I'm only going to respond to your non-router questions as I think you should have enough info in those other posts to make a choice. First, when your new computer is set up, plug in the new external drive to make sure it's recognized as part of that new system. It may have backup software already on it, so you could make a backup copy of your new system onto the external drive as your first step. Then, before you transfer any of the photo files, etc., to your new system, you could download and run Malwarebytes on the old computer as a precaution. Once you are sure your old system is clean, you can do your file transfer. Since you can't get your external hard drive recognized with your old computer, you'll have to do something else. If it were me, I'd get a flash drive of 4GB or larger (you can get an 8 GB drive on Amazon for less than $20). Then COPY as big a chunk as possible of those files onto the flash drive (DON'T cut and paste, as you want to leave a backup on your old computer at least until the whole transfer process is done correctly); then plug the flash drive into the new computer and copy the first batch of files to your new computer's hard drive. Then plug the flash drive back in to the old computer, delete all the files on the flash drive only, and reload it with a new chunk of files. Then load these on the new computer. Repeat until they are all loaded on to the new computer. Then, when you've transferred everything, you can copy all of them from the hard drive of the new computer to the external hard drive, which will then be your insurance policy. Second, if you have a 15 month subscription to McAfee, why complicate things? Keep it and run it. You can worry about replacing it with something else like Avast in 15 months. Just supplement it with Malwarebytes, but don't try to run another antivirus program like Avast at the same time. Also, having a router is a different issue from what ZoneAlarm software does for you. If you are running McAfee with its firewall, and occasionally running Malwarebytes, you should be fine. Also, because your knowledge of computers appears somewhat basic, ZoneAlarm may be a little sophisticated for you to make sure you are running it correctly. (I'm not trying to insult you, just trying to keep you adequately protected without making it unnecessarily complicated for you.

First off lets get one thing perfectly clear I have NEVER claimed to be the ONLY person here HELPING, how absurd. I volunteer on numerous wonderful support/help forums with a multitude of absolutely wonderful knowledgeable people this one included. I never advise anyone to do or use something that I would not use myself and that will NOT change. And any time I see one recommended that I know has some problem I WILL with out doubt provide that info so that any person considering it will have full info to make an informed decision on that program themselves, with full knowledge. And I appreciate it when someone who knows something negative about a programs speaks up and provides that info, it is how we learn. IObit has been found guilty of several thefts of program material over the years this theft of malwarebytes is just one more. NOT the kind of people I want to entrust ANY ones pc to. Try reading the info provided about IOBit. I never mentioned you anywhere in my post, I simply referred to the program,(which I would have done no matter who posted about it, and have done in the past) no idea why on Earth you felt the need to slam me, but I am not the only one here you have done it to, it really does not surprise me. Done

Hi zep516, How did you know beanwabr was infected with Palladium Pro? I could not find out any info about this from beanwabr. You said my link leaded to a possible infected web site? I can tell you that this site (teesupport.com) is safe. I know this because this site keeps posting blogs (http://blog.teesupport.com/) for virus removal and legit applications uninstall instructions each day. Teesupport starts its blogs for over one year and some of blogs are even listed on the top search on Google. I do not think Google will allow sites that will damage your computer to exist for such a long time. I have also tested this site using online anti-virus scanners from various security vendors and all test show that it is a safe site. What is more, as far as I know, TeeSupport is an online company to provide remote tech support and they receive payment via PayPal or Safe Cart. Will a virus maker dare to receive payment via PayPal or Safe Cart? Talking about spam..There is a very interesting thing. See two latest posts from two different sites here: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-master-utilities http://www.citruscomputers.com/2011/09/01/remove-master-utilities-uninstall-guide/ "Your computer should now be free of the Master Utilities program. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future." -- This is the bleeping computer site that you won't doubt. I know bleeping computer site very well and I like it so much as you guys and I just want to list an example here to support my opinion. So far, I don't think there is any pure site without promoting anything. My principal is to choose info that I need and ignore the unwanted info on the internet. If a site does not force you to buy anything in an illegal way like rogue software and it can provide you some useful info, then that is not a bad site. By the way, I admit that sometimes I will buy things from the internet because of those sites' promotion but I don't think it is bad because they provide useful things to me and I think they deserve my payment for hard work of making such useful things. Enjoy the internet! Regards, Alan_hoicns

Glad the problem was caused by Bad modem and it was fixed. We had similar problem about two months ago. Downloading slowness only happened between around 9:00am to 7:00pm, sometimes to the point we received nothing. Of course at first intenet provider denied they caused it. After we checked moden (it was a fairly new one), wireless SW, our computers, connectors from moden to cable, from cable to wall plugs...etc. it seems everything was good. I said it must caused by weather because we had record heat this summer. The look I got clearly indicated I was crazy. DH said we just needed to buy a brand new modern, or not to use internet during day time ( what a brilliant solution!!) I sometimes work from home, I HAVE TO use internet during day time. I called the internet provider for a house call. May be I sounded too crazy for them to deny an appointment. The service person checked everything as we did, everything was fine. Then he went up to attic. Came down said the connector between provider's cable to our house was too old and too small gaudge, it restricted signal flow when temperature went up. He replaced the connector with one that allows must higher amount of signal flow. The problem was solved. I was too happy to write down the name of the hardware he replaced with.