Can't update McAfee Anti virus???

The Astroman

The Astroman

Active Member
I cannot access www.mcafee.com , and when I try to update using the control center, it just opens the page with the minimum requirements thing, which is the only page on the mcafee website I can view...
 
Buzz1927

Buzz1927

Digaredd
I'd try re-installing Mcafee, make sure you disable it before un-installing. Or use a different firewall\antivirus.
 
The Astroman

The Astroman

Active Member
The firewall cost me a lot, so I'm not using another one.. But why does mcafee show me the minimum requirements page?
 
Buzz1927

Buzz1927

Digaredd
It is odd. Try the re-install, and also check your hosts file Windows\system32\drivers\etc\ use notepad to open it and check if Mcafee is listed.
 
Buzz1927

Buzz1927

Digaredd
Sorry. Hit start>my computer>local disc c:>windows>system32>drivers>etc. In the etc folder will be a file called "hosts", open it with notepad and look for Mcafee. Let me know if its there, and if it is what IP address is to the left of it e.g. 127.0.0.1. Or download this host file reader and use that.
 
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L

lynx6200

New Member
Not sure what Buzz1927 is getting at, but if you have access to another computer, you should be able to downloaded the virus definitions/update, and put them on a disc or cd, than put it on your computer, open it up, and it should update.
 
Buzz1927

Buzz1927

Digaredd
That's your problem. Download the Hoster. Unzip it and run it. Hit "restore original hosts". You should be able to update now. But the next time you reboot it may be back, as something has put Mcafee in the hosts file. Do the scans in the sticky, reboot and see if you can go to www.mcafee.com.
 
Byteman

Byteman

Malware Destroyer
Not sure what Buzz1927 is getting at, but if you have access to another computer, you should be able to downloaded the virus definitions/update, and put them on a disc or cd, than put it on your computer, open it up, and it should update.
Click to expand...

Host file:101

Buzz is dealing with an invalid host file entry. the host file is a networking tool that malware makers have discovered how to use to their advantage. When a Windows based computer browses a network (including the Internet), it checks the host file for IP to computer name mappings (or domain names also). The 127.0.0.1 is a loopback address (to a computers own IP stack), so if www.mcafee.com is manually mapped (via the host file) to 127.0.0.1, then the computer will automatically ONLY look for www.mcafee.com locally, not on the Internet, and subsequently not ever find it.

Using the hoster program will allow him to restore his original host file. (BTW it also has a function to make the host file "read only", which is a good suggestion). By Buzz having him fix the entry, he should be able to get to www.mcafee.com again. :)
 
The Astroman

The Astroman

Active Member
Well, I can now access mcafee.com as Byteman had predicted, but I still get the minimum requirements page, so I'm going to try to re-install.

EDIT: I have re-installed Mcafee anti virus, and have followed McAfee's instructions on how to configure Internet Explorer, and it works. Thank you all!
 
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