Or easier since you've done it before. If you haven't, you may want to create a boot-able version of your cloning software. If Linux is fast on the older spin drive, it will be even faster on the ssd. Especially booting. " ... trouble getting the computer to let me boot from anything except the Windows C drive ... " On my Acer F12 lets me select the boot device. You'll might want to go into BIOS/UEFI and change the boot order though. So you don't have to select it every time. I just not long ago got around to getting a computer with UEFI instead of the older BIOS. I had a lot of trouble learning how to deal with it. I'm still not 100% confident using it. So... I keep images just in case. And just in case I somehow mess up grub so badly it won't boot (I have): Super Grub2 Disk Of course, if you blow away Windows, you won't have to worry about boot order. I keep Windows as dual boot in case I want to use it. And I do use it, if for no other reason than to boot into and use Macrium Reflect to image my Linux drive. Gives me nice small images and it's quick.