Windows 7: I have a question about Antivirus software

Why does this site not recommend ANY anti-virus apart from MSE. No one has given me an answer yet.

For most lay users MSE is adequate and has a reasonably small footprint. I think that is why.

However if you look at the sticky threads you shall see that Avast! Free is considered very highly as an alternative. Many volunteers have recommended it. I personally use it in preference over MSE.

Lastly why pay for an Anti-Virus Programs when there are so many good and better Anti-Virus Programs?

Microsoft makes the operating system, firewall why not use their anti virus.
When you read through many post with problems you will notice many 3rd party anti virus and firewalls cause all kinds of problems with Windows 7. I use MSE and the built in firewall with no problems. It's the only free one I have ever used. The rest of the ones I used were paid for and worked no better than MSE IMO.

Neither the MS Security Essentials or Avast Free version would cover what the VIPRE Internet Security 2012 covers. That also has a light footprint but also includes a firewall and web filtering process. The program will also detect trojans hidden in zip files that supposedly were system utilities you download off the web.

That replaced the need for 3 or 4 other free programs combined to see the bases covered while still being a personal preference. For the next person they will point at some other program they prefer.

As far as detection rates as for free the renamed Windows Defender(MS SE under the MS ware's name) being seen in the next version will find trojans hidden in downloads offering a better protection there. The paid for programs however maintain a regular support like seeing the next newer build available for those with paid subscriptions that will go on as a regular update.

To avoid any issues over which is actually the best and for those on tight budgets the free programs are being pointed to however rather then see someone run without any. Others will point to the free AVG builds as another free av program to run. I looked at Avast some years back and stayed with AVG along with a few other antiadware, antispyware programs until trying VIPRE out back in 2010.

With the paid for program here however if I miss seeing the popup notice it is running a scheduled full system scan I wouldn't even know it was running one while running a full screen program or video capture since it never intrudes or clashes with anything as some av programs might.

This is one thing people look at these days when wanting to find a new program that won't be resource intensive or clash with what you are running at the time. Some programs no matter how good(or bad) they are protection wise are cutting in with an update or end up seeing issues of one type or another(McAfeeFail classic example) and simply are not on any recommended lists.