McAfee Security Issue?

I'm new to this forum, so thank all of you in advance for your expertise.

My wife's new Acer Laptop system is running just great but I'm concerned about it's Security. The OS is Windows 7, 3 GB of RAM, Spyware Doctor with A/V installed and running. Not sure yet if Windows Defender is running or if those updates are current - probably not. My security status is as follows:

The unit came with 30 day trial version of McAfee Security Suite already
installed and running. When I check into the status of Windows firewall,
the appl says the "firewall components are being managed by McAfee".
That is, I can't turn on or off Windows firewall because nothing is clickable in
the Windows Firewall appl that opens. Because there's almost 40 Windows
Updates (WU) awaiting my action, I feel I need to secure this unit system
right away and get the WU's installed. Nor do I know if McAfee would interfere with the installation of all those WU's.

I would prefer to use Windows Firewall, Windows Defender and Spyware Doctor
with A/V (and run SAS, CCleaner and MBAM as needed). Bought this new laptop yesterday so with my paid subscription of Spyware Doctor w/Av so I have what I believe is good protection, except that I don't know what's happening with my firewall because of McAfee. I believe I need to find a way to stop McAfee from controlling Win Firewall, or uninstall McAfee so that I can turn on Windows Firewall myself.
Can anyone advise as to the sensible way to get to where I want to be, or
perhaps there's some other suggestions about how I should set up the
security on this new computer.
Thanks much in advance................Paul C.

Hi Paul - Welcome to w7forums

I merged your threads, there is no need in having two of the same threads. I'm afraid I will be of no help to you, I'm not familiar with McAfee. Perhaps someone else will be of more help.

Good luck with your issue.

Hi Paul, I for one am not a fan of McAfee's anything! If I were in your shoes right now, I would disable McAfee's just long enough to download the necessary files for windows updates. Once those are finsihed and you have rebooted your computer I would then enable McAfee's again. You should be able to right click your mouse on the McAfee icon in the system tray bottom right and look for a disable button. Hope this helps, Good Luck.

I've never used McAfee, but I don't know why you couldn't just open the application, and use the on-off settings to disable McAfee.

Aside from that, it sounds like you don't even want McAfee. If thats the case, why not just uninstall it? Disable it then uninstall it.

HaveBlues2, thanks a lot for your reply. I've also heard lots of bad things about McAfee's products, one most recently where many many computers were BSOD'ed due to a McAfee error where an important system file was label a virus and it did lots of damage.

Do you have any idea if uninstalling McAfee would release it's control over my Windows firewall? If I knew that I'd be tempted to uninstall it, enable Windows Firewall, leave my Spyware doctor running and install the undates, then Windows Defender.

Regards. Say, does your `HaveBlues2' handle mean you're a blues musician?

Paul Calcagno, welcome to the forum! From what I gather, it sounds as though you don't need or want McAfee, period. Those AV's that come preinstalled on today's computers, if they were so good, then why would they have to give it away for two months or however long it is? This bundled software helps to lessen your cost for the computer, but what good is it, if you don't need or want it? None. There is a program, it's free, called Revo Uninstaller. You download it, install it, there's an Uninstall function that removes all traces of the unwanted program(s). After the uninstall is complete, you have four choices to remove all traces of the program. The fourth choice is the best. There's another free program called PC Decrapifier. You run it, it shows you a list of mostly "junk" programs, select the ones you want to get rid of, there gone. Back to Revo Uninstaller. After the program is initially removed, it will ask you to restart. Select "restart later", so that you can finishing your cleaning. Hope this helps, and should you require further assistance, feel free to post back anytime. Good Luck.

Catilley1092, thanks for your great ideas. Turns out I already have Revo Uninstaller and I'll likely use it to get rid of McAfee.
Do you know if uninstalling or disabling McAfee will release it's control over my Windows Firewall settings. I really want that firewall enabled. If I knew that I'd uninstall McAfee in a heartbeat.
Thanks..........Paul C.

When I removed Norton, I had no problems with the firewall, or the OS would have notified me otherwise. Be sure to create a restore point prior to doing anything. Hope this helps.

I've had many AV programs on this computer and none of they ever took over the status of Windows Firewall settings. Seems really odd or perhaps poorly designed

Great suggestion about creating a restore point before removing McAfee.

Thanks

Norton is known for this, and other problems too. That's why I removed Norton (with Revo Uninstaller) prior to using my computer the first time. McAfee tries to slide itself in when you're installing Flash, but I don't need it. I especially don't need it after what happened recently, many computers being crippled. McAfee's reputation has been damaged so badly, I don't know if they'll recover or not. One thing for sure, they won't by me.