If you are unable to run the Hawkes software installation or if Internet Explorer is not functioning properly, your computer may be infected with viruses and/or spyware. While we do not endorse or provide technical support for the following software, we are providing this information for your benefit:
Vipre: www.sunbeltsoftware.com (30 day fully functional free trial with no credit card needed)
Avast!: www.avast.com (free, but you get what you pay for)
AVG: free.grisoft.com (free, but you get what you pay for)
Symantec: www.symantec.com
McAfee: www.mcafee.com
To “clean up” a Windows computer perform the steps in order:
| 1. | Disable startup programs: |
| a. | Click Start, then Run. Type MSCONFIG and click OK. |
| b. | Choose the Selective Startup option and uncheck the box for Startup Items . |
| c. | Click OK to save changes then restart your computer. |
| 2. | Download and install the antivirus software of your choice (see the options above) |
| 3. | Run a full scan, scanning both files and archives. If an infected file cannot be fixed, quarantine it. |
| 4. | Download and install the antispyware software of your choice. |
| 5. | Run a full scan. Quarantine all spyware. Restart the computer. |
| 6. | Perform step 5 until no viruses or spyware are detected. |
| 7. | Enable startup programs: |
| a. | Click Start, then Run. Type MSCONFIG and click OK. |
| b. | Choose the Normal Startup option |
| c. | Click OK to save changes then restart your computer. |
