Avast is a very good Anti virus program but nothing more. I use it on one confuser. For spy wares you should consider AdAware, Spybot Search & Destroy and Spywareblaster. These are not the only ones there are others as good but these three generally get all the good comments and are recommended often even on this site. Personally I run all 3 on all 3 of my machines. I look for updates once a week generally unless I see an update notice posted on another site I belong to. If I have been sensibly surfing then I will run them every 6 to 8 weeks. If I have wandered into doubtful sites (looking for free clipart, fonts or other freebies) then I will run them that night to rid myself of the phone home spies that will have inevitably appeared on my computer.

Colin - your explanations of restore, system restore, back up, etc were very helpful. They were a very useful edition to what Ravencajun wrote - it didn't seem repetitive to me. I think I can really use any reiteration at this point. Now I actually understand that the system can be backed up to a hidden spot on the hard drive as well as my backing it up on dvd - to be used in the event that the hard drive back up doesn't work. By George, I think I've got it...........Well - at least that part. I'm not sure that I saw any option to create a back up start-up disk. Was that automatically included when I backed up the entire hard drive - or is there a separate step I should take? I also realize that I hadn't understood what you meant by blue button. I was looking at an actual blue button the thinkpad keyboard. Will that button do - or should I be looking for something else. I didn't not notice any blue buttons on the screen (except the Avast buttons in the task bar). Raven - I have a question about revo uninstaller. What would it uninstall? I noticed that I have Office on my computer but I don't know if it came with Office - or if this is a trial program. Is there a way I can figure that out? If it's a trial, I'd like to remove it. If it's permanent, I'll keep it. I know I did not get Microsoft Word with this and thought I had chosen no office software. I was planning on getting open office for the few times I might need to work on a word document (working on a document that is in Word on my desktop). Zep - good point about the printer software. I know when I chose the Canon mx850 and was researching printers, these were considered much better in terms of minimal bloatware (than say the HP's). I know when I installed the software on my desktop (and my daughter's) that several files were installed, but I think I want them all. The computer is networked so I can scan documents to any of our computers - print from any computer, fax from any computer, etc. I'm not sure how I would determine if any of those canon files are bloatware. More on my progress: -I did do all the lenovo updates. -ran javara and updated java and removed old programs. -installed and ran malwarebytes, spywareblaster. Any particular settings I should choose for spywareblaster,malwarebytes or Avast? I have so far just chosen the defaults - but don't know if I should "protect?" cookies - or anything else. And I just realized that I forgot to install superantispyware. For Avast, I did not set up scans on the screensaver - because at this point I will be turning the computer off if it is not being used for a while. If I just happen to walk away for 20 minutes or so, I don't want a scan automatically running that I have to wait to finish - or interrupt and cancel it - and run it manually later. Does it seem okay to just run it manually? If so, how often? Maybe I should use the screensaver option? I think "protecting (I know that's the wrong word - unselecting ?) cookies was for ccleaner - not anti-spyware programs. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. So now I'm off to get superantispyware - run secunia and get any necessary updates - and set up the printer software. This is extremely gratifying to be able to do this (with everyone's help). It really helps me to understand what's going on with my computer. Thanks. Lynn. PS - if I get open office, is there anyplace in particular I should download it from? Are there parts to download and parts to avoid - or do I just download the whole program?

you will need to run the norton removal tool for your version of norton and take some extra removal steps since norton does not remove fully by using the add remove programs option. Download and run the Norton Removal Tool you can also get the free REVO uninstaller and run it in addition which should help remove any of the extra bits. Revo Uninstaller You may also need to go into your explorer to program files and see if you still find norton or symantec listed there and delete those files. I use AVAST free for Antivirus, superantispyware and malwarebytes free for antimalware, sypwareblaster free for added protection (no scans to do with it just hit update once a week then enable all protection button) Zone alarm pro as my firewall but zone alarm free is good just be sure not to get any of the included extras like toolbars etc they try to give you during install. How to download and install Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware application for Windows computers SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition SpywareBlaster avast! Home Edition on the left on that page are 2 pdf files you will need to read one is how to install and insert your registration key and one is a user guide on how to use it. additional info for AVAST can be found here How to Install, Configure, and Use Avast Antivirus ZoneAlarm firewall - Tutorial

My niece is almost 50 and she said in no uncertain terms, no one will touch it. We found one model that was being replaced with a new model and got it for $399. I think her daughter might look it over just to see what kind it is, but she has uncommonly good sense. Her nieces and nephews are the problem, because they do things their way and that is the right way. They wanted her to buy protection, free stuff is not good enough. She took my word that is was fine. Setting up this PC was harder than usual, I think it was because I had someone looking over my shoulder, but some the things were very different. I forgot spyware blaster, will do it the next time we meet. I did the other stuff except for CC, I didn't want her to get into the registry. I have a list explanations and instructions on my PC and will print one off for her. She didn't want a password to turn on her PC and I agreed with her since she is the only one who will use it. When I did that one day the PC would not accept my pass word. HP would not help me either.