windows defender vs McAfee LiveSafe on our New PC... which is better?

I am currently stuck with the 30-day free trial of mcafee livesafe (apparently).

No, you're not.

Before the 3-day free-trial period expires, you can (a) uninstall the McAfee free-trialware AND THEN (b) download/run the McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool & reboot (c) AND THEN...

• Make certain that Win8.1's built-in (i.e., free) **Windows Defender** & **Windows Firewall** are enabled & working properly; or...
• Purchase and do a clean install of McAfee LiveSafe or any other third-party anti-virus application or security suite of your choice; or...
• Do a clean install of a free, third-party anti-virus application or security suite of your choice.

TIP => McAfee (and Norton) applications are notorious for not uninstalling or upgrading cleanly - so you don't want to "upgrade" to the paid version of McAfee LiveSafe (or any other McAfee application).

Your brand-new Dell Inspiron came with Windows 8.1 (Win8.1) preinstalled.  Win8.1 first became available in October 2013. The vast majority of recently built brand-new computers come with Win8.1, not Win8, preinstalled.

Tip: Any Microsoft page that refers to Windows 8 applies to Windows 8.1 (but not necessarily vice versa).

PS: Kudos for asking questions and for asking good questions!

It dose not matter if you get a free trial then pay for the full subscription of MacAfee. You will get the best out of it I know this because I myself have MacAfee and it is the best ever. But if you don't like it then to delete it from your computer then you need to go to the control panel and click uninstall a program. then find MacAfee from the list and press at the top of the page uninstall/change and that will delete it.

Trust me do not remove it  is one of the best security systems you can get in this county with the free trial and when you pay after the trial you will still get maximum protection.

Thank You for the link, smittychat ... but after using the sw removal tool, I still find Many instances of the McAfee '.exe' file (and the entire .cab's for the 32 & 64 bit versions) still tucked away in my pc, besides all the icons and app 'start' (shortcuts?) still available as well. I'll pick them off one-by-one and delete, as I come across them, since the 'Search' function can't find them all either (different names, etc.).

  I found I have to hunt them down under the other profiles my family has... (for some reason, even as the* 'Administrator', it didn't remove everything I* removed while I was logged in... I will have to hunt down the same things under Their profiles ... such fun)... but the link Did* at least get the main 'tree trunk' gone, so thank you for that. Just have to trace down all the daxx 'roots' now.

  As far as which is Better* ... I would have to say they are probably at least equal, as far as stopping any virus, malware ... so far.

Just for the record* (Microsoft), the primary reason I wanted McAfee gone was the total* lack of anything resembling customer service. I'm fairly certain it would have stopped most* of what the internet has to offer, much like Defender will (I hope), but simple text auto-gen replies confirming 'a request was received', and nothing* else, simply doesn't count as service. Sorry to be so 'picky'.

Hi,

I'd advise uninstalling McAfee and sticking with Windows Defender. 

http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/windows-defender.aspx

McAfee is a Resource Hog - so is Norton amongst other things.

Use the Removal Tool from this list to uninstall all traces of the software

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/mse-protect_start/list-of-anti-malware-product-removal-tools/407bf6da-c05d-4546-8788-0aa4c25a1f91

Windows 8.1 was an update to Windows 8

To verify which version you do have press Winkey + R to open Run box

Type Winver

You'll see the Windows version you have installed in the window that appears.

I updated a Windows 8 unit to Windows 8.1 and noticed the same OS information but when I checked using Winver it shows Windows 8.1 however you will see Windows 8 at the top of the Window.

The unit I purchased with Windows 8.1 pre-installed shows the same.  I believe it is because Windows 8.1 is an update.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the updated link.  Links in the one I provided were still good re: Norton Product.  I used it myself.