Winders

Moved from Lifestyle

To get your question answered you would probably have better luck on a computer oriented website.

Vista?

Ouch baby...Vista was probably the largest mistake MicroSoft ever came up with.
Windows 7 in any version is fine.
XP Pro 64 bit worked very well I had a tough time moving to W7, yet I really like it now.
You could always go Mac OS, but that will cost you dearly.
Then you can go Linux on a PC with a slight learning curve.
Linux is kind of fun to fool around with in the different distros.
There's Ubuntu, Mint...Zorin etc...

Have fun picking one :)

I use Microsoft Security Essentials (free download) on my Win 7 machines and Windows 8 includes Windows Defender. There are other free AV packages out there as well, such as Avast.

I haven't used a paid AV on any of my Windows computers since XP was new. Of course the best defense against getting a virus in the first place, is using a little common sense to know what to click on or not click on and knowing what not to download.

Of the paid AV packages, about the last one I would choose would be Norton.

You are concerned that you have to update "every year" when you have a computer running Vista!?
You kill me!
I needed a good laugh today and I want to thank you for the assistance.

Bill.Satellite wrote:
You are concerned that you have to update "every year" when you have a computer running Vista!?
You kill me!
I needed a good laugh today and I want to thank you for the assistance.

I believe this is referring to having renew the paid Norton license each year. Not "updating" program and signature files.

strollin wrote:
I use Microsoft Security Essentials (free download) on my Win 7 machines and Windows 8 includes Windows Defender. There are other free AV packages out there as well, such as Avast.

I haven't used a paid AV on any of my Windows computers since XP was new. Of course the best defense against getting a virus in the first place, is using a little common sense to know what to click on or not click on and knowing what not to download.

Of the paid AV packages, about the last one I would choose would be Norton.

X2

No problems since I started using it at the recommendation of a geek type service tech.

Besides Vista Norton is also not a good choice.

Personally, I would not recommend Microsoft Security Essentials(MSE) only because there are other free AV packages that have clearly tested superior in protection by independent security groups. I suppose MSE is better than nothing, though even Microsoft recommends using third party protection, conceding that MSE should be considered basic protection. They just haven't put the tech resources into MSE to make it at least equivalent to many currently available Free AV packages.

One of the current highest rated Free AV packages is Comodo Internet Security. Even higher than Symantec Norton Internet Security in protection. While having having a significantly lower effect on system performance. One of the best rated of any paid or free AV package.

Avast Free AntiVirus and AVG AntiVirus Free 2014 are both excellent free choices, though tested slightly lower in protection than the paid Norton. But significantly higher in protection than MSE.

All three of the above Free AV packages support Windows XP/Vista/7


Source: AV-Test

I'd def suggest the upgrade to Windows 7...was a tough move for me from XP but I'm glad I finally broke down...

I run AVG-the free version on all my machines(and Norton is FREE with my internet at home!) I also install malwarebytes and run it now and then just to double check my system...and will install spybot search and destroy if I'm nervous about something and let it do it's thing...