Hi Mike64990 & richc46,
If I may jump in and add a bit to this thread.
Windows Defender was included with Vista and Win7 and is available for download for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.
Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) includes Spyware protection and once installed should disable Windows Defender by default. If it does not it should be disabled manually.
As richc46 states above, it should be turned off. Never have more then one AV, Spyware, Firewall, etc. running in "realtime" for the following reasons:
- False Alarms: When the anti virus software tells you that your PC has a virus when it actually doesn't.
- Conflicts: Your system may lock up due to both products attempting to access the same file at the same time.
- Performance: More that one antivirus will cause your PC to become slow and it may even crash or blue screen.
- Less protection: Two antivirus trying to scan the same file may interfere with the process and allow a malicious file onto the computer without notice to you.
Donna 