mcafee upgrade/updates

The current engine is 4.0.7 and there is a superdat available to get you current. I have not experienced any problems with any engine other than 4.0.3, which deleted a needed Windows file. That problem was corrected by McAfee, and at any rate, could have been corrected by extracting the missing file from the Windows CD.

I would say it is safe to upgrade from 4.0.2 to the current engine and dat files.




   

Yeah

when I tried to update to 4.0.3, I got an error message about some VxD file missing. I was asked whether I wanted to continue to load windows Y or N. If I replied "Y" the message stated that windows could become unstable. It suggested that I reload windows. I called DellTech to confirm. They said that I would lose everything installed on the computer when I reloaded windows. I didn't buy their advice. I kept hitting the "Y" response until Windows 98 loaded.

I then uninstalled V4.0.3 and reinstalled V4.0.2 from the CD that Dell provided. No problems on booting up since!

Yes, as stated, there were many problems with 4.0.3. The current engine is 4.0.7. Did I not make myself clear? Sorry if I was too vague.



   

Below is pasted a method I use in updating the DAT files. Works better than using the Update method that comes with your software package for McAfee.

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NOTE: The following instructions will only work for the 4.x scan engine.

DOWNLOAD THE UPDATE FILE:

Connect to your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Go to the following Internet site: http://download.mcafee.com/updates/4x.asp
Under Update, click Download Now (I use w/out Demon)
The File Download window will appear asking whether you want to "Run this program from its current location" or "Save this program to disk." Select "Save this program to disk" and then click the OK button.
NOTE: Selecting "Save this program to disk" does not mean you will be saving the file to a diskette, it is just an option to save the file.
When you click the OK button, the Save As window will appear. In this window, verify that Desktop is showing in the Save In field. If Desktop does not appear in the Save In field, then click the down arrow button on the right side of the field and select Desktop from the list.
Click the Save button to begin the download.
Once the download has completed, sign off your ISP.

TO CLEAN OUT TEMPORARY FILES:
Double-click on the My Computer icon on the desktop.
Double-click on the C: drive.
Double-click on the Windows folder.
Double-click on the Temp folder.
Click on the Edit pull-down menu then click on Select All. All files in this folder should then be highlighted.
Verify that you are in the C:\Windows\Temp folder.
Press the Delete key on the keyboard.
Answer Yes to any prompts about deleting files.
NOTE: If you receive a message stating that a particular file could not be deleted then continue deleting the remaining files until as many files as possible have been deleted.
Close all open windows so you are back on the desktop.

CLOSE ALL PROGRAMS:
Hold down the CTRL and ALT keys on the keyboard at the same time then press the Delete key once.
The Close Program dialog box will then appear.
End-Task each item on this list except for Explorer and Systray. To End Task an item highlight the item and click the End Task button.
Each time you click the End-Task button the Close Program box will disappear. You will again need to press the CTRL, ALT, and Delete keys on the keyboard to make it reappear.
Once you see only Explorer and Systray listed in the Close Program dialog box click on the Cancel button.
NOTE: If any messages appear stating that a particular program is not responding click on the End Task button.

INSTALL THE UPDATE FILE: Double click on the icon for the update file (i.e. 40xxupdt.exe) to apply the latest update for VirusScan.
Follow the step-by-step prompts within the update program.
When the installation is finished restart the computer.
NOTE: It is normal to receive a "Missing or corrupt DAT file" error message on the initial reboot after updating. The reason for this is the update does not finish setting up until Windows finishes restarting. Since this message appears when Windows has not finished restarting, the update has not been fully set up. This results in the error message. If you get this error message on the initial restart after updating it is safe to ignore and continue. It should no longer appear on subsequent restarts.

CONFIRMING THE INSTALLATION OF THE UPDATE:
Once windows has finished restarting do the following if you wish to confirm that the installation of the update was successful.

In the lower right corner of the screen (by the time display) right-click on the VShield icon. The VShield icon will look like a blue shield with a red V inside.
A pop-up menu will appear.
Left-click on About. The About McAfee VShield dialog box will then appear.
Locate the version of the virus definitions. The last four digits should correspond to the four digits in the file you downloaded. For example, if you downloaded a file named 4062updt.exe your virus definitions version number would say 4.0.4062. This means the installation of the update was successful.
NOTE: Because you have manually updated, the "Since Last Update" display in VirusScan Central will say "Never". This does not mean the update was not successful. By checking the virus definitions version number in the About screen you can be assured that the latest update is installed.

Because new viruses are appearing on a weekly basis, it is a good idea to keep the virus definitions updated. Updates generally come out every week, so check the above Internet site regularly for the latest virus definitions.

Something that just rang a bell and in case you don't know, after you have completed all the steps, go ahead and delete the icon on your desktop that has been left by the installation. This file has already been executed now and you will no longer need it.