cannot upgrade antivirus due to microsoft windows installer how do I fix?

[tpruept]

I have a HP Pavilion dv1000.  Windows XP    I recently got an automated update to windows 8

I never had windows 7.   I had a rogue program, virus, using hp's name.  I called trend micro that

I use for anti-virus and they helped me eliminate the problem over the phone.  They

gave me a free update to thier platinum version which would not finish loading.  After several

emails and phone calls, the tech at trend micro said it was an error in the windows installer,

and to ask HP for help.  So far emails and phone call have been no help at HP. 

Is there anyone out there that has seen this? 

I have 3 months left on my service with trend micro and would love to use it, but am I better off

just resubscribing to get it installed?  Or  what other ani-virus options out there are better?

My husband is a norton fan.

[Dragon-Fur]

Hi tpruept,

I am not running Windows 8 yet (soon, though!).

I am, and have been for years, a customer of Avast .  I do have the Security (paid version) on several notebooks and at least three desktops.  (I do think one of the desktops may have the Free Version - it is a test system and does tend to blow up on occasion...Smiling.)

I did run the free version on the notebooks years back and was happy with it.

I just read on their Webpage that Avast 7 (latest version) runs on Windows 8 beta.

You could try the Free Version and see if you like it.  They won't make you buy anything - one need only register the free version to get it to run for a year, and then register again each year to get a new key.   Cost is reasonable for paid versions - personal choice.  The free version will keep you safe - the paid versions "do stuff".

You do have to delete Norton from the computer.  Norton does not play well with others.  In fact, if you have Norton on your computer now, it is more likely the culprit than the Windows Installer.

IMO, any Anti-Virus that won't co-exist with the Windows Installer is not going to do you any good, regardless of your contract.  It may be the installer's fault - Windows 8 is new... but it doesn't make a hill-of-beans bit of difference for the reason why it is failing if no one can fix it for you.

Good Luck!

[CherylG]

Are you saying there is now a virus masquerading as a Windows 8 upgrade?!

I have installed MS Security Essentials on several machines and it seems to do the job well_also FREE.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials

[Dragon-Fur]

Could be; I do not think so...  It is hard to tell from the description; I think the update to Windows 8 went OK and that the system was infected later.

I just had another XP user who finally solved an issue with an install of XP by abandoning XP for an update to Windows 8.

?

I, too, like MS Security Essentials