Get windows XP or 2000 if your going to continue on the microsoft platform. Don't use anything that is offered as only free. I'm a computer tech and you need to understand how crappy free software usually is. Its usually written by the development companies I.E. Symantec in order to get you to want to actually buy the retail programs. Get Norton Internet security, that has the antivirus and firewall. make sure you keep them updated. Then download ad aware 6, spybot, and go buy spy sweeper. Its very important to always keep everything updated. Go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and update your OS, do this periodically. and ifyou do get xp, download autopatcher. do a search for it on google.