Windows Vista: Antivirus Software: Uninstall
Technology at Simmons College supports two web browsers for Windows: Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Firefox. Please use Internet Explorer when going through this web site to make sure the Microsoft tools work, and that each step matches the screenshots.
Already have antivirus software?
You are not required to use the Simmons antivirus product (Sophos AntiVirus), but we recommend that you do. If you are relying on the antivirus software that came installed on your computer, be aware that it is likely to expire within a year of your purchase. If you purchased antivirus software separately (i.e. you have a CD with the software on it, and installed it yourself), you may choose to continue to use your own antivirus software; just be sure you have configured it to download updates at least once a week, and to scan your computer daily. If you are sure that you do not want to install the Simmons antivirus software, please advance to configure Windows updates on this Disinfect & Protect web site.
Prepare to install the free Simmons antivirus software by uninstalling any other antivirus software
Please note: as indicated in the Terms of Use, faculty, staff and students of Simmons College may only install the antivirus software that Simmons provides on one computer. If you have more than one computer, please purchase and install separate antivirus software for that computer.
IMPORTANT: You must uninstall any other antivirus software on your computer before you install the free antivirus software provided to Simmons students by Simmons College. If your computer has more than one antivirus package installed at the same time, you will encounter serious problems when their scans interfere with one another.
Common virus scanner products include Norton Antivirus, Symantec Antivirus, Mcafee VirusScan, Panda ActiveScan, and BitDefender AntiVirus. Before you install Sophos AntiVirus, you must remove any other antivirus software. If you are sure that you do not have any antivirus software already installed, please go to the next step and download and install Sophos.
- To remove software that is installed on your computer, click Start (at the lower left hand corner of your screen) and click Control Panel.
- Click Classic View on the left, then open Programs and Features.
- Select your currently installed Anti-Virus program from the list and click Uninstall.
- Follow the on-creen instructions to uninstall your Anti-Virus program.
- Once you have uninstalled all virus scanners from your computer, restart your computer, return to this page of the Disinfect & Protect web site, and then go to the next step: installing Sophos.