McAffee software - have I lost ot forever?

TraceyB_2

Am having a right mare of a day!

Have just bought a Dell Inspiron 6000 and am in the process of setting everything up - but seem to have lost McAffee in the process - I'm not very good at this type of thing!!

I needed to install the BT Broadband disk but to do so, had to disable the McAffee software - think I may have removed it instead!

Is there any way of getting this back or is it gone forever?

Am dreading my husband finding out - he thinks I'm good at the techie stuff - haven't the heart to tell him its all guess work!!

Thanks for any help

LULUBELLE_2

Have a look at 'Add/Remove programmes' in the Control panel and see if it's there. If it is, go to 'search' from the 'Start' menu and it will tell you where it is. If you have deleted it, then when you bought it, if you chose 'Multi download' option, you can go to McAfee's website and download it again.

Dennis99

It should be on one of the discs which came with the PC (assuming it's a new one).

TraceyB_2

It isn't in my control panel!

It was already on my laptop when I bought it direct from Dell.

Not sure where it is now though!!

Dude

You could do a system restore, which will revert the computer back to the way it was. Go to Start>All Programmes>Accessories>System Tools and then click on the application system restore.

TraceyB_2

Thanks for that Dude - if I do system restore - do I lose everything I have done today (I know I regain McAffee but I've spent hours on this today!)

SomeOne_2

You probably will lose stuff with system restore.
Also system restore is unlikely to bring mcafee back.
If you really want it back then you can always reformat the laptop to factory condition, you should find some instructions on this from dell.

tigermatt

Because it is a pre-loaded laptop (Dell have set it up with XP etc.) then you will most likely have a restore disk provided with the laptop or you may be able to find some instructions in the manual/dell site which will tell you how to restore the factory setup. (How it was when it left the factory)

Doing a factory restore will mean you lose everything you have done - it goes back to how it was when you first received the laptop and turned it on. However, if Mcafee is very important to you this is probably the only way you will be able to restore it.

Why not just get a free anti-virus like AVG http://free.grisoft.com/ and a free firewall like the free version of ZoneAlarm? http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=dbtopnav_zass (Just hit Free Download then pick the second option on the next page to download ZA)

Oh yes, and when you install something and it says to disable AV software, I wouldn't recommend it because I don't see any difference whether you turn it off or not.

Dude

Before restoring or even reformatting i would strongly suggest you first find out if the mcafee is a full 15 month subscription of if it is purely a 1 or 2 month trial. Dell are very guilty of bundling AV software that is only a trial.

As far as i was aware a system restore would put back any applications that you have uninstalled? Provided the computer has created a restore point. And it would also affect any other system changes you have made (but not file etc).

Another option would be to do as already suggested and do a factory restore. Because Dell don't "ship disks", they have a hidden partition on your Computer. Have a look on the Dell site for instruction on how to do this.

However it may be best just going with the free AV and firewall software as already suggested by tigermatt.

Good Luck!

tigermatt

I believe a System Restore only restores settings which may have been changed accidentally, not programs or files.