How to Install Multiple Antivirus Programs on One Hard Drive

When it comes to installing antivirus software on a computer, most people think more is better. This is especially true if a computer is prone to infiltration by viruses, malware and spyware. In general, the best antivirus programs take care of most, if not all, of a computer's virus problems. Installing two or more tends to slow the machine down. If, however, you only allow one antivirus program to run in real time on the computer, and use the other solely for periodic scans, installing two helps you to catch infections that would normally be left unnoticed.

Step 1

Install the first antivirus program you want to use on your computer by placing the CD into the computer's disc drive. When the program loads, following the on-screen prompts to install it on the machine. These prompts differ depending on your particular program. When the program is installed, real-time protection is most likely already enabled.

Step 2

Install the second antivirus program in the same manner as the program before. When the program finishes installing, open it and disable real-time monitoring. Right-click the program's icon in the system tray to see a list of options. Look for and set to "off" any option that says "Realtime Protection," "Disable Active Monitoring" or "Protection Level." In the program, this may also be found under "Advanced Mode" or "Program Options." This is different depending on your program.

Step 3

Turn off one of the firewalls on your machine, if desired, as you only need to use one. Many antivirus programs come with a firewall that begins monitoring your computer as soon as the program is installed.

Step 4

Use your secondary antivirus program to perform a periodic system scan, ideally once a month. It is often possible to set this scan to occur automatically, so you don't need to remember to do it. If desired, perform the scan manually. To do this, most programs have a "Scan Now" option available as soon as you start them up.

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