How to Clean Up Antiviruses

Even though installing anti-virus programs secures your computer against viruses, some actions you take can diminish the very protection you are trying to implement. You have freedom to install two or more anti-virus programs. However, multiple anti-virus programs may conflict with each other, making the protection useless. If you have Windows 7, you can take a two-pronged approach to find and remove unnecessary anti-virus programs.

Find Anti-Virus Programs

• 1

  Click "Start." Type "Action Center" in the search box at the bottom of the "Start" menu and press "Enter." Alternatively, you can click on the "Action Center" icon in the notification area on the right-hand side of your taskbar. The icon looks like a white flag. Click "Open Action Center" in the window that opens.

• 2

  Click the down arrow next to "Security."

• 3

  Find the following two links: "View Installed Antivirus Programs" and "View Installed Antispyware Programs."

• 4

  Click on the links. Note the names of the programs in the pop-up dialog box and decide which of the programs you will remove. If links do not appear, you only have one program installed and have no need for cleanup.

Remove Anti-Virus Programs

• 1

  Click "Start." Type "Uninstall a Program" in the search box at the bottom of the "Start" menu. Press "Enter" to open the "Programs and Features" window.

• 2

  Scroll down the list of installed programs and click on the anti-virus program you wish to remove.

• 3

  Click the "Uninstall" button towards the top of the window.

• 4

  Follow any on-screen prompts to uninstall the program. Restart your computer.