Help!W7 x64 ult reports in the action centrethat Windows defender and OneCare are both running. It's a dual boot machine with XP Pro x32 which does have OneCare, but the list of Programs in W7 definitelydoes not include OneCare. I'm not at all sure what that's about.For reasons of my own stupidity I find myself wading through a morass of every sort of trojan and virus known to manand XP Pro OneCare is busy cleansing everything in sight whenever I load it. W7 x64 reports nothing (and is in use for 95% of the time), but shows no evidence of either a virus or a trojan having been loaded.I tried all 4 of the anti-virus suggestions/partners on the Windows website, and they were about as good as I expected - much more interested in my money than their service. Norton flatly refused to load, demanding I remove OneCare (how, would be a nice gesture) AVG repeatedly crashes out saying the server has reset and achieves truly magic dowload speeds, attaining 1kBs for rare moments. Kaspercky does the OneCare shuffle and vanishes and MaAfee didn't want to play. Several others took one look at W7 x64 and decided that their were easier ways to earn a crust and did a runner.Can we expect an MS anti-virus soon, 'cos this lot is trash?What to do in the interim?Does an x64 system need antivirus?Dave

I've been using 64 bit OS's since the Vista beta's - and have had my bacon saved by an antivirus on several occasions.At work we frequently get infected 64 bit machines in.I use Avast because it's the only one that I've found that works reliably with the 64 bit OS (but have never tried OneCare). It's running on my 64 bit Win7 also.- John

OneCare doesn't work with W7 at all, according to MS, which is why I didn't load it, don't know why it's there and can't get rid of it. It worked OK with Vista Ult x64, butI got so sick of Vista ult. that I kicked it into touch and overwrote it with W7x64, which, even as beta, restores my faith in human nature (or MS, anyway). I assume that since ONeCare was on Vista before I upgraded it to W7 it carried OneCare throughI might try reloading OneCare - since W7 says it's there anyway - and see if the virus protection it says it's giving me is continued. Something's quietly saving my bacon at the moment.Thanks for the tip - I'll have a look at Avast.Dave

Drg40, It reads like a lot of your problems are self induced. There are certain best practices that will pretty much keep you trouble-free. Yes, OneCare will not load or work on Windows 7. With low-level utilities such as this, it is not a good idea at all to force the installation. All you will do is cause yourself more headaches and additional frustration down the road. Although Microsoft likes for people to test upgrades, installing a beta product as upgrade to an existing mature operating system that may have incompatible applications installed is not really a walk down the yellow brick road. If you most do an upgrade, make sure you remove ALL system type utilities to include antivirus applications. OneCare is going away in favor of the new, free, and Windows 7 compatible Code-name Morro. See http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/nov08/11-18NoCostSecurityPR.mspx and http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=2190 for more information.

Good advice, except for one point. Rant mode ONIn my view Vista ult x64 isn't mature, "mature" or any other weasel words, but simply not worth buying. I resent the money I spent on that heap of unfit to be released nonsense and I hope MS are going to recognise the pain by giving away W7 to poor souls who suffered Vista. I have these moments when I feel large companies might face up to their mistakes, but they pass.So I didn't load W7 over a "mature" system but one which wasn't fit for use and against which even a beta might be more useful.Nowhere in the instructions does it say it is essential to strip out MS own anti-virus software before updating, and defender seems to do its thing OK, so I don't feel too badly but then, it also doesn't tell you to expect many of the same bugs and major design flaws that bedevil Vista.BUT if you use XP to circumnavigate the cesspits in theW7 product you can combine the two to get something worthwhile. And W7 does stay up and running, which must come as a revelation to the men in grey suits in MS who never thought that the customers might get stroppy if the Vista OS didn't actually work. One thing the accountants who released Vista might have learned - when your as big as MS you can't fold up your tent and stealaway into Chapter 11, that privilege is for financial institutions only andeven they need govt assistance.And when you do make a complete pig's ear, oh boy, do Apple move smartly!Rant mode OFFAnybody else besides John with cast iron experience of current W7 compatible x64 anti virus software? Or how to remove OneCare from a W7 system - 'cos I bet the juggernaught won't fix this bug before release and I won't be the only one in this W7 puddle.A point that puzzles me. In this day and age, how doesone persuade oneself to release an OS to the public even as beta without a well thought through, tested and fully operationalanti-virus strategy? Dave

If OneCare is really present on your system, try Revo Uninstaller; designed to remove corrupted installations and leftover files which the uninstaller did not remove. Never failed me. http://www.revouninstaller.com/ Good Luck.Norton AntiVirus 2009

I'm afraid it does say on the revouninstaller page to which you refer that 64 bit operating systems are not supported.Dave

. Can we expect an MS anti-virus soon, 'cos this lot is trash? Dave Anti monopoly advocates forbid. Doesn't Microsoft already have too much control now? Where commercial antivirus software attempts to secure by providing your PC with a list of 'two million' of what they considers, potential threats, I have a very short list of those programs I see as necessary to have web access. (Google Earth, email and web browser<as example, I count three items here) Heaven forbid I might suggest Windows being denied access to an open port. LOL