Usually when you install the AV program it will automaticlly pupt it in there. If you have windows XP it may be hiding: click on the little arrow and it should reveal the hiding icons. If still not there then open the AV program and go to the settings. The setting you are looking for would say something like this "Display in taskbar" If the option that says "start on system start up" is checked or "on", the its a good chance that the AV program is running, even though it doesn't show the little icon. Most Programs will show that icon, but maybe the praticular program that you have may not have that particular feature. If you want to make sure the program is running in the background, press ALT+CRTL+DEL to bring up the task manager. On the Processes tab, just look for a process that has a similar name to your AV program. If you don't see anything similar, then it's a good chance that it isn't running, in which case you may want to try another AV program or have a computer professional take a look at the compter.

This is to samirpx I have noticed that some programs that get installed on a computer do show an icon where the time and day of the week are on a computer. The arrow thing didn't work, but it's ok. There is an icon that says the name of the AV program I am using is on, but I think that icon is for another part of the program I am using. I tried the ALT+CRTL+DEL that you said to bring up the task manager. I looked in there, but couldn't find anything with the name of the AV program I am using. At this time I don't want to get a different AV program for the computer I use. I guess if there is a check mark where it says run at system start than it must be working. I was wondering if the AV program was in the task bar where it says the date and time would it say that it is running in the scheduled task or it would only say it is running if you did a scan with the AV program. I know right now that when the icon isn't on the task bar and I go to scheduled tasks it doesn't say the AV program is running. If it doesn't say it's running does that mean you are not being protected. PS I went back into the AV program I am using and saw that there is a check mark next to launch at system start. I unchecked it and than checkied it and restarted the computer. When I restarted the computer it did show the AV program icon, but than when I restarted the computer again it didn't have the icon anymore in the task bar. I wonder why it did that. I really really hope the program is protecting me. I guess if I really wanted the icon to show up I could always open the program as if I was going to scan with it and than it would show up in the task bar.