Vista "Security" Center

They ought to call it 'Vista Confusion Center' ...

After fighting with this PC & OS all afternoon and evening, I'm now told (by this "security" center) that "Avira AV is turned "Off" , even though Avira has been UN-installed (though "elements" or "traces" do remain"), and Avast IN-stalled.

I decided to go with Avast as it doesn't aggressively attempt to sell to me everyday.

Any suggestions? A search here hasn't provided any solution(s) that I can find ...

I have selected the 'I'll monitor my AV myself' option, but I really don't think that I need to do that (indefinitely), as this security center had previously monitored Avast.

Thanks.
~*UPDATE*~ - ok, now it is reporting Avast, but I'm still having to monitor it - which is certainly not the end of the world - but a bit of a pain - I feel ...

 

Vista "Add/Remove Programs MIA?

The fun just never ends ... now the "Programs & Features" (?) CP>menu option is gone. Vanished. (I think that's what it's called now - formerly "Add/Remove Programs" in XP).

Any clues where it may have gone-off to?

Thanks,
g ...

 

Re: Vista "Add/Remove Programs MIA?

You sound to have a very unstable system currently from the various threads you have going. I have merged your two threads for continuity. Please keep all posts in the same therad as the problems you are experiencing may be inter-related.

When was Vista installed on your PC?

When did you last run any malware removal applications and which ones?

 

Re: Vista "Add/Remove Programs MIA?

Hi Lev, thanks ...

PC came with Vista pre-installed (from Dell) about six months ago. We did a "complete" (?) malware work-up a couple months ago in the malware forum. I can't recall at the moment which programs were used then - the usual "Read/Run Me First" thing.

Seems all the recent problems started when I "tried" to install a (second-hand) Lexmark AIO a week or so ago - but I haven't used the machine since then as I was out of town. I was told at one point while trying to install the Lexmark that if I did 'such & such' that the machine could become "unstable" (and you are correct - it very much is). My recollection is that I was being giving conflicting install instructions from Lexmark and Vista, and had no choice but to do whatever it said could make the PC unstable - two windows/boxes were open, and had to close the top one to be able to do anything with the other.

Thanks again ...

 

Have you tried uninstalling the Lexmark?

I've successfully run Avast on a Vista PC so that isn't your issue, unless the installation was bad (possibly due to the Lexmark issue?). You could uninstall, run CCleaner, reboot and re-download & reinstall to be sure (Don't use the same download .exe file in case it became corrupt).

Also, sometimes Avast gets issues with ZA...what firewall are you running?

 

Thanks. Running Vista FW. Have done the Lexmark uninstall (had to download a "Cleaner" utility from Lexmark to do so anywhere near semi-effectively).

Any other ideas my friend?

Thanks again ...

 

Please confirm you re-installed Avast as describe in my previous post.

 

Yes - Avast has been re-installed, and is running ... (and BTW, I agree that Avast is not the problem).

 

Have you run the registry cleaner element of CCleaner, to ensure all traces of Avira AV have been removed from your registry? Once you have done this, reboot.

As to your other problem, the Programs & Features option disappearing - if you click on Category View, is it there under Programs > Uninstall a Program ?

 

Thanks. I have run CCleaner multiple times (including the registry scan), but still apparently have traces of Avira.

And I just found the Recycle Bin, though found it by right-clicking Start>left-click>open, and then under folders in the left-pane at the bottom (I forget at the moment where "Category View" is).

Thanks ...

 

See link for Category view http://www.polyweb.com/blog/images/VistaDLA/ControlPanel.jpg

It will be at the top of the left hand panel - you have either category view or classic view.

Does your finding the Recycle Bin have any bearing on your problem or what we are trying to do? Random additional comments can be confusing and misleading when trying to follow "blind" what problems your are actually experiencing.....

 

Well, no, sorry. I had thought, when I first mentioned the Recycle Bin, that it might be "related", but after I posted realized that I had right-clicked and deleted the Desktop Icon rather than Deleting the contents - I apologize for the confusion on that ... I will check the link - thanks ...