I don't have McAfee but with my anti virus ( Free version ) I can right click my mouse on the icon in the lower right side of the monitor ( Systems tray ) and at the bottom of the box that appears it will give me an option to stop the program.  See if yours has the same option

If that is not the cats meow.  All the anti virus software I have ever used has one.  That is just plain dumb.  Make sure you check each option again to see if its not hidden some where.  If you still cannot do this. Go ahead and install the new program and or driver anyway.  Many times it will not mess up. 

 

Also think of another anti virus software.  I stopped using McAfee and Nortons a long time ago because they are resourse hogs and too many free anti virus software programs to choose from such as Avast and AVG

 

Anti Virus, Free Editions

http://majorgeeks.com/Avast_Home_Edition_d1968.html  Avast

http://majorgeeks.com/AVG_Free_Edition_d886.html  AVG

Try these links.

 

http://www.secondnaturecd.com/howtodismcaf.html

 

http://www.netfaqs.com/Windows/AntiVirus/McAfee/9/enable/index.asp

 

Tom

This is the console of the McAfee protection suite I have....version 10, maybe?

 

 

Use msconfig to take it out of startup and reboot.

 

To re enable it add it back to startup in msconfig and reboot.

 

http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/msconfig_vista.html