Yes you download it on a seperate computer with Internet access. Mainly the one you are using to post with now. That one would work.I had a feeling .
okay. first question, and this applies to the rest of the post as well. This I'm sure is elementary, but do I do this on a different computer, with internet access? Do I save it to a disk, or flash drive or something and then plug that into the laptop?
Same as above, and how do I access them on the laptop once I do that?
So, download the above program(s) to a cd, then put it in the laptop's cd/dvd drive?
okay thank you.
I use avg...
not too keen on mcaffee, they are ok I would guess
a lot of apps find questionable things, like cookies...
you can use multiples, but try and only have one run as the active...ie., avg, antivir, nod32...etc.
combo it up with firewall apps, in addition to the ms defender, comodo, zone allarm, etc
yeah Vista home premiumwhich flavor of Vista are you using? the Dell provided version?
if so, I think it's hardcoded into the install process and you won't need to enter a key...though if that's the case, don't lose the discs.
I will just give you what I use but it's just example
avg anti-v, comodo firewall...spybot s/d....Vista's Defender should also be on be default..key being "should" because it acts like backup. Running in tandem, just in case. Some people don't like it and drop it, but I like to keep it going with comodo, or whatever else I might be trying at the time. I also use spysweeper.
typically it's not a good idea to have 2 anti-v's loading up at the same time
well....where the disc came from, there might be a "coa" on the case. Where did this Vista come from? separate purchase or from Dell as an auto upgrade? The auto upgrades shouldn't really be around anymore I believe but just asking.
1.) Right click Computer and select Properties. This will bring up your system properties screen. Scroll that window down and you will see the Activation part where it should say something about 3 days to activate. Since it is OEM you should not have to enter your serial. It comes already added into the disc. So just click the links to activate your Vista OS. If not you will lose cotrol of it in a few days.I think the major problem, whatever it was, is fixed. I went into Gparted and formated the drive to ntfs. Then I reinstalled and everything went smoothly. I'm now in the process of setting up my programs, connecting to the internet, etc. A couple more questions right now:
1.) During the installation I was never once asked for the product key. Is there a way to do this once Vista is already installed, either within the OS or on the internet? I don't want to have to go through the process all over again once the trial period runs out.
2.) Do I need to install McAfee? I used a couple of other virus/spam killer programs that were free and downloadable and worked better than McAfee did (which seemed to scan for hours upon hours and never coming up with any of the problems that the other free ones found. I probably won't pay for the full version. I've seen on here other suggestions for free programs that I might try instead.
And Makaveli thanks a lot for all the help.
yep checked all that. There is an activation code there and it tells me to click to activate, but apparently that key is no longer valid. The one on the bottom of the machine doesn't work either, I tried typing it in and also using the automated phone system. So I may have no choice but to buy another key...1.) Right click Computer and select Properties. This will bring up your system properties screen. Scroll that window down and you will see the Activation part where it should say something about 3 days to activate. Since it is OEM you should not have to enter your serial. It comes already added into the disc. So just click the links to activate your Vista OS. If not you will lose cotrol of it in a few days.
2.) No McAffee. If you can not affored NOD32 right now go wth AVG or Avast. Both are free and good.
If you can not activate your OS via the internet there is a number to call. It is toll free. Just use that to activate your Vista install. This happens from time to time. Just tell them your hard drive crashed.
Glad it was just something as simple as a format issue. Glad you got it resolved with GParted. Glad i was able to help. Enjoy. Come back again if you need any more help.