Bitdefender Free

[Muse]

I just downloaded and installed this on my XP desktop. By all indications it was the free version. I'd installed this before on the machine, but I just put in a new mobo, etc. and a fresh install of XP. I logged in using my former credentials (UN and PW), and it says I'm protected. However, in the lower right it says "30 days left" and beside that it has a Buy Now button. WTH... It was supposed to be free. This looks very underhanded. Do I need to uninstall and hunt down a truly free version?

 

[John Connor]

That's not right. Did you get it here? https://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

 

[Muse]

That's not right. Did you get it here? https://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html

What I go there, there is a file called bitdefender_online.exe. Run that and I get a message that the downloaded file (~8MB ) isn't compatible with my OS (XP). Click OK and I get to an unbelievably complex and confusing page, being:

https://www.bitdefender.com/support...der-on-windows-xp-and-windows-vista-1453.html

Finding the correct file to download there is a Chinese puzzle. I tried a few links there and was unable to download anything to the PC I want to install to. No downloads occurred. I suppose I can sort it out eventually, however they make it extremely difficult to install/run the free XP version. I tried downloading to a different computer (the one I'm on right now) but that one is having issues with Windows Explorer, I can't get a handle on any files in it, the panes are screwy and I haven't been able to find a fix.

Edit: When I hit "Download and Install" at the page for installing the free edition for XP I get redirected to the same page, it's just a dog chasing its tail:

https://www.bitdefender.com/support/how-do-i-install-bitdefender-free-edition-1158.html

Try searching for Download & Install there, click it and see if you don't get redirected to the same page. This all happens in IE because the bitdefender_online.exe download sends you there when it discovers that you are on XP.

 

[John Connor]

They offer this link in the first link you gave me.

http://download.bitdefender.com/windows/installer/en-us/xp-vista/bitdefender_isecurity.exe

I would try Firefox, Pale Moon or Chrome if you're having issues with IE. Come to think of it, I don't know if Chrome will install to XP now.

If you still can't get Bitdefender Free to install I recommend Immunet. I run that on a netbook with XP.

 

[Muse]

They offer this link in the first link you gave me.

http://download.bitdefender.com/windows/installer/en-us/xp-vista/bitdefender_isecurity.exe

I would try Firefox, Pale Moon or Chrome if you're having issues with IE. Come to think of it, I don't know if Chrome will install to XP now.

If you still can't get Bitdefender Free to install I recommend Immunet. I run that on a netbook with XP.

I was recommended Opera version 36 around a week ago, told it would have XP support until Sept. 2017. I did manage to install that on the machine. Wasn't easy, I was finally linked to where I could DL it via FTP directly, and that worked. Couldn't DL the full program from the install EXE for some reason. Anyway, Opera's running. I think maybe if I take my time (a lot of time!) I can figure out the rat's maze of how to install Bitdefender Free on XP. I did it a few months ago on the machine, but since then the mobo died and I got a new mobo, CPU, RAM, video card and, of course, had to install XP fresh. Now I'm having trouble installing Bitdefender. Don't know if it is me or if they've changed. Yeah, that bitdefender_isecurity.exe linked above isn't the right app.

 

[Muse]

They offer this link in the first link you gave me.

http://download.bitdefender.com/windows/installer/en-us/xp-vista/bitdefender_isecurity.exe

I would try Firefox, Pale Moon or Chrome if you're having issues with IE. Come to think of it, I don't know if Chrome will install to XP now.

If you still can't get Bitdefender Free to install I recommend Immunet. I run that on a netbook with XP.

Cool! I just searched on Immunet. Wikipedia indicates it's FREE, and the data is cloud based. Threats located on any user's system (as long as that user opts to update the cloud when setting up, I believe) are made known in the cloud data and all 2.2 million users are almost instantly protected. Installation was a breeze and I'm running a full scan on my system right now.

Thank you!

Edit: In the full scan Immunet found and quarantined 5 or 8 items, it wasn't clear. Said it found 5 threats, but indicated it quarantined 8 threats in a separate popup. Anyway, it seems to be doing the job. Didn't find anything in the Flashscan, which was real quick. I presume it's running in the background when closed. Now I suppose I'll stop getting Windows popups every time I boot telling me I have no AV running.

 

[John Connor]

Be careful with the threats it detects. Check the quarantine and make sure it didn't move something it wasn't suppose to. Also, Imunnet should have an icon in the task bar. In fact, it really doesn't go away. That's been my experience with two computers. One is a netbook running XP.

 

[Kevin Richards]

I had this weired problem when I tried to Install BitDefender Free version. I have windows 7 professional 64-bit installed but I downloaded the 32-bit version of Bitdefender from their website but as soon as I started it, it prompted to download 64-bit version and when I clicked OK, it started downloading and everything was in Russian language and when it finished Windows Security Essentials started popping up the threat error "Floxif.H" & "Floxif.E" and it spreads on the system when ever I install any application and it affects some executables. I know one thing that everything was OK before this Bitdefender issue. What it might be? (http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/threat/encyclopedia/entry.aspx?Name=Virus:Win32/Floxif.H)

 

[John Connor]

Depending on if you downloaded Bitdefender Free from the legit link, it could very well be a false positive, WSE is not a very good anti-virus either. They even say it's to be used in "addition" to a real anti-virus solution.

But I digress. I think bitdefender can't code for crap or something when it comes to their downloads. As evident with the OP. And the language you read was more than likely Ukrainian since Bitdefender is based in the Ukraine.