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Can you help me?
08/27/09 | Equalizer

Posted on 08/27/2009 8:27:17 PM PDT by Equalizer

Many years after losing my mate I was recentaly able to set up a computer. I am learning, please be patience with me.

After setting up the computer, I messed up and had to pay someone $75. to come to my house to help me fix the mess.

My friend came over and decided that I needed instant messanger, yahoo and installed Mozilla, I already had Avast, now I am confused.

She says, I also need Avg, whatever! I have Gateway home vista and am at a loss of what to do.

How do I get rid of the extra whatever, that I do not need?

I did not want yahoo, what did I want? I thought that I wanted internet explorer!

Lost and confused!


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: help
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1 posted on 08/27/2009 8:27:17 PM PDT by Equalizer
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To: Equalizer

You need a single anti-virus. Use either Avast or AVG, not both.

You need a browser. Both Firefox (from Mozilla) and Internet Explorer are browsers, so you can just pick one.

If you don’t use an instant messanger, I wouldn’t have it turn on when you boot up. You can turn it off. That is likely the “Yahoo” your friend added for you.


2 posted on 08/27/2009 8:33:15 PM PDT by Anitius Severinus Boethius
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To: Equalizer
It's a lot to learn if this is your first computer. But you can have Internet Explorer, sometimes abbreviated as IE, and still have Mozilla Firefox. I use both and have both on my machines because some websites don't work well with one or the other. But I'm getting ahead of you, I think.

Avast is a software that protects your computer from viruses. You need that. Keep it. I have probably 20 different programs on my desktop maybe more. They all do different things for me.

You'll get the hang of this eventually.

3 posted on 08/27/2009 8:34:44 PM PDT by Tuscaloosa Goldfinch
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To: Equalizer

AVG is an anti-virus program. Yahoo is a website that also has a toolbar that be added to your Internet Explorer/Mozilla/other browser.

I’m no expert, but it sounds like you lost $75 the hard way =o)


4 posted on 08/27/2009 8:36:17 PM PDT by GeronL (Liberalism: The gift that keeps on taking ... .. http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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To: Equalizer

First question, your age? No offense intended I am almost 62.

2nd Question, what interests you? What do you need to use a PC for?

I personally hate messaging, but some think they must have it.

I never use Internet Explorer or Outlook (or Outlook Express). For personal issues with security.

Mozilla is fine, I have used Firefox since it was first released and absolutely love it.

1 anti-virus program is enough. A lot of people who use more than one find that they tend to not like each other.

Tell me what you want to do with your PC and I will recommend software that I have experience with.

Built my first PC in 1982. Not my profession, but I helped my son run a computer repair business for several years. Have fixed a lot of “sick” PC’s. Most of the problems are Advertising slime ware, not Viruses.


5 posted on 08/27/2009 8:36:21 PM PDT by Texas Fossil (The last time I looked, this is still Texas where I live.)
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To: Equalizer

Your doing one thing right, you found FREE REPUBLIC!


6 posted on 08/27/2009 8:37:58 PM PDT by goodtomato (I'm blessed!)
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To: Equalizer

I prefer Mozilla over Internet Explorer but all that other stuff is excess baggage. The instant messenger and yahoo for sure.

However, Mozilla updated automatically a few days ago and I noticed a bunch of google and yahoo stuff on my computer afterwards. It took me a bit but I finally figured out how to uninstall them.

I think the AVG is a program that detects malware and keeps it off your computer. That’s probably a good thing.

I don’t know what Avast is.


7 posted on 08/27/2009 8:38:12 PM PDT by abigailsmybaby (To understan' the livin' you got to commune wit' da dead.)
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To: Equalizer

>>> My friend came over and decided that I needed instant messanger, yahoo and installed Mozilla, I already had Avast, now I am confused.

Sounds like your friend gave you 4 different software applications that do different things, and you are concerned that things are now redundant?

Instant messenger is a chat program.
Yahoo has a bunch of different stuff out there, but sounds like you are talking about the Yahoo toolbar.
Mozilla is a web brouser... a competitor of internet explorer... without all the security flaws... KEEP THAT!

