Need Help (PC)

[Ravvenn]

My friend and I have new Dell (shut up) Dimension 8400 PCs. It was sad enough that these things come with AOL installed on them, but we can't make these update things stop popping up.

One of them is the Windows Security Alerts. It just hangs out on the Taskbar and randomly pops up a message saying that our computers may be at risk. It says it is because our Firewall things are off, but they are actually on. I checked a few times, I'm positive.

Next would be this McAfee Virus thingy. It likes to pop up and install updates at random times. Normally when we are trying to play WoW and end up stuck in auto run because of this retarded thing popping up.

We hate them both and can't find out how to make them go away. I have clicked everything to close it, disable it, hide it, etc. and nothing works. McAfee doesn't seem to even have an option to disable it or to maybe let you run the damn update when you want to.

I don't get it! I refuse to call Dell. I spent two hours on hold and have spoken to every employee there who speaks very poor english. I'm not sure how they won an award for Customer Service.

If you know anything about Dell, or this Security Update or McAfee and how to make them stop updating and/or installing things on their own it would be nice if you could give us a hand. (Dell has updates it will install on its own as well) -- I don't want to uninstall these things since I'm sure sooner or later I will click something bad and install some form of Spyware on my PC and end up needing fixes.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

P.S. If you decide to help or know how to fix this, we will need simple instructions, please.

[Ham n Cheese]

I know you said you don't want to remove them. Though the AOL McAfee is crap, and it bogs down your computers performance. AOL has no reason to be there, so poof that too.

start>control panel>add or remove programs>

Just uninstall AOL and McAfee

To disable windows security alert also go to Control Panel, then click Windows firewall then click off. I think that will do it.

If you're actually worried about a virus, then you're better off getting a retail version of Norton (though will still slow performance). You're best off getting a copy of PC-CILLIN 2005 or TITANIUM ANTIVIRUS 2005 (Panda).

[Ravvenn]

Oh, deleting AOL was the first thing we did!

We will try the rest when we finish our quests. Thanks bunches!

[Fluffya]

I agree, you'd better just uninstall McAfee.

I've been using AVG Antivirus' free version with very positive results so far.

[EnigmaticParadigm]

I second free AVG. Works great.

[Sunnyd]

for the xpsp2 security center alert, if you go into it (where it lists the three things firewall, av etc) there is a setting along the lines of alert me (or not) if these three things get out of date.

Its a small box, and took me a while to find it.

[Angerz]

Originally posted by EnigmaticParadigm
I second free AVG. Works great.

I'll third it, we give it to every costomer who comes in with a broke computer 'cause they downloaded too much pr0n and now they get popups and wierd crashes.

Speaking of AntiVirus software, I'd like to mention how many people purchase Norton or McAffee and dont do fucking updates and wonder why new virus' dont get caught.

Or worse, get their computers back from us, go home, do the exact same shit, get fucked up again, then call us wondering what we did to their shit. Fucking people...

Sorry had to vent there.

[Ravvenn]

We found that little box and got it all fixed up, thanks so much! For the Dell updates, I finally found an option for it to give me a list of updates once a week instead of 10 times a day. I didn't find anything to make McAfee stop that crap though. I prefer to check and install updates once a week, and to do it myself when possible. I don't like automatic updates on anything.

Anyway, we got most of it taken care of. Thanks for the tips! We're going to try to find a nerd in our area to just come here and fix the McAfee part for us. I don't want to uninstall my virus protection stuff since I still run it once a week to check for any bad stuff.

I'm babbling!

Thanks again, it's much better now.

[Ham n Cheese]

http://www.geeksquad.com !

[Ravvenn]

Thats awesome, hehe! They don't look like geeks to me though. I tried to trick Digo into coming over but thats only because he has owed us sake bombs for a year now.

Dirty bastard!