Jean I only use MS Essentials on my Win 7 machine. I have been clean since July with the beta version and October with the real stuff. When you get your new computer fired up you will see small icons near the clock. Clicking the up arrow will bring a small pop up where you will see the green bungalow shaped icon for MS Essentials, as long as it is green and has a check mark you are good to go.

Thanks for the replies. Yes, Raven I want to avoid using the Norton trial and get Avast on the new laptop before I go online. I re-downloaded Avast again, to a flashdrive using my XP machine. I was able to move it onto the Vista hard drive Downloads folder. But as before, it would not install. First window shows the default language - english. Next window - There was an error while completing the setup process. View setup log. I googled the main error line from the setup log, didn't find my exact problem, but found a few posts - all Avast related and also relating to various internet connections. So maybe once I get my wireless router hooked up tomorrow (cross fingers) this will install. I don't understand why that would matter, but what do I know! My XP computer is ATT DSL wired, which I am making wireless since I now have the laptop. That in itself is/will be a real learning experience. And I will definitely check out some of the tutorials. I think I will like Vista, just feeling a little inept at the moment.

Well - it took a little back and forth with the file extension fixes. If anyone else is following this thread, the link Mikie posted is great, as are Zep's instructions. I found that I also needed to read the instructions more carefully. At first I downloaded the larger "open it" program. Then I saw to just download the fix for the .exe program. Once that was extracted, I actually had to right click and select merge. The first time, it allowed me to install firefox and ccleaner, but not the newer java. I went through the sequence again. Eventually got everything updated, downloaded and installed. Damcoy: - while I was struggling before the .exe fix, right clicking on the downloaded file did not bring up the option to run as administrator. So I guess that didn't stick. Thanks everyone. Lynn.

shaddy you can take a screenshot of anything on your computer screen and save it as a picture then you can post it here or anywhere you like. you have a print screen button on your keyboard up on the top row after F-12. These are the general directions for use: Press Ctrl and Print Screen keys at the same time. Go to Start\All Programs\Accessories\Paint When the Paint application launches, press Ctrl + V at the same time. The Screen you just copied will open up in the Paint application. (hint:If you want the whole screen press screen print key. If you only want a picture of a popup window hold the Alt key and press screen print.) Windows Print Screen Key more detailed info it is really a good idea if you are now on DSL to set your AV updates to automatic, it is really essential to get the new definitions as soon as they come out, they can not help you at all or stop a new infection if you have not let the program update and get the new definitions to block any new infections. They put out those new definitions for a reason that is because a new infection is out in the wild hitting. So it is highly advised to allow your AV program to get the new definitions as quickly as they are sent out.