PC help: Installing AVG anti-virus software

Q I have just purchased a notebook computer with Windows Vista Premium installed.

It also came with Norton Internet Security installed, but this is limited to a 30-day trial and I have not activated it yet.

I have the AVG Free security software on my main computer, and this seems OK, so I wish to put the same on the notebook.

I gather I need to get rid of the Norton software before installing AVG, but how do I do this?

There is no guidance on the computer. Is AVG the best free download?

David Wheeler

A We recommend AVG as a very good free anti-virus program, but there are others available that do the job just as well, such as Avira Antivir or Avast. They’re all very effective; which one you choose is down to personal preference – if you’re happy with AVG, stick with it.

Which brings us to uninstalling your existing security program. Bear in mind that, since your computer will not be protected once you uninstall the existing anti-virus program, you should download the new one first, then unplug your computer’s internet connection to be on the safe side. You can plug it back in again once the new anti-virus program is installed.

To uninstall Norton Internet Security, click the Start menu, then Control Panel. Select Add or Remove Programs. When the window appears, scroll down and click the first item that refers to Norton Internet Security. Click Remove and follow the instructions. When it has finished, repeat the process for any other entries that name Norton Internet Security. Do not remove anything else. Finally, open the Control Panel again and double-click Windows Firewall. Make sure it is set to On and click OK, then restart the computer. Once it has restarted, install the new anti-virus program.