Hi
I've just downloaded the new AVG & it won't update!
I have disabled the email scanner & don't want the toolbar & i can connect to the internet, but when i try to update, i get the message
'update failed, couldn't connect to the update server' 'you may not be protected, some components report an error'
'connection parameters' ??

Help appreciated


wf

forgot to say, whilst i was writing this with an un-updated version 8.0 135a133, my browser kept wanting to shut down & send an error report & my typing slowed down on the screen!

I thought i was under attack & vulnerable & so i uninstalled & re-installed my old 7.5!!, updated succesfully & all seems ok now, but realy would like version 8 to work!!

Is the version 8.0 135a133 ok?, i hear 1 of the older versions was faulty!

Many thanks

wf

Hi Waterface again,
This promblem happened to me when I first installed AVG 8.0, I reinstalled it and got it working again. Don't uninstall your AVG 7.5 just yet unless it requires you to.
You might not be able to Uninstall AVG 8.0 from add/remove, try uninstalling it using Add/remove. I couldn't so I did the uninstallation from AVG setup.
Schat gave a great link of how to uninstall AVG which can be found here: http://freeforum.avg.com/read.php?13,121635,backpage=,sv=
Download AVG 8.0 from here: http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/
Download the latest version. Once you download the latest version follow the steps of the link that I provided above, uninstall AVG 8.0 and reinstall AVG 8.0 See if the updates work now(Hope it does) If it works then please uninstall AVG 7.5 before doing any scans because it can cause conflicts. If it didn't work please reply back of any nesscary information that can help us figure out this promblem.
Hope that works and good luck

Regards,
Extremeboy

Hi Extremeboy
I uninstalled AVG 8.0.138.a.133 that i initially downloaded from AVG as it was a newer version than the one in filehippo.
I managed to uninstall it via start>programmes>AVG 8.0 & then the Uninstall AVG option!

I didn't want to run my pc without anti-virus so i re-installed 7.5.

However, i recall when i 1st uninstalled 7.5, i didn't check the 'remove user settings' tab!!, is this the necessary issue that i didn't do that may prevent 8.0 from updating?

Another thing, my Firefox browser seems to be conflicting!, the typing drags, i hear a clicking & always Not responding & needs to close!, Send a report or not etc! I can't keep the browser open for more than 5 mins!

Also this i saw in AVG forums! I have Ashampoo Firewall

http://freeforum.avg.com/read.php?12,135918,backpage=2,sv=

I will follow the steps in your link (checking the remove user settings) tab, in the morning as it is very late here in UK. I shall report back.

Many thanks

wf

Items 2 & 3 in your link! i don't understand!

Do i install 8.0 whilst i have 7.5 installed & then uninstall 8 & 7.5 if it asks & then re-install 8.0, remembering to check the 'remove settings' box?

Thanks

Hi Waterface,
I think I was my instructions was poorly written. I hope this time you can understand:
Please read everything and understand everything before proceeding with the following steps:
please uninstall AVG 8.0 using add/remove.
before uninstalling AVG 7.5 please download AVG 8.0 from the link I provided above.
Please uninstall AVG 7.5 and install AVG 8.0, in the process of install AVG 8.0 check for updates and reply back if the updates worked or not.

I'm not sure what the user settings tab is but since it is part of AVG 7.5 adn you want to have AVG 8.0 i would check that and uninstall AVG 7.5 Once you uninstalled AVG 7.5 install AVG 8.0

Can you show me the link where you download the new version of AVG 8.0.138.a.133 from grifsoft.

Regards,
Extremeboy

Hi
I installed AVG 8 from the link provided, but it said it noticed version 7.5 & it would uninstall that whilst installing version 8!
I tried both versions!, yours from file hippo & this :-

http://free.avg.com/ww.download?prd=afe#tba2

the one you asked for!

AVG 8 won't install if 7.5 is there, so i uninstall version 7.5 using the 'uninstall AVG7.5 ' from start>programmes>avg uninstall! Is this different fro using add/remove?

The user settings tab is there in version 8 when i uninstall & It asks me if i want to remove user settings, along with emptying virus vault!!

Both versions don't & won't download updates!, both versions cause Firefox to crash & ask for report to be sent!

wf

Hi Waterface,
That sounds like a very serious promblem.

Don't think theres any difference.

