Malwarebytes is a nice job of work.

On my Win7 machine (which is usually booted into Linux), I use AVG Free for an anti-virus, but run both Malwarebytes and Spybot S&D periodically.

Makes sense to use a Linux VM for as much as you can if you feel you have to use malware on metal, eg: your net browser, mail client &c could be Virtualbox... then you shouldn't need a viru$canner (to help create a need) just ONLY m$ecur!tyup↓date$ and disabled with a comb other junk‽ ☮

I would agree with your assessment that this is a "killer app" for a work-related situation and that you should indeed purchase a Windows computer. In this case I would not fool around with VMs.

I would purchase a full-retail version of, probably, the most expensive Windows version that they sell, and be sure that DVDs are inside the box. I would then wipe clean(!) the installation that's on the machine right now and install Windows (10, of course) from the purchased media.

Follow ordinary security best-practices. For example, have one dedicated "Administrator" account (not named, "Administrator"), and use Limited accounts for everything else. Use one such account for personal use and a second such account for all your work projects.

Purchase an external hard drive that works with the fastest external-connector type available on your machine, and immediately set up continuously-running backups. Microsoft's solution is nowhere as cool as Apple's Time Machine, but it does work well.

And then, just use the thing for the purposes for which you need it.

Set up a nice curtain between it and your Linux boxes so that the latter do not become nauseated.

Friend of mine is a Windows tech, runs his own consulting business for Windows. Does pretty well for himself. He suggested to me that I don't bother with more than Defender really. Unless you are actively searching out the dangerous stuff (porn?) you are quite well protected by Defender if you keep the updates current.

Yes, that is the Microsoft stand on the issue. I had to support 44 desktops local and hundreds remote in my last job, and no AV was completely adequate. I still recommend keeping another AV around. I carry a USB key with a few scanners (including malwarebytes)that can update, scan, and in many cases clean without Windows 10 being started up. The only thing that has defeated that was an encryption virus. (That one took an OS reload. Nasty. And there are getting to be more of those every day.)

Anything or nothing may be adequate if you are very LUCKY. Be prepared for the day your luck turns bad.

Hi...

I can't say I agree with your friend's assessment. Windows Defender/MSE's detection rates, if I understand correctly, still runs fairly low in comparison to the other anti-virus programs that are out there. But I would agree it's better than nothing at all.

Regards...

Hey jefm ... my 2 cents ... (.. quite a piggy bank you're accumulating here ... ;-)

I've been running both linux and Windows at home for the last 10 years or so - often on the same machine in dual-boot setups. My comments:

- Autodesk software is hardware-intensive. Although I am an avid user of virtualization, I second sundialsvcs and would go physical for your requirements.

- In my experience, Windows Defender is adequate for most situations. It is descended, as mentioned, from Microsoft Security Essentials, but also, importantly, from Giant Technologies anti-malware solution, which was highly rated before Microsoft purchased it. Other solutions are possibly superior, and you are free to experiment, but since I've been using it, Windows Defender has been satisfactory for my Windows needs.

- Although, in my opinion, the "Libraries" storage feature is less than intuitive, it isn't mysterious. It is similar to a symbolic link setup in linux. The real default directories it points to are under c:\Users. Furthermore, one can set up any subdirectory structure one wishes and use that instead - I tend to use c:\Rick as my "home" directory.

- Concerning the fresh install question, I used to religiously do exactly that for exactly the reasons you evoke. I don't any longer, as the pre-installed-software bloat issue seems to be less of a problem than it once was and it is fairly easy to uninstall anything you don't want. In the end, having all the proper drivers automatically installed and set up is more of a "plus" for me than the "minus" associated with unwanted software.

Cheers,

May I suggest that instead of asking the question on a Linux Forum, where you will get silly advice, you look on a Windows beginners forum where you might actually get some help.

"Oh, foo!" This forum will have extremely knowledgeable and experienced WINDOWS users! This is no ordinary site, and no one can actually be "Linux only."

- - -

I have found that non-OEM installs do select the right drivers. I always want to know that my installation is "standard."

1 members found this post helpful.

Hi,
Not silly to seek advice from avid experienced computer users who likely have MS Windows experience and the means to utilize multiple platforms.

Maybe you should read the replies that have been given to date by members. It seems you have made your own judgement.
Personally, I feel that good advice has been given to date by most replies.

Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!

1 members found this post helpful.

It is a shame then that many of them cannot behave like grown-ups when referring to Windows.
I am not saying that there aren't experienced Windows and Linux users (I happen to be one), but most references to Windows on these forums are either derogatory or mocking, which, as I have said before, does not reflect well on the forum.

Hi Dave,

I agree with you that when that DOES occur, it is not helpful and reflects badly on the forum. In the current thread, however, I think most of the answers have been rather unbiased and helpful.

Cheers :-)

1 members found this post helpful.

Most of the actual replies in this thread are really good. Perhaps this isn't the right thread for taking on the anti-windows commentary you've found elsewhere?

If you really want to talk about it, new threads are cheap.

1 members found this post helpful.

It does not alter the fact that the question would still be better answered in a WINDOWS forum.

Hey again Dave,

At the risk of prolonging this sub-discussion, the advantage I can see to the OP asking such a question here, is that he/she seemed to be particularly interested in opinions on " ... what to expect .. " from the point of view of a (primarily) linux user needing to set up a Windows computer.

I believe his/her chances of getting such an opinion are better here than on a Windows-specific forum.

Cheers :-)

1 members found this post helpful.