Does anyone know how to turn on the Anti Virus. I am getting security alerts and have been trying to turn it on but cannot find a way to do it. Thanks

Kate,
Have you gone to the Microsoft web page for help or read any directions that came with the product?
http://www.microsoft.com/security_essent...bd3fe22#mainNav

Hi Kate
Do you see the little green icon in the right hand corner of your taskbar? Right click on that and choose open. Click on settings and then on Real time Protection. Make sure the box has a checkmark and that should be good to go. I also have the other 2 options checked. Hope that helps.
Cathy
PS... Make sure you update the program so it has the latest definitions.

Thanks Robert and Cathy. Everything was on until yesterday.

I did check with the Microsoft site and did not find the help I need there. Also tried to contact them by e-mail but it kept kicking me back to Return to contact page.

Cathy, I do not see a green icon on my task bar. The only thing I see for the Security Essentials is what looks like a red shield. Also, do not see anything about Real Time when I open that up.

I tried to uninstall and reinstall but the thing is I don't see it in my Add/Remove programs.

Kate Anne,

A red icon indicates that your program is turned off. Until you get this sorted out, you might want to go to Malwarebytes and download their free program so you'll have some protection.

Malwarebytes doesn't quarrel with other AV programs so you can leave it on your computer when you get Security Essentials running as an extra measure of protection. You have to start the free program manually but that's just a matter of clicking on the icon and saying yes when the permission window shows up.

Good luck,

Gil.

The red shield is not for your Microsoft Security Essentials. It is the "warning" from your Microsoft Security Center saying you don't have any anti-virus installed or turned on. If you don't see Microsoft Security Essentials in your Add Remove Programs, it's no longer installed. I would re-download the program and reinstall it.

You can download Security Essentials ***here.***

I would also follow Traveler's suggestion to download, update and run Malwarebytes. It's possible that you have some kind of infection that caused this problem. You can get Malwarebytes ***here***. Just download the free version.

Thanks traveler. I have Spybot, Malwarebytes', and CCleaner on my computer. Do you think that the other 2 I have on here is messing with Security Essentials? I am still trying to contact Microsoft to see if they can help me.

None of those programs are causing any issues with Security Essentials. Have you updated and run Malwarebytes lately?

Hi Kate,
What do you see when you click on the red shield?
Is there a button to do a scan or an update button you can click on ?

Draclvr and Cathy

I did run Malwarebytes yesterday and had no infected areas. I did try to reinstall Sec Ess but now I am getting an installation error 0X80070643. The only thing I can think of is I had AVG 11 on here. Removed it but maybe it did not uninstall properly. Again I do not see it in Add/Remove programs. I went to Program Files and it was there and I deleted the AVG file, restarted my computer and still cannot reinstall Security Essentials. Making me crazy.

I did click on the red shield and is shows that I have the virus protection turned off.

Have you installed or already have Ccleaner on your system ?

Cathy, I already have Ccleaner on my system. I ran it yesterday.

Did you run the registry section of it and got rid of anything that came up ?
Did you right click on start/explore and look in Program Files to see if there is a folder for Microsoft Essentials there ? If it's there and not in your Add/Remove programs,delete it and try to install it again. If you re-downloaded it.

Again, that red shield is NOT Security Essentials - it is simply your notification from Windows that you have no anti-virus or that it is turned off.

If you had AVG 11, that could very well be part of the problem. As Cathy1 says, run CCleaner on your registry to get rid of any traces of AVG and also of any failed installations of Security Essentials.

Then go the the link I provided and redownload Security Essentials and try again. You may have to install in Safe Mode, but try redownloading and installing after you run CCleaner on the Registry.

Did you use one of the removal tools on the AVG website?
http://www.avg.com/us-en/download-tools

Thank you all for your help. Sorry I had to go out yesterday and was not to get back on until this morning.

Jenny - I will try the uninstall for the AVG 11 again. I have read that it is very hard to get rid of it.

Cathy - I did run the registry on Ccleaner this morning and it did take a few things off. I also looked in my Program Files (nothing there), then I went into Common Files and there was an AGV file that I removed. Ran Security Essentials again and still would not install.

I will try these things now and get back to you. If this doesn't work do any of you know another anti-virus I could try. I am feeling very vulnerable without an anti-virus on my system.

What I cannot figure out is why I had Security Essentials (SE) a couple of days ago and everything was fine with it. The only thing I downloaded since then was a couple of game demos. Almost positive that those games did not do anything to SE.

Again, thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it.

Kate Anne,

I've been very satisfied with Vipre and recommend it. It's good, you get email protection, it doesn't slow your computer down and at 30 bucks a year it's a deal. You can try it free for 30 days and see how you like it.

Others have been talking about the free version of Avast and saying how well they like that one.

Two options for you anyway. ;)

Gil.

Kate Anne

If you do install the free Avast v.5 make sure you do not have Zone Alarm firewall installed. They do not play nice together. I had both and was unable to get IE8 to work. I got rid of Zone Alarm and my pc runs so much better.

Linda

Avast is still rated at the top of the heap of the free anti-virus offerings, even beating out some paid programs.

Thank all of you so much. I installed Avast and it d/l fine. I am running a scan now. Happy New Year to all of you.

Just downloaded Avast and isn't free. You can use it for 30 days and you have to buy it.
Richard

You downloaded the wrong one, kjos. The free Avast is here... Avast Free It's the one on the left and just make sure you say no, when they ask if you're sure you don't want to upgrade to Avast Pro.

thanks Draclvr when I downloaded it said Avast Free. Will check it out.
Richard

Are you sure that it said you have to Buy it after 30 Days or just Register it, usually that is the way the Free Avast works, you have 30 days, but if you Register it, you get it for the Full year.

Good point, Starcom. Registering it does not mean you're buying anything. You're just registering to use it for one year.