McAfee in AOL

I don't know if I'm in the right forum here. My parents have a new computer and I'm trying to understand what AV and firewall they have. The computer came with McAfee and Nortons and many things and additionally, they have been using AOL, which now is running at version 9.0. There seems to be no way for me to open up an AV interface and run a virus scan. I can't tell if the updates are active, in particular, since I use the "guest" entrance to AOL. I get messages that McAfee needs to be registered or purchased from pop-ups, while getting the additional information that McAfee is already paid for as part of AOL. I've gotten all the Nortons out as a start. Coming from the olden days when you can run your own virus scans and updates, I'm thoroughly puzzled. Can anyone help me here? I've checked add/remove programs and the only thing in there is McAfee Uninstall, which my reading tells me is something like CCleaner. Other than that, I can find McAfee running in the task manager, but without knowing if it is updating or why I might be getting popups from time to time that it needs to be purchased.

Thanks so much!
abri

 

Sounds like a Dell box!

Is Mcaffee or Norton in Add/Remove programs ?

Is there a folder for either in C:\program files ?

I recomend removing both of them anyway since it seems they aren't registered or paid for and going with one of the free AV programs we reccomend.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=44525

 

Hi Matt,
Yes, a dell. Good guess.
I actually talked to aol today, and it sounds like the McAfee is available for free if you sign up for it. It's an online scanner which they've corrected so it will no longer conflict with a downloaded AV.
I checked and there IS a McAfee folder under Program Files, it looks huge. However, I cannot tell if this is a preinstalled version associated with Dell coming from McAfee and Dell, or if it is the install which comes with AOL. I don't know how to tell this. It does NOT appear in Add/Remove programs except for some program they have called McAfee Uninstaller which seems to be something like CCleaner.
I may just install AVG and see how if there are any problems. AOL says there's an active firewall, but it doesn't seem to be the windows firewall, so I'm not sure what that is either. The next time I post my pic here in the forum, I"m going to be bald from having pulled my hair out. I'm trying to establish the cleanliness and godliness of two computers before I merge the data. But that is a longer story. Thanks for your help.
abri

 

My recomendation still stands. I'll have this moved to the software forum as you will only get a limited answer in here as theres only a few people who can reply to threads here.

 

Thanks Matt,
I wait breathless for anyone's guess on how you can tell if you have indeed TWO McAfee's - one online and one in Program Files - and how to tell if the popup asking you to register belongs to the online AOL version or the one that wants money. AND of course, the only thing I'm really wondering is if EITHER of them is in a working state. If no one knows, I will attempt to delete all, sign up for the free online protection of AOL and then get one of the free downloads like AVG.
Thanks for your help.
abri

 

Sorry abri, I did ask for this to be moved to software but it seems to be still here, i'll ask again but if it is still here in a couple off hours just start a new thread in software and reference this one.