What does this mean please.

System

A new day and new anti-virus!

I have removed via the tool, my old friend AVG free, something I have used for about four years.

Then via Closed link, downloaded Avast. On the way, I was very observant (so I thought) to ensure I didn't allow a search bar to be installed. Towards the end of the installation, up came "please wait while we install Google Chrome". No where had I seen any reference to this and now with their icon on my desktop, presumably when I click it, off it will go.

About six months ago, I ditched chrome (but can't remember why) in favour of Firefox with IE as standby and am satisfied.

So now I am wondering, is Chrome part of the deal? if I remove Chrome will it affect avast?. Maybe someone will know?.

Avast tells me it is for a 30 day trial (that set in panic, thinking they would ask for money then), but it seems after the 30 day trial, there will be an option to use the free version or the paid version, is that right?.

I note there is a new tiny icon in task bar and another on the desktop, but all important desktop icons that have to be kept, I drag them into a folder I created called "must keep" that way there aren't loads of them cluttering the screen.

If there is anything else I should be doing, maybe someone will give me a shout please.

kwikbreaks

From memory you need to register a free Avast account which then lasts a year. There is no requirement to install chrome for it to work. If it does get installed and you don't want it then uninstall it again.

System

Phew! just when I thought it was completed, I was alerted that several things required updating. I ticked a box for avast to update automatically, but that is the paid for version, so I embarked on manually updating. That took some time and I am now thinking to myself:-

when items are due to be updated, will I be alerted to perform the updating myself, and if not, would it not be better to pay and have it done automatically? What do you think?.

Oh, and on route through all this, I did see that I could register, so will come back to this in half an hour.

Lum

The Google Chrome thing is depressingly common these days. It's a behaviour normally associated with shady toolbars and borderline malware. It always feels wrong to me when legit software like Chrome start using this tactic.

There will have been a tick box to not install it, and you are not required to keep it installed.

Avast get paid by Google for pushing out Chrome in this way. Means they get a little bit of money out of letting you use their software for free.

System

chrome has now been removed.

GunJack

the free version of avast will update the virus definitions automatically, the only time you need to intervene manually is when a program update is available...

closed

chrome can be uninstalled, it's bundled optionally but not joined at the hip

If you've selected the free version, it will last a year if you simply right click the icon bottom right, and enter registration info (which can be garbage incidentally), then after a year, you repeat the registration for another year and so on. All versions update automatically, nothing manual to do, other than click the re-register button once/year when reminded.

If you've selected the full version 30 day trial, can't remember what happens at the end of the 30 days, but worse case scenario is uninstall it after 30 days, and reinstall - like all installations, you have to pay full attention to what comes on screens nowadays, or you may get more than you bargained for - there's a clear do you want the free 1 year at a time version or the 30 day full trial selection during the installation process.

No reason to pay whatsoever, free version is fine, and hopefully will prove better than what you had before.

Ever backup? http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

System

Oh dear Closed, don't bring on a headache.

No I don't back up and yes, I know I'm supposed to. BUT, if I do anything wrong, there is no-one here to help me, I have to try and sort it out myself or ask questions.

No doubt you will tell me it's easy. I'd like to think you will show me how easy it is to do. Let me give you a promise. I will seriously consider it if you tell me why you have that name !!!!

closed

all the more reason to backup, there's a video in the speedup sticky thread.

islandman was already taken

S0litaire

bit of info:
mcf* files usually refer to Microsoft Visual Studio Runtime files

Think it's from Visual Studio 2012 :
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679