I use Avast subscription for for my business and it does what it says on the tin. Using XP though not Vista.

Thanks ExecLine.

I use avast on my Vista - excellent imho. Thanks to this thread I have broadened my other 'defences' but day to day I still like Avast (free version fine for my needs) the best. And they have a good, also free, support forum, based in the US but posts after noon UK time usually get an answer within 30 minutes.

You can probably get a full bells and whistles version of McAfee Internet Security Dooda on eBay for a tenner.

You could look at ClamWin Free Antivirus. I've no experience of using it.

Thanks all.
Had a quick look at Clamwin, but it is not yet Vista compatible.

HARRYCAT - AVG is compatible wth Vista.

Look here : http://free.grisoft.com/doc/29124/us/frt/0

alfa

Thanks for that, alfa, but I did try it & it came back with an incompatability error message. Maybe it's the settings on the p.c. which are not allowing it to run. Will try installing AVAST first as it looks to be a slightly more sophisticated program than AVG.
Much appreciate the assistance from all. Thanks.

Just one question on AVAST. It is not obvious if it contains a firewall. I am also running ZoneAlarm, but sometimes when I boot up ZA does not load, sometimes it does. I presume there is a conflict & ZA should be uninstalled?

Still having trouble (post 6468). Anyone help please.

gm,

Are you sure the wifi you are seeing has a non-password connection with the internet?

I can point my PDA outside the window of my flat and pick up about eight signals from neighbours. But only one will give me a link on to the internet. On my PDA the icon distinguishes them quite clearly.

TP

greekman, are trying to connect to the internet via a fixed or wireless connection? Check that under the connection TCP/IP properties the 'obtain an IP address automatically' and 'obtain DNS server address automatically' are both ticked.

TP,

I have no trouble linking up to the connection with the password given, it just won't connect to the internet. (See Following).

Kayak,

Trying to connect via wireless and I am sure the problem is as you state, IE it won't connect with the IP address automatically. Not sure what I do to rectify that but will have a go. Will update asap.

Thanks very much to both.

Hi guys

Just a quick question with regards to Vista. Can anyone tell me where I can find what MS Office programs (versions) are compatible with Vista. Ive tried looking on Microsofts website but with no joy.

It appears the version of Outlook I have isnt compatible and Im concerned the same may then be the case for excel, access and word (tho they seem to be running ok currently). The version of MS Office I have is XP Pro (2002)

If you go to the JAVA site, their version of Office works with Vista. It's free & almost exactly the same as Microsoft Office. I have installed it & works with VISTA Home Basic.

My email attachments have stopped opening but I can save them to my documents and open them from there, has anyone any idea why they won't open.

TIA

Linux help required please,i have a spare pc that i would like to put Linux on so that i can learn the basics as it could well come in hand for my websites.Any suggestions on which brand name and any problem installing it etc,and also are there versions that are free :-)

Mega.........

mega,
there is a free program called Knoppix(after the developer) that you
can download for free and copy to disc. This apparently allows you to
boot up Linux on any computer as well as the exiting OS and troubleshoot.
Do a Google on linux and there are lots of versions to download or for a few
dollars get a CD by post.
mac

cheers mac,i will download a copy later.

Mega

Some advice please,just had a phone call from my eldest lad saying his computer has a message on it from Microsoft saying they have picked up his xp OS as being a pirate copy and politly asked for him to update to a legal copy,this is the tricky question and are there websites that could provide a code so that the message from Microsoft goes away so that one does not have to part with the folding stuff :-)

Rick.........

If it's a genuine copy of XP, he should phone Microsoft and get it sorted.

If he is using a pirate copy, there may well be fixes to hide the message or even more recent copies of the OS but the system has to pass the Genuine Microsoft validation test in order to receive updates. If he doesn't keep up to date with the service packs and security updates then he has a potentially very insecure system