Hi--first time poster here. I have some basic questions about switching my antivirus program. I still have NAV 2001 which came loaded on my computer (WIN ME) when I bought it. I would like to uninstall it and then install either Kaspersky or AVG, but I do not want to get a virus in the process. My questions are:
1. is is it OK to do the following, or do I need a different procedure?
a. download (but not install yet) the new AV program from the net
b. disconnect from the net
c. uninstall NAV (I found instructions from Symantec's site)
d. install new AV program

2. do I need to turn off my firewall (ZoneAlarm 4.5 free version) during the this process, or re-boot at some point?

Any comments/suggestions would be much appreciated--I have never done this before and I am dreading it. Thank you.

The steps you laid out are an excellent way of switching the antivirus software. You should be ok with keeping the firewall running while you install it.

a. download (but not install yet) the new AV program from the net
Yes
b. disconnect from the net
Yes
c. uninstall NAV (I found instructions from Symantec's site)
Yes
d. install new AV program
Yes
e. download latest AV updates,do a full system scan
Yes
You will probably need to reboot when NAV uninstalls and again when the new AV installs.The firewall should not be a problem, but you can always shut it down before the new install.
HTH

Thank you for your helpful comments on this. I forgot to ask--do I need to turn off Norton (auto-protect etc) before uninstalling it, and how do I know if Norton is completely uninstalled--is there any way to confirm this? Thank you again.

Actually, you can do the following:
1. Download and install AVG, update it's definitions. Leave your firewall on.
2. Disconnect from the Internet, then Turn Off Norton and Turn On AVG. You can have multiple AV applications installed on the same computer, as long as only run is running (active).
3. Uninstall the old AV.
Regards,
John

Good point John. Actually I like your idea better,