Windows XP Microsoft Security Essentials
When Microsoft discontinues support of Windows XP on April 8th, they will also be stopping updates to their antivirus software called “Microsoft Security Essentials”. Of course, this will only impact you if you use Microsoft Security Essentials as your antivirus program. If you use a different antivirus program, this does not impact you.
Please read all these instructions first before beginning and provide at least a ½ hour time to run through the instructions.
If you are unsure, look for an icon on the lower right-hand side of your screen (by the clock) that looks like a castle with a flag. It might be colored green, yellow, or red
You can also click: Start, All Programs and look for “Microsoft Security Essentials” in the list of programs.
If you are indeed using Microsoft Security Essentials, it will need to be uninstalled and a replacement product installed. We recommend AVG’s free antivirus to replace it.
1) So, step one is get ready by downloading AVG first. To do so, go here:
Your choice is between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions. You most likely have the 32-bit version. If you are unsure, you can check by right-clicking on “My Computer” and selecting properties. Look in the “System” section at the top. If you do not see the text “64-bit”, then you have 32-bit.
Download the appropriate version and save it to your desktop for later.
2) Next, uninstall Microsoft Security Essentials. To do so, go to your Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, select Microsoft Security Essentials and click Remove.
3) Install AVG. Double-click the file you downloaded in step one to run the installation program (if you get a software restriction error, go to the note section below.). Follow the wizard, but select “Custom Install” when asked for the type of installation and
click next. Uncheck all of the options and click Next to continue.
It will prompt you to enter your email address, this is optional.
Once the installation is finished, reboot the computer. DONE
Note:
If you get an error message during the installation that a software restriction setting is not permitting the installation, you have installed the CryptoPrevent software. This is software that stops the Crytolocker virus, but can also stop certain programs from installing. If this happens, do the following
Download the CrytoPrevent software from here:
http://www.foolishit.com/download/cryptoprevent-installer
If the website gives an error, try it again shortly. It’s a very busy site.
It will download as a ZIP file, so you will need to extract it. To do so, right-click on the downloaded file and select “Extract All”. Follow the wizard. Once completed there will be a CryptoPrevent folder in which you will find two files. You want to double-click on the one named “CryptoPrevent”
Click OK at the About screen and then click Undo. If asked to remove any whitelist policies, click “No”. It will recommend a reboot, but it is not always needed. So, click “No.”
Try to reinstall AVG. If it still complains about a Group Policy issue, reboot and try again.
Once AVG is installed you will need to reactivate CrytoPrevent. Do so by clicking “Apply” within CryptoPrevent. You will need to reboot when this is done.