Avast is an anti virus application... unless they also have a browser too.

I recommend that you explore each application, play with it, see what it does, and if you don’t like it, go to “My Computer” and uninstall it.

Mozilla is a keeper though... don’t use IE (internet explorer) unless you have to... just my opinion.


8 posted on 08/27/2009 8:39:01 PM PDT by Safrguns
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To: Tuscaloosa Goldfinch

Does AVG call itself Anti-Virus Professional while loading?


9 posted on 08/27/2009 8:39:13 PM PDT by GeronL (Liberalism: The gift that keeps on taking ... .. http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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To: GeronL

I don’t know - I use AVAST and don’t have AVG. ?


10 posted on 08/27/2009 8:42:59 PM PDT by Tuscaloosa Goldfinch
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To: Tuscaloosa Goldfinch

okay, thanks


11 posted on 08/27/2009 8:43:38 PM PDT by GeronL (Liberalism: The gift that keeps on taking ... .. http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com)
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To: Equalizer

Does your lawn need to be mowed? How about your neighbors? Do you have a teen ager in the house that can set your alarm clock? And do the video camera stuff? Go get you a good glass of lemonade, or go to the local community college and sign up for Windows Vista 101. You probably are a hacker just wanting us to open up one of your attachements.


12 posted on 08/27/2009 8:45:01 PM PDT by rovenstinez
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To: Equalizer

ne of the first things you must learn as a new user is that everyone who gives you advice has their own sense of ‘what is needed’ and/or absolutely necessary in the way of programs on your computer.

See if there is a copy of a book like “Computers for Dummies” at a local used book shop or libarary to give yourself a learning experience on computer terminology and the workings of your computer and the internet.

You will eventually find that there are many FREE programs to help your computing experience in your home and while surfing the internet.


13 posted on 08/27/2009 8:48:21 PM PDT by wildbill (You're just jealous because the Voices talk only to me.)
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To: Anitius Severinus Boethius
Thank you, I'm not sure at this point, what a browser is, Fire fox sounds groovy!
14 posted on 08/27/2009 8:48:32 PM PDT by Equalizer (Just a country girl, get it?)
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To: rovenstinez
go to the local community college and sign up for Windows Vista 101

Screw that. Sign up for a Unix/Linux class.
15 posted on 08/27/2009 8:49:35 PM PDT by randomhero97 ("First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow!" - Ash)
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To: Equalizer

Mozilla (Firefox) is good. Forget Yahoo Messenger. AVG is an anti-virus program. Have someone show you how to use AVG. I prefer the Mozilla browser (Firefox) to Internet Explorer. Firefox is faster and simpler....


16 posted on 08/27/2009 8:50:18 PM PDT by freebilly ( No wonder all the left has a boner for Obama.... There's "Cialis" in "SoCIALISt")
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To: Equalizer

There are a lot of computer-related forums on the internet that can help you for free. Once you settle on a browser (I prefer Mozilla), you can go onto Google or Yahoo and search for answers to specific computer questions and you will get back a list of forums and places where you can get free help.


17 posted on 08/27/2009 8:51:56 PM PDT by Stayfree
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To: freebilly

The thing about AVG and other “freeware” AV programs is that unless you have purchased the full version it will not remove viruses/spyware/adware. Not taking away from them, because I use AVG, but your normal user will not be comfortable working with the registry.


18 posted on 08/27/2009 8:53:02 PM PDT by randomhero97 ("First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow!" - Ash)
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To: Equalizer
Thank you, I'm not sure at this point, what a browser is...

It's what you're reading this with.

19 posted on 08/27/2009 8:53:46 PM PDT by Talisker (When you find a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be damn sure it didn't get there on it's own.)
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To: Equalizer

If you have been a FReeper since 2000-03-19 how did you manage in the past ???

What computer did you use ???

You must have been familiar with the internet to lof onto FR...

What gives ???

Why are you suddenly helpless ???


20 posted on 08/27/2009 8:56:00 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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