Laptop won't browse internet

[Compaquser77]

I have a Compaq laptop, running Windows 7, that I stopped using after I encountered an issue browsing the internet about 5 years ago. There's a program that pops up named Adware-Protect that seems to be the culprit. I tried removing it, but was already in the process of getting a Mac Book Pro, so I didn't press the issue at that time . Currently, McAfee is very outdated as I ceased usage of the laptop in 2014. I can't seem to find the program to uninstall it in my programs. I would like to get it up and running for my children to use. Is there anything I can do to get this program off completely? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DelJo63]

Usually, the program has a link or button in the settings to uninstall itself.

Another possible choice is to find the Uninstaller in the same directory as the program itself;

right-click on the program in the start menu -> File Location
OR Properties and copy the string in Location:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs​

then look for the uninstaller

 

[Mark Fuller]

There is always the reformat option in the recovery console if that doesn't work, but you will have to reinstall all of the software packages you installed since you got the computer. Another option would be to, say, wipe the hdd completely clean with a program like killdisk and then do a complete reinstall of the os with the recovery dvd, and then reinstall software, I gaurantee the adware program will be gone for sure if you do that. It sounds also like you got a virus similar to the the system care antivirus of old. There is an excellent article giving instructions on this website by Julio Franco about how to remove it. Just look under virus removal.