Thanks raven. I looked at the first link you provided and I don't see anything that resembles what I had. So I still have a question. As I recall what popped up on my screen was something that looked like it came from Microsoft, said the computer was infected with a virus, and warned not to shut the computer off. It told me I should click to start the antivirus program. The first time it happened--when I fell for it--I assumed that it would run Windows Defender. My question is, then, does Microsoft ever do this? That is, if indeed I get a virus in the midst of searching the web, is there ever a legitimate Microsoft warning that pops up telling you not to shut the computer down and to click to run a scan? If not, then there's no problem with trying to find out what's legit and what is not. With whatever I got it was truly hard to tell. Thanks!

Snidely - good point about not removing things if they're not causing trouble - lest they turn out to have been needed. So I have left some things that I have no idea about. I did delete Dell Stage - bc. it's a real pain - gets in the way all the time (my daughter who's had this on her laptop for 2 years confirmed that it's just in the way). I did all the microsoft updates, ran a few antivirus, got rid of what I want to get rid of, and it's mostly good to go. Here's the trouble that remains: I can't get the printer working. It's a Canon Pixma MX850 - on the home network. I did not want to install the Canon disk bc. it has a ton of it's own bloatware. So I went to Canon and downloaded the driver - as well as the IJ utility software (I think that helps the computer find a printer on the network). Went to devices and printers, added the printer and made it the default printer. It shows up in printers and devices, but when I go to print something, it fails. Troubleshooting says the test page didn't print bc. something else is in the queue. But there is nothing else in the queue. I opened the queue from my pain desktop (that's connected to the printer) - and there's no documents in the queue. Went to the printer queue on DH's lapto; - it also shows nothing in the queue. I can print from other computers. Don't know what else to do. And I just remembered that I did not see Java. It didnt come up as needing updating when I ran the Secunia scan. I am not sure which programs need it, but can imagine my husband being stumped if he tries to do something that needs Java and asks him to install. I'd like to install it for him. Got to remember that. I also have a question about Microsoft Security Essentials. Twice now it found something bad - and I selected to remove the couple of files. Does this AV just run in the background or do I also need to run scans? Thank you. Lynn.

With the wealth of programs for internet security it is about the same as picking Ford, GM or Chrysler as a best vehicle. There are a number of long running anti virus and malware programs that stand up very well. Normally I tend to shy away from the new guy on the block. Note above that Jane_ny uses Live Onecare and seems very happy, I have used and worked on computers that use Windows Defender. This appears to be the best of both. The firewall should not be an issue, it has been used on all Vista models and there have been no big write ups about it being defective. Note too Mikie has been using this since beta and if my memory serves me he mentioned installing this back in the spring or early summer. Like Zep I installed it on my Windows 7 computer just today so I will see what it does for me.

Been using Microsoft Essentials for perhaps a month. This is a fully automatic program, no manual updating, no manual running. I did make one huge error though, I assumed it included an anti virus. It does not! I found that just recently so have been exposed for a little while (ouch!) This is on my Windows 7 computer and there is one issue I need to address for my own satisfaction. With Win 7 the computer goes into total suspended animation after a given number of minutes, nothing runs at all and for all intents and purposes the computer is off. However pressing the on button on the tower wakes it up in 3 seconds and off we go, brilliant. Except my Essentials is set to run at 2 a.m. so it does not happen. There seems to be a need to see how long a scan lasts then adjust the time before the 'Sleep' process kicks in. Maybe Mikie will see this and comment as he has Win 7 I believe. Currently I have just MS Essentials and Avast on here for protection and all is well