I bought Norton Internet Security 2007 last year in a retail store and it's now expiring. So it's prompting me to renew online.
Which I have been trying to do. It's allowing me to connect to the server but after that I get this message....

" The file may not be supported by AOL. AOL will try to open it as a text file if you choose to continue".

So when I choose to continue I get another message....


" This file is too large to open using AOL. Please open this using another application".

And that's where it stops. I don't understand what it means when it says open using another application?

Norton has done well for me over the last year as both my husband and I are very basic internet users but if I have to go out again to buy the 2008 version, well, that's just annoying!

Would I be better off with freeware? I have had a sticky beak at the freeware Grinler has listed but for a person who is very ignorant of all things computer, it totally made my head spin, so now I am even more confused then ever.

Can anyone help or make a suggestion or two???

Oh BTW I am on dial up, sorry.


Thanks

There are many discussions in this thread---some quite recent--- about whether one should use freeware or paid protective applications.
To be brief, I would say that you are better off (and so is your pocket book) using a combination of free applications to effect a layered security scheme for your computer. This is neither as complicated as it might seem, nor will your being on dial-up make much of a difference.
Regards,
John

If you are considering installing free antivirus software, AVG and avast! are probably the most widely used, and ultimately most effective. I personally use avast!, and have had no problems with it in the past. Here are the links to their manufacturer's websites:
avast!, AVG
What software you choose to install is - obviously - up to you, and preferences vary from person to person. I would suggest installing both of them, then having a look to see which you prefer, and are therefore willing to live with. After you have chosen, uninstall the other; running more than one more a sustained period of time can cause many problems with your computer.

EDIT: Typos.

Thanks John,

You said about using a combination of applications to make a layered effect?

I understand they all have different functions, so I get that but how do I know what is best for me? That's an unfair question to ask, urm...ok, what should I be looking for as my first priority of protection etc, and why?

John, I'm not trying to be difficult (not that you said I was) and I apologise if I am, I don't learn that well from reading, I am a hands on person, smell, see, touch , taste and hear and my attention span can be quite short at times.

So I also find it hard at times to recognise that other posts are identifyable to my situation, so here I am going around the old record player again and I hope you don't mind?

Also I still don't know why AOL is unable to download the subscription?? It should shouldn't it?

Thank you

Hi there.

I do not know why AOL says as it does, however, when you only renew a subscription you should not usually download anything at all since all it does is adding days to your account (or give you a renewalkey through email). Make sure that you have not selected 2008 as a renewaloption since this will be a full program download. If you already have paid for it you might need to contact the support to get it as a renewal instead of upgrade. If it happens even before you get an option to choose anything it could be something on that site that it does not support.

/jAW