DON'T USE "Microsoft Security Essentials" as your Anti Virus - it is the worst AV I've ever used.
I'm not right up with computers, but, I have found Microsoft Security Essentials great. It doesn't slow your computer like the other ones do and it just sits around in the background, has found a few trojens and removed them. I use that combined with spybot and haven't had any dramas with viruses or spyware.
What was it you didn't like about it Nino?