Windows 7: New user needs help; numerous issues with Windows 7

I have a brand new, 52-hour-old, Lenovo T400 with Windows 7 Home Premium factory-installed. I had my cable company come out to set up the broadband this morning, but they couldn't set up my email because Windows Live Mail is not compatible for configuration with my local cable broadband. They also couldn't install the free anti-virus service that comes with the cable modem service, because it is not compatible with Windows 7. This is my first computer in 5 years (was offline entirely for 4.5 years until last June, when I got my Blackberry, so please forgive my naiivette' [sorry, I know that is mis-spelled; I don't know how to type an "i" with an umlaut; my BB auto-corrects the spelling on that word]), so I have never used Vista before, but have read enough to know that it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Is there a way to downgrade a factory-installed Windows 7 OS on a Lenovo T400 to XP?

In my past 28-hr attempt to get non-web-based email for a $1000+ device that is beginning to seem more like just a really expensive DVD and MP3 player with minimal web abilities, while my $50 Blackberry has email, near-normal desktop-style web browsing (except Flash Media), text, phone, video, and mp3 player capabilities; I called the cable company (Mediacom) who told me to call Lenovo or Microsoft. Called Lenovo first, and according to the tech I spoke with, the ONLY free non-web-based email client that is compatible with the combination of Windows 7 on a Lenovo T400 with cable broadband, that would allow access to email from more than 1 email address from different email providers, is Thunderbird, HOWEVER, when I went to download it from Mozilla, I kept getting warning messages that Thunderbird is infected with viruses. Does anyone know where I can find a virus-free copy of Thunderbird? Like a mirror site, or maybe from a file-sharing site from someone who downloaded/uploaded it before it was infected? The tech said he had no other solutions and told me to call Microsoft.

So, I called Microsoft, who said they could only *tell* me the name of a free non-web-based email client that could consolidate the messages from several email accounts and is Windows 7 and cable broadband compatible and compatible with my T400, for the "bargain price" of $59.95! I felt like I was talking to an organized crime syndicate, 'yeah, we'll give you the information...for a price.' They said since Mom bought it for me for Christmas from Lenovo, that Lenovo is allegedly responsible for any software/OS issues.

I called Lenovo back, and they said they are only responsible for the hardware, so between the two companies I apparently have NO technical support for my Windows 7 (in the event I have another problem besides no compatible email client), or any assistance in finding what non-virus-infected email clients are compatible with Windows 7 and cable broadband, are not web-based, and are capable of consolidating messages from more than one email address from different email providers, and store messages in an inbox that can be accessed offline, and would work on T400. Does *anyone* know of a free email client that meets these requirements?

Also, if I do have another OS problem, since neither MS, nor Lenovo, are allegedly responsible for the installed OS, does anyone know if there is a contracted 3rd company to deal with that, or some other way of supporting Windows 7? Because it was factory installed at Lenovo, I never received a Windows 7 backup disk or any MS or Windows literature; so if it gets corrupted or something, and neither MS nor Lenovo are responsible for OS or software issues, who would be responsible for fixing OS/software issues? Lenovo said MS was, and the warranty information booklet from Lenovo only covers hardware, specifically exempting pre-installed software: yet MS swears it is Lenovo's responsibility, and I can pay MS techs $60/question to have them tell me again that it is Lenova's responsibility and that MS can't do anything.

I am hoping that someone can PLEASE tell me that there is a legitimate 3rd party responsible for supporting my OS 7; that there is some legitimate way to get a backup disk of my OS 7; and that there is either a free, virus-free email client that meets my above reqirements, or that I can somehow downgrade to XP that has a built-in email client.
Thanks so much,
Ann

You wrote quite a bit I will answer as many points as I can one at at Time

Go to windows security essentials and download the great, but free A/V

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

If you go to Windows Live Essentials. You can download the free email client. Windows Live Mail.

http://download.live.com/ There are several appl that you can get from that site like messenger.

I think that the best support paid or unpaid is available, here, at Seven Forums. Give us a try before going else where.

This should be virus free, if you insist upon Thunderbird, but WLM, was made just for windows, I use it and am very satisfied.

http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/thunderbird/

Mozilla Thunderbird is another great free email client that is very configurable... Get it -=> Here

If you need further help, all you need to do is ask... we live to serve....

Actually I am surprised that Lenovo does not offer technical support on Windows 7 - usually OEM manufacturers are responsible for tech support and that's the reason Microsoft asked you to pay. In my case, for example, I am supposed to call Dell, not Microsoft. Not that I ever do - it's much less stress to ask for advice right here in the Forums .

Thunderbird is indeed a great email client - works with different accounts and is very customizable, so you should not have any problems setting up your cable company's email. I am surprised though that Windows Live Mail is incompatible - what kind of email do they offer you, is that IMAP or POP3? If you do not know, ask your cable company, since you'll need to know that to configure *any* email client.

Downloading Thunderbird from the official Mozilla site Thunderbird - It?s All Yours is surely virus-free. However, if you are getting messages from the anti-virus software - which one do you have there, if you don't mind my asking - then try to update your anti-virus first.

Hope this helps.

I would just like to add Don't go back to XP with the vast anount of information on this site and the quality of the members I'm certian someone can help you through any issues you may come accross. Fabe

I have found that when a support tech says that their product isnt compatible with a particular OS, what they really are saying is

a. Im too lazy to look your problem up
b. I cant help you cause I really dont know what Im doing...

You will likely find the solution here... SevenForums was voted the BEST site for all things regarding Windows 7 on the net ... nuff said!

I downloaded the free AVG anti-virus this morning, but I am supposed to have access to a more advanced and featured, normally paid security software as part of my cable broadband service, but the program is not compatible with Windows 7.
I tried to download Thunderbird from Mozilla before I had installed ANY security software, and the infection messages appeared to be pop-ups coming from the site itself.

What exactly are these "messages" saying??

It sounds like Mediacom support is weak.

They appear to support Outlook Express as a client. Regardless of its name, Windows Live Mail is similar to Outlook Express, and can be used with POP3 servers.

The POP3 configuration settings are here:

Mediacom

(The POP3 and SMTP servers are both mail.mediacombb.com.) If you can't figure out how to configure Windows Live Mail with them, I hope that you can ask a PC-savvy chum. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes.

I don't understand the virus warnings when you download Thunderbird. I have no trouble getting it from www.mozilla.org. (I have Microsoft Security Essentials as my antivirus, plus Windows Defender.) I scanned the download with MSE: no problems. (I didn't actually install it.)

As regards general Windows support, your OEM Windows license is supposed to be supported by Lenovo. (If it was a retail license, Microsoft would give you free support on it. I haven't checked since the XP days, but I believe that the free period would be a whole 90 days from the time of your first support inquiry.) I can't advise you on how to avoid the run-around you've been getting.

In terms of going to XP: it may be possible. You haven't supplied enough information (exact T400 model) to allow anyone to check whether XP drivers are available. However, even if it's possible, it'll be much more difficult than configuring an email client that Mediacom doesn't support. ("Doesn't support" means that their support people can't talk you through the settings; it does not mean that it won't work.)

Good luck.