Problem with McAfee

To answer the last question first, yes. You cannot legally use the software on more than one machine or, at least, one machine at a time.

That said, the only reason I can think of is that a cookie inserted at the McAfee site is identifying this one machine differently from the others.

Dan

I've had the same problems with McAfee and I'm supposed to still be under warranty. I've gotten two viruses with this stupid program! I hate it. I'm loading Norton Utilities tomorrow and the heck with McAfee! Everytime I've tried to load any updates, they've always told me that I have to pay and then if I do get one to download there's a mysterious error and it won't work. Why didn't you like Norton?

Hi,

I didn't like Norton because I had continual system crashes while using it. McAfee seems to run like a dream (on my machine).

I talked to someone else over the weekend that really likes McAfee but never tried Norton. I have the Norton System Works and that protects against crashes too. Otherwise, it seems I have two choices- crash and burn or Typhoid Mary! Good luck with McAfee.

Hi Kaitlyn,

If you end up with the same problem I had with Norton works (consistant crashes) you might want to uninstall everything but the anti virus portion. I've done that in the past and have been able to "survive". Their anti virus seems to work as smoothly as McAfee (for me anyway).

Thanks,

Hello again,

I just had an exciting hour panicking after Dell notified me that I had "The Happy one." They told me to notify my antivirus software people and I had been mailing them about my problems with McAfee. They wrote back and told me to "do something quick!" What kind of response is that? They sure aren't very helpful. I knew I should have bought a Gateway. I found a cite to download a program to get rid of the little maggot but they could have told me that instead and just leaving me out in the cold. Maybe my problem wasn't McAfee so much as Dell and their poor comunication skills.

Best Wishes,
Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn...

Glad to hear you have your problems nailed down and, hopefully on the road to "happy computing".

Don't be too hard on the Dell Tech...they don't have and, cannot be expected to have, the expertise to walk you through a virus removal. There are thousands of viri out there with several new ones EVERY DAY. It is so complex and specialized that the Anti-Virus makers have difficulty keeping up with virus definitions, much less, removal instructions. If he identified the virus for you and referred you to your AV provider then, he helped you a great deal.

As for other PC manufacturers, there are many "good" ones out there but, only one considered "outstanding"...check out the latest subscriber surveys from PC World magazine. Not only is Dell ranked #1, there is NO manufacturer anywhere close. My only fear is that they don't get complacent and forget how they got where they are.

If I read your other post correctly, this is the 3rd virus you have contracted in a very brief time. Although a good, up-to-date AV is important, most of these are easily prevented by safe computing and keeping up on the MS Security Updates. By safe computing I mean...if you get an email with an attachment, be suspicious, even if from someone you know. If the attachment is anything other than a .jpg or .gif image, open only if you are expecting it. Also, take the time to familiarize yourself with the file extensions capable of carrying a virus payload...there are some excellent references available.

Hi Kaitlyn,

I'm curious to know how Dell knew you had the "Happy Worm" virus. Did you tell them? In any event I don't think they had any choice except tell you to run a virus scan and get the "problem" taken care of. Are you running the McAfee virus scan on a regular basis? Are you updating your .dat files from McAfee on a regular basis? If not, you should be. If you don't know how to do it please reply to this post and I'm sure someone will get back to you.

I might also mention that I have a friend that purchased a new Gateway and has been having nothing but problems. I've owned many computers over the years and I must say that Dell still has the best support system and the "DellTalk" forum has saved me on many occasions.

Anyway, I hope all your problems with the virus were solved and your system is back up and running properly. Keep your chin up. It's bound to get better... LOL

Roger

Hi Kaitlyn...just an FYI.

The arrows on the icons indicate that they are "shortcuts"...pointers, to programs for quick access. Those icons without the shortcut arrows such as, My Computer, Recycle Bin, etc. are SYSTEM files.

They can be removed but, probably best to leave them alone.

Dan

Hi Dan,

Someone else had told me that I had the Happy 99 virus but I had no idea what that was. Dell tod me that I had the Happy One. I guess because I was whining to them about McAfee in the first place and then they respond with "do something quick!" that's like going to the doctor for help and he tells you to treat yourself. After much grumbling, swearing, hand-wringing and pacing, I realized that I had the world in my keyboard, got on the internet and downloaded a program to get rid of the little maggot. I now have a smiling worm icon.

I guess my complaint about Dell is I had thought they were a little more in tune to computer idiots like me. I have so many "dummies" books that I'm embarrassed and I still get into trouble on this thing. Still, it would have save me a lot of stress and tension if Dell had said just go to this website and you can get rid of it. This little bugger hitched a ride on an e-mail from my brother. He didn't send it, it came by itself. He'd gotten it from a guy in Poland.
When I mailed him back right away, he got two of them returned to him. I sent neither, didn't yet know that it was a virus. I've since talked to three people who've had or now have this virus. One guy's puter is on the verge of crashing.

Thanks for your input.

Kaitlyn

Hi, Roger,

Dell knew I had the Happy Worm from and e-mail I had with them. I didn't know. I thought I had the McAfee thing down but obviously I didn't. I would download something and then when I would try to run it it would say that there had been a file error and give an error number. So, I don't know what was going on. Someone has since told me that I had to download a driver or something to make it work. No one ever told me that.

A friend of mine has a Gateway and she really likes it. Her complaint is their lack of response to their customers. Dell does respond but they dont' seem to know what's going on a lot of the times either. For example, I asked what those little black and white arrows mean in the bottom left hand corner of the icons and the guy said, "Hmm...I've never seen that." Everyone I know has those on some of their icons and no one knows what they mean. Dell didn't tell me that I could go on the internet and download a program to get rid of the Happy Worm. Maybe I expect too much?

Thanks for your input.

Kaitlyn

Hey! Dan!

You just might be a certified genius! You have no idea how many people I have asked that question from all around the country. Even the "computer geeks" at work didn't know. Ha!

Thanks. I can sleep easy now knowing no one is stealing my "to do" list off the internet. I didn't want to remove them, I just wanted to know why some of them had 'em and some of them didn't.
Actually, My Documents split into two files, each a half of the other. The second one that appeared had the little arrow. Dell helped me go into the computer and now I have a whole MD instead of two halves. Why did that happen? The Dell guy seemed to think it was an act of the computer god.

Thanks.

Kaitlyn