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System Locks With Multiple Antivirus Programs

Summary: Learn about the issues with having multiple antivirus software packages installed on a Dell computer.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Symptoms

Cause

This article describes what happens if you have multiple antivirus software or utilities installed, and how to uninstall them and have only one AV software installed on the computer.

Resolution

Most Dell Systems Have Antivirus Software Pre-Installed

Note: For more information on different types of viruses, spyware and malware that can infect your computer see article What are the different types of Viruses, Spyware and Malware that can infect my computer? 

The use of multiple anti-virus programs may cause your system to lockup. Antivirus programs come pre-installed on most Dell Computers, so customers sometimes install other antivirus programs without realizing that there is already a system installed. If you decide to install an alternate antivirus software, it is important that you first uninstall any other antivirus programs that may be running on your computer.

 

Removing Antivirus Software From Your PC

For help uninstalling antivirus software from your computer see article Utilities to Completely Remove Antivirus Software. This article provides links to 3rd party company websites and their own uninstaller tools. It will also link to some of the Uninstaller software that is in common usage.
 
Software included in article:

  • Avast
  • AVG
  • Avira
  • BitDefender
  • BullGuard
  • CA Antivirus
  • Comodo Internet Security
  • Dr. Web
  • ESET
  • FRISK F-PROT Antivirus for Windows
  • F-Secure
  • GData
  • Kaspersky
  • K7 Computing
  • Lavasoft
  • McAfee
  • Norman
  • Panda Security
  • Pareto
  • Sophos
  • Symantec
  • Sunbelt Software (Vipre)
  • Total Defense
  • Trend Micro
  • WebrootWindows
  • Security Essentials
  • Zone Alarm
  • Miscellaneous Third Parties

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Choose Only One Anti-Virus Program and Reinstall It

Choose only one anti-virus program and reinstall it. It is not recommended to have more than one anti-virus software package installed on your computer.
 

Prevention:

There are many software utilities, both third-party and built into your operating system, that help to prevent unauthorized access to your computer system. 
 

Identification:

If you think you have been infected by malicious software there are many software options available to scan your system and help removing or quarantine any suspicious files. For more information see article How to Identify and Repair Malware or Virus Infected Systems 
 

Removal:

For help on removing Malware infections see article A general guide to removing Malware infections from a Dell PC .

 

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Article Properties
Article Number: 000147495
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 29 Aug 2024
Version:  7
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