I run with XP - also have Vista, which I hate - and AVG. A computer person set my system up for me.

"Something" keeps loading onto my computer and I can't access any sites. I get a conflict message. When asked if I want AOL to update, I say no. Microsoft never asks me anything, nor does AVG.

After spending about an hour on line with the AOL specialist, who told me to go to all programs, AOL, computer check up - which I am not seeing - I am frustrated. I can't find what he/she is talking about and have to keep clicking back and forth and, in the process, got the "conflict" message and couldn't go back to the rep.

I repeatedly have to go back and restore the computer in order to stay on line - twice today, so far.

How do I stop automatic downloads from - presumably - AOL and Microsoft?

Or is there something else that is a better idea?

I also have a laptop and another PC, neither one connected to the Internet.

It is not recommended to use more than one security product performing the same actions as they do often interfere with each other.

I have seen many people have serious problems with the AOL product and recommend that it not be used. I don't have any experience with it myself so I don't know how to disable it.

AVG is good and very highly rated as a free product.

I have had excellent performance out of Antivir Free internet security. I use windows defender for spyware and phishing and neither one seems to overlap or interfere with the other.

Antivir updates automatically and I have NEVER had anything get past it yet.

You can disable automatic updates in XP from the control panel under the security options.

I have mine disabled so I can choose which updates to apply.

The only down side to that is you MUST remember to check every so often for the updates yourself.

With XP, it is not nearly as critical as with Vista which is still new enough to need more tweaks and fixes.

Hope some of this is of help for you.

Good to see you back!

I followed your advice, actually FOUND the security info, turned to "notify me but don't update" - and now I'll see what happens next.

Hopefully it will end the problem.