Yes, I would trade in Norton for AVG any day! It does not have high marks on ratings for being easiest program to use, but I have no problem with it. And you should uninstall Norton before installing AVG, otherwise the two programs could start to argue with each other, making your computer to hang, and you will not get anywhere.

Spyware, you look pretty well set.

Firewall, Are you using Windows XP or Windows Vista? If your using Vista, you are good with that. If using Windows XP, then you should have some third party firewall and disable XP's firewall, or once again, they could start disagreeing. Zone Alarm seems to be a well liked and easy to use firewall. Firewall. ZoneAlarm - Free Software Downloads and Software Reviews - Download.com

I am now running AVG on my fresh Vista/new hard drive install so I did not need this link. It is Nortons AV removal, as Norton seems to want to leave peices of itself everywhere. Norton means for you to use it before a reinstall of their product, but see no reason it would not be useful for taking it off completely.

Download and run the Norton Removal Tool

This is the link for AVG Free, missing some items but works well.

AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security - AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition

I actually did switch from norton to avg, and while norton let the occassional junk stuff through, avg's been bulletproof. Very happy with it.

Have fun uninstalling norton though. Bit pervasive. Highly recommend Captain113's advice about the symnrt.exe tool.

thanks,

v

AVG was well worth my hard earned cash! I have used it for at least 5 years and it has never let me down!

Before using the Norton Removal Tool, please read this caution I just came across in another forum.
Sorry I did not find this before my last post.......
************************************************** **********

Do you have Norton products installed on your computer? Have you recently run their Norton Removal Tool? The only other thing that
comes to mind is that it may have crippled your computer beyond repair, to the extent that a reinstallation of Windows itself is in
order. It's been verified by another Tech. Support company with several customers. See this:

Hallmark Card Studio / Scrapbook Studio Forum - HCS2007 - same error as HCS2006 at install time!

Where it states in part: "In our testing and working with customers, we have found something we can guarantee will cause this issue.
On our computers, if the Norton Removal Tool was used, it will cause this problem. For some reason, the Norton Removal Tool is
making at change to the operating system, which is affecting the MSXML software. In our tests, reinstalling Norton does not do
anything to resolve the issue. The only thing that we were able to do to correct this issue was to reinstall Windows. Many of the
customers that we have contacted about this remember using this tool. There may be other causes, but we know this one applies for
certain."

The above quote is in context of users missing buttons/links/functionality within their Hallmark Card Studio program, crippling it
for use, etc. You Norton users beware.

If you don't use Norton products and its Norton Removal Tool and a completely fresh installation AFTER deleting the MasterCook 8
folder didn't resolve your troubles, unfortunately I have no further suggestions for you other than try to contact ValuSoft Tech.
Support via their website. Perhaps they'll have some advice for you.

You definitely have a serious problem if a fresh installation doesn't cure your "unable to load images" error message. Something is
preventing the program from functioning properly.

Thanks to everyone who replied, I'm definately going to switch to AVG, sounds like a good program. Any advise on the best way to get rid of Norton completely?