I use Google Update and they suggested that I download Ad-Aware SE. I did but when I tried to install it, it comes up with the error:

"A premium version of Ad-Aware SE Personal is already installed. To install the Google Pack version of this software please uninstall the premium version first".

This is a reasonably new computer. I can't recall every having installed any version of Ad-Aware and I can't find, let alone remove, this premium version anywhere.

Now I'm concerned that actually I have no protection at all. Can anyone suggest what to do?

Thanks!

Hi DoubleDutch,

That is an odd error message - the Ad-Aware SE Personal version is freeware and as such does not have a "Premium" version.

The enhanced (premium?) versions of Ad-Aware SE are the (paid-for) Plus & Professional versions.

You say that your computer is reasonably new - does it's documentation mention it having Ad-Aware SE Personal pre-loaded? But in that case it would show up in it's default path of C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware SE\ and there would be files/folders in C:\Documents and Settings\(User-name)\Application Data\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware, as well as the requisite Reg Keys. It would also appear in your "Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs" page.

I am not sure what exactly Google Update is offering - Lavasoft's own download link for Ad-Aware SE Personal is through their website www.lavasoft.com, where the download link takes you to our mirror-site at www.download.com here: Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06

If you have performed a Search on your computer for words such as Lavasoft or Ad-Aware and get no results, I would suggest that you delete the Google download and re-download Ad-Aware SE Personal from the above link.

Usually we recommend uninstalling any previous version before installing the latest version - that said, if you are unable to find any trace of the program on your system, install the version from our link. If it detects a prior installation, the installation process should halt and you should receive a prompt recommending that it be removed - you should not be able to proceed without accepting the removal.

Please let us know how you get on.

Regards,

Spike