Here is an easy way to test if an Anti-virus program is working:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eicar_test_file>
<http://eicar.org/anti_virus_test_file.htm>
<http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2003-121611-3209-99>
Being some sort of new install<?>, or re-install from scratch<?>, the AV test string should
be detected if some AV is working that you do not know about.
(It is not a virus, it is a test built into ALL good AV programs since 2003...)
I'd also check add-remove programs for an AV program.
Dell used to like to push Norton "demo" versions that would
expire in about 90 days. Norton AV, more recently in a bundle
such as Norton Internet Security, etc.
Any restore disk from DELL would likely have that on it.
Any type of CD from MS would likely be clean of anything like that.
If you have anything Norton, note the name and year in case you need to
get a Norton cleaner directly from the Norton Support WEB site.
Norton stuff can be VERY hard to get rid of sometimes, and the
year is necessary to pick the proper cleaning program (or programs.)
Here is a good local program to Audit the PC. It lists what it needs as far
as MS patches, and ALL programs that are installed:
<http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html>
PS: I saw two places the original OS was:
a.. OS Provided Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
<http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1610>
<http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_Dimension_2400/4505-3118_7-30824846.html>
General specs:
<http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim2400/en/sm_en/specs.htm>
In depth EXE that expands to an HTML listing on lots or pages of specs:
<http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim2400/en/index.htm>
Get "Service Manual" Download in HTML section.
I have used the following on systems with specs like yours:
<http://free.avg.com/download-avg-anti-virus-free-edition>
"AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition - trusted by 80 millions of users"
(FWIW: I do a custom install, and leave out the link and e-mail scanners.)
Rick Glazier
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lewis C. Emerson"
Fellow PC users,
I recently inherited a five year-old Dell 2400 Dimension. My daughter, more computer-knowable than me, has been here about a month
helping me downsize after the death of my wife of 61 years. I seem to be gliding down an ever steepening path and seem to be
losing, among other things, whatever computer smarts I once had. I did install a wireless network for my several computers in the
new home and have just added this Dell to the network. My daughter took the machine to a local shop and they replaced the old
operating system with Windows XP, Home Edition with SP-3. Every time I boot the machine I see a warning message in the System Tray
indicating that I may be at risk as Anti-Virus software might not be installed and to click below to correct this. Wen I do that I
see an option to obtain/install one of four software packages. However, along with this there is another warning to not install one
if there is already one on the machine as they might not get along with each other.
So that begs the question of how does one go about finding out if the machine really has no such software installed? Is there a
simple test that I can make or do I have to head back to the professional in the local shop? I've looked (I think) at what's on the
machine, and don't recognize any with which I'm familiar. TIA.
Lewis Emerson
PCSOFT maintains many useful files for download
visit our download web page at:
http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml
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