Avast Antivirus, anti-spyware & anti-rootkit protection is free for non commercial and home use. I have been using this programme since about 2003 and have never had any sort of malware on my pc. I have recommended it to many other people who also find it a complete protection.

So here is all the stuff I find myself repeatedly typing out for friends and family.

PART 1

• Take a look at the Avast Free home page - have a read.
• Click the Download link in the middle of the page and you will get taken to the download page
• Lower down the page click the download button in front of the English version
• This will start the download by opening the windows dialog box asking if you want to Run or Save. Choose Save. (with Vista you might get asked other security questions which you will have to allow).
• You will now get a navigation box asking where you want to save it. Choose somewhere you will find it again like your desktop or there might be a folder called Downloads. Select the folder ie. make sure it is highlighted and Click Save or OK.

When it's finished downloading go to where you saved it and double click the file which will have a name like setupeng.exe. This will start the installation. Follow the wizard to install it and choose Typical. Finish the installation and restart your computer when it asks.

Part 2

When your computer has restarted go to the registration page, read the page and fill in the info at the bottom and they will send you a key via email. When you receive the key...

• Copy the key (use your left mouse and highlight the key, right click on the highlighted bit and choose Copy)
• Right click on the blue ball with white a icon that is at the bottom right of your screen
• Click on About Avast...
• Click on the License Key button in the new window
• Right click and paste the key into the box
• Click ok

You are done. Avast is installed and will be automatically updated. It will scan every email as it comes into your inbox and it will scan every file before you open it. If you should get a warning dialog come up onto your screen, I'd recommend hitting the Delete button unless you have some reason to be saving viruses :)

You will be notified when updates occur by a square blue window rising from your system tray (near the clock) and an American voice telling you it's been updated - you don't have to do anything. If you get a green window it means there is a programme update and you have to click in the window to start the download and installation process. Again, there is nothing more for you to do than click that green window though, the rest is done for you.

One other thing. You will get warning when you need to reregister every 12 months although sometimes is seems much sooner than that. I think when you first install it the registration only lasts 2-3 months. When you get this warning follow the instructions I gave in Part 2 again.

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