AVG 7.5 doesn't work ethier!!! What happened...I think this needs more attention to. I don't think I can solve this promblem alone I need other people's advice as well, A moderator might move this topic for you. Don't know why AVG 7.5 is not working all of a sudden...What service pack is it currently and what is your OS and how much Ram does your computer have. you can get all the information by right clicking on "My Computer". One thought can you manually install the updates from grifsoft?

Hi extremeboy
No, sorry, 7.5 works fine, just both versions of 8.0!!, the one from filehippo & the newer one from the link i gave you!!.

My only option is to maybe turn off my firewall or uninstall it & turn on windows firewall & see what happens!!
I seem to be in a dead end!

I though manualy installing was clicking on 'update' in the programme as opposed to setting the updates to automatically update at a certain time & day!, within the programme!

Have a look here & see what you think! I use this firewall

http://freeforum.avg.com/read.php?12,135918,backpage=2,sv=

Thanks

Interesting...It seems AVG 8.0 has lots of promblems. I have 2 suggustions then.
If the firewall is causing the trouble.
1)Disable your firewall and update using AVG 8.0 then reenable your firewall and update again see if it works.
2)Maybe use another firewall such as Zone Alarm/Comodo Firewall 3.0
There's alot of other firewalls you can use instead that are great as well. Try the first method and see if it works.
Also if that doesn't work I guess you have to disable your Firewall each time you update with AVG 8.0.... or you can just replace that firewall with some other firewalls.
Hope you get this promblem solved soon

Thankyou for your persistance & help extremeboy!
I shall do this tomorrow!
I'm not sure as to how to turn off my Ashampoo firewall as i've not done it before!, maybe i need to uninstall it!

If i do this, do i need then to turn on Windows Firewall as i need a Firewall to go online to update version 8.0?
I ask this as i know Windows Firewall is less secure than a 3rd party firewall! Does WFW only work if the up to date patches from microsoft are installed?, which they aren't on my pc!

If it is the firewall, i may change that or use an alternate antivirus like Avast!!

I shall report back

Thanks again

Wf

I never had ashampoo firewall so not sure how to disable it. Usually to disable a firewall you right click on the icon and click exit. That will disable it, to reenable it just double click your Ashampoo firewall shortcut icon.
You should at least have Windows Firewall enable if you disable/uninstall ashampoo,as they always say something is better than nothing.

sorry, I didn't mean to tell you just to uninstall your firewall. If you choose to keep your firewall and the update promblem still occur to AVG 8.0 you can always have another Anti-virus program such as Avast or Avira. I'll give you some of my feedback on Avast. Avast slows down my computer alot because it takes alot of resources. Also the scans are extremely long. The good thing about Avast is it has a built in rookitscan and Anti-spyware scan(not sure about the anti-spyware scan).If you would to chose between Avast and Avira I would select Avira because the scans are not extremely long doesn't take alot of resources. Since Avira doesn't have an anti-rookit scan and if you wish to have an anti-rookit scan you can use F-secure Black Light anti-rookit. Let me know by tommorrow.
I might not respond to you tommorrow because I am leaving, i'll be back aroun 8:00pm and I have some work to do, after I'm done I'll try to respone to you as soon as possible.

Regards,
Extremeboy

If I might make a few suggestions--extremeboy has done a great job being helpful but I see a couple items that may be off the mark.

I recently started using AVG 8 myself on two computers. First upgrading from 7.5 on my sister's PC. On my PC I switched from AntiVir to AVG 8, having not run AVG on this machine before. That is just to say I'm just now getting familiar with it. I have issues of my own with AVG but they don't relate to the subject of this topic and don't have the update problems described here.

I can't say for sure, but believe I don't have those updates problems because I chose not to install the toolbar/linkscanner and the email scanner. Yes you do have that option. If you start from scratch like I did, I believe you can choose to do a custom installation. I don't recall at what point the choice came up, just know I choose not to install those components. I will get into why no email scanner in just a bit, and the linkscanner--well I just don't like toolbars and I had heard the linkscanner caused problems--slowness if nothing else.

I don't think it was a good idea to disable the email scanner service as was suggested to you in another thread. Better to use the configuration options or component installation options controls.

It may be that you did not see the option to forego the email scanner installation because you still had AVG 7.5 installed. As you found out, 8 will uninstall 7.5 if it finds it still present. I didn't go that route on my sister's computer. I completely uninstalled 7.5 ( and actually used Revo uninstaller portable version that I am currently testing) and then ran the setup for 8.

Also, if you've had files sitting in the Virus Vault for any length of time and had no problems because of it, then it is safe to empty the Vault when it asks. If you are unsure, then it is also safe to leave them.

