Refurbishing a computer..

[draggar]

I'm refurbishing a computer for someone and I am wondering if anyone has suggestions for free anti-virus programs?

I am going to install SpyBot S&D as well as Ad-Aware for malware scans.

I used AVG and Avast! in the past but they seemed to go downhill.

Suggestions?

[NYTCRAWLER94]

To be quite honest, your best bet will be to install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. I removed a particularly nasty boot sector virus that a hard drive on my last computer had gotten hosed by with it, so I think it goes without saying that it's the best scanner out there

[Hawaiian Eskimo]

I still recommend Avast!, although if you're reluctant to use it Microsoft Security Essentials is also very good.

[draggar]

TY - my main concern is ease of use. The client is not computer savvy at all (I had to tell him how to do bold and italics though the keyboard the other day).

[suburbandecay]

I'd say Malwarebytes and whatever AV solution you're most comfortable with. And if this guy is really not savvy, then the pay version of Malwarebytes might be a pretty good idea for the built in scheduling.

[protege]

You can set up Spybot to run scheduled scans as well. At work, I usually install that, and Micro$haft's Security Essentials. I also put MalwareBytes on our machines...however, I manually run that one.

[draggar]

TY all - I'll have to look over the options and find the best solution.

I'm also looking for something like Norton's Ghost (preferably free since this will probably be the only time I use it) - where I can set the PC up and then burn a backup onto a series of CDs or DVDs (bootable).

Edit: I'm seeing copies of Ghost on Amazon for as low as $10?

[lordlundar]

TY - my main concern is ease of use. The client is not computer savvy at all

well Avast is pretty user fr...

(I had to tell him how to do bold and italics though the keyboard the other day).

oh.

[emax4]

At the risk of posting about spam, I will say this: Check out NewEgg.com and Slickdeals.net on a daily basis. Slickdeals.net has various deals on everything from other vendors, and I'll see offers from NewEgg.com, TigerDirect.com and other places for AV software, even from the software manufacturers themselves. They have Kaspersky's Anti-Virus software (there are different titles advertised) for free after $xx.xx rebate periodically, usually 3 times a month or more. I'll check the Sunday ads online for Best Buy, Office Max and other local stores, and every so often I'll see the same software advertised for more. Yet, online at NewEgg the Kaspersky's Pure AV package is around $50.00, then free after a $50.00 rebate. The one they usually have is a 3-user version as well, so even if you refurb another PC or build one from scratch, you can use it on the other ones.

We're always looking for free and inexpensive, but depending on the type and frequency of one's internet surfing habits, it might be better (IMO) to go a little above free especially when you're doing this for someone else. Do you want to install a free AV program and have them hound you constantly about something else going wrong, or spend a little extra for extra protection and not worry about them being mad and trying to get a hold of you to re-fix their machine?

[Chanlin]

I know some freeware tools that let you make customizable windows installs. It has been awhile since I've used it so I forget if they let you add additional applications. I know you can add specific drivers and totally remove drivers you don't need. I have used Nlite to make a custom XP install for my laptop though and was rather happy with the results. The interfaces are not very difficult to us either.

For xp: http://www.nliteos.com/
For vista: http://www.vlite.net/
For win 7: http://www.rt7lite.com/

[Geek King]

Honestly, I like Malwarebytes and Spybot for on-demand scanning, but for free always on protection, Microsoft Security Essentials works pretty darn well so far on my home PC. Just make sure you get it from Microsoft's own site, because there are at least two fake versions of it floating around.