My suggestion, if I were you, would be to stat from scratch by uninstalling All copies of AVG that you have installed. Then disable Ashampoo while your computer is offline, install 8 without email scanner and toolbar, and this time remove user settings, then turn on Windows firewall, go online and see if you can get updates. If that works, re-enable Ashampoo and see if the problem re-occurs. If so you will need to decide which program you want to keep. Personally, tho I have not tried Ashampoo either, I would get rid of AVG--I think I'll go back to Avira or repurchase Kaspersky.

If you are still having problems with Ashampoo disabled, you may need to try uninstalling Ashampoo. Some firewall drivers won't let go until they are uninstalled. The windows firewall is better than nothing and you will be reasonably protected while you straighten this out, but if you do any high risk surfing at all, you need another 3rd party firewall.

These are the steps I would take--it is pretty much the same as what extremeboy suggested but let's try them in exact order:

First, if you still have 7.5 installed, uninstall it from Add/Remove programs via Control Panel.

1. Check the name of the setup file you downloaded and make sure it is the latest version. As I write this the current version file name is avg_free_stf_en_8_138a1332.exe. If yours in not the latest version 138, then download it again and save the file to some location on your computer--your desktop or downloads folder, etc.

2. Take your computer offline. If on broadband, physically disconnect.

3. Disable Ashampoo firewall. Check their help file for how to disable, but as already mentioned, usually a right click on the icon in the system tray will have an option to "exit" or similar. The icon will either gray out or disappear, which lets you know its disabled. If it disappears, to re-enable you'll need to restart it from the start menu or other shortcuts. This may not completely disable the firewall, however, so it is important for you to look thru the settings for an option that will prevent it from running on startup/reboot. This can be phrased in many different ways, just use your best judgement and ignore any warnings that you won't be protected. This is just temporary and we don't want the firewall to run when windows is restarted after AVG installation.

If present, also disable Spybot S&D's TeaTimer, Windows Defender, Ad-Aware's Adwatch and SpywareGuard.

4. Follow the instructions from the AVG forum you were linked to. At this point do steps 2 thru 4.

5. After restart, check that your firewall and other security tools are still disabled.

6. Install AVG 8. Don't install the toolbar or email scanner. Cancel any updates, as you are still disconnected from the 'net. You can update on your own (what you think of as manual updates) later.

7. Turn on Windows firewall. Via Control Panel, Security Center.

8. Restart again.

8. Connect to the internet.

9. Try running updates. (Click Update now).

10. If you can update, re-enable Ashampoo firewall and reboot. Can you still update?

11. Let us know how it goes.

By running the installer again you caqn turn off components or reinstall the linkscanner and email scanner if your really want them, but let's try the above first.

It may be that the firewall does not like the linkscanner, but that may not affect the updates.

Antivirus Email scanners are a layer of protection that aren't really needed and may actually cause more harm than good. This is not conventional wisdom but hear me out. They are really just a marketing tool of the AV vendors. They know that there is a demand for them, but that demand is because of a misunderstanding of how an antivirus works. I just have time for a couple of quotes and links from some MSMVP's, and reserve comments on Mailwasher:


http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=33234


http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/commun...tion.mspx#EOAAC

Hi extremeboy & papakid
Papakid, 1st i must say that i will follow your instruction, but must wait until tomorrow as i feel i need to print off your instructions for reference.

Yes, on installing, i opted to disable toolbar, link scanner & email scanner because i too hate toolbars & in version 7.5, the email scanner conflicts with my Mailwasher & the linkscanner seems to be something i don't need!!
Is it better to use the configuration options or component installation control to disable email scanner as opposed to doing it via custom install!

Version 7.5 has an email scanner too, whish i also uninstalled via the custom installation. I have no files stored in Virus Vault.


Removing user settings is only an option i think on uninstallation!, i was confused when you said to remove user settings after disabling Ashampoo whilst installing version 8!
Do you mean!, when i uninstall 7.5 (what i'm using now), remove user settings from that version before rebooting?

I have heard lots of negatives about version 8.0, that its over complicated & has a lot of unnecessarys.
I only used Ashampoo firewall because it uses minimal space & claims to be simple to use & is!
Ashampoo also has an AV programme that i may consider, also i will look at Aviro which i hear is good.

I can right click on the taskbar icon & it says 'exit', but am unaware of how to re-enable it?
Will Windows FW be up to date as i don't use microsoft patches & haven't used the WFW for a very long time! Hence, does it need updating?

Mailwasher i have always used as i can check all incoming mail before they are downloaded to my mail programme, deciding wether to blacklist them etc!
I personaly find it very useful, however i know some that have different opinions.

I guess the link scanner is a gimmick to sell the product, i thought that as long as using common sense, knowing what to & what not to open, click on etc, all will be fine!

I am extremely thankfull for you taking time & your wisdom is apprciated & valuable.

I shall report back asap after i have done the tasks!

Many thanks

WF

I just have a short time so will answer your questions in more detail later.

The instructions I gave are for if you have version 8 installed. The specific steps are for uninstalling 8 and then reinstalling it. You say you are using 7.5, does that mean you have both 8 and 7.5 installed at the same time? If you don't have 8 installed, then those instructions need to be modified.

Let me know--if 8 is still installed, then please wait for further instructions.

Hi Papakid

No, i don't have version 8 installed, only 7.5.
I have the installation programme on my desktop. The version is 8.0.138a133.

I have seen a thread i found via google, which states that there is an Ashampoo Firewall/version 8.0 incompatability, but also states that it still conflicts when the Firewall is off!!

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qi...17065916AA6g9vm

When i tried to update before, i got no Firewall intrusion alerts like i usualy do when something is trying to access the internet!!

I shall be at work near a printer tomorrow & will constantly check for your instructions.

Again, many thanks!

WF

OK, so if the Ashampoo firewall still conflicts after having been "turned off", then it probably has to be uninstalled completely in order for it to not conflict with AVG 8. At this point I believe it would be best to decide which program you want to keep, Ashampoo or AVG 8, since you can't run both at the same time. You could continue to run 7.5 and your firewall and hope AVG straightens out the situation, but who know how long that will be or if it will even ever happen. My advice would be to ditch AVG and get an antivirus you can depend on. If you want, you can go back to AVG later when they have worked the bugs out.

I have run all the major free antiviruses, AVG 7.5--and now 8--Avast and Avira''s Anitvir. They all have their good points and bad, according to my tastes of course. A bit later I'll go into what I like and dislike about each. At this point you have a few courses of action to take based on your decision of what you want to do.

If you really want to use 8, you can try uninstalling the firewall, then reinstall 8 (after uninstalling 7.5 and see that helps. If you go this route the modified instructions would be as follows:

1. Uninstall AVG 7.5 from Add/Remove programs via Control Panel.

2. Take your computer offline. If on broadband, physically disconnect.

3. Uninstall Ashampoo firewall. Check their help file for specific instructions. Usually you will have to disable the firewall first for it to uninstall correctly, but for some it is not necessary. You should then be able to use Add/Remove or an uninstall shortcut in your start menu.

If present, also disable Spybot S&D's TeaTimer, Windows Defender, Ad-Aware's Adwatch and SpywareGuard.

4. Double-click avg_free_stf_en_8_138a1332.exe to run AVG 8's installer. Since you have already chosen not to install LinkScanner/Toolbar and email scanner, you know how to do the custom install. If you have any questions, download the User manual in PDF format--something else that is broken in 8 is that you can't see the entire help file. There are some very good instructions on installing and it can be found in the Documentation tab here: http://free.avg.com/ww.download?prd=afe#tba3

If you want to install those components later, run the installer again. That would be the answer to your question if it is better to use configuration of the program or custom install. Besides, since I didn't install these components, there is nothing in AVG 8's interface that allows me to turn them on. I do not know if there would be a configuration option to turn the email scanner and Linkscanner off if you had installed them during setup. I believe you can uninstall them again by running the setup again and that would be the better option if you had the choice.

When installation is complete, the first run wizard will pop up. As mentioned earlier, delcline the updates and registering with AVG for now

5. Turn on Windows firewall. Via Control Panel, Security Center.

Windows firewall works as well as it can no matter the state of your Windows update status--in XP the only major change to it was when SP2 is installed. I checked your last HijackThis log and see you have SP2 installed so you shouldn't have anything to worry about as far as Windows firewall. But why aren't you fully patched? Besides having an antivirus with real time protection, keeping Windows fully patched is the single most important way to secure your PC. In fact, without patches, you should have the Linkscanner installed. That is what it is designed for, detecting sites that exploit vulnerabilities in your browser, Windows and other programs that interact with the net.

8. Restart again.

8. Connect to the internet.

9. Try running updates. (Click Update now).

10. If you can update, look for another firewall. Personally, I don't recommend ZoneAlarm--too many people have problems with it--including me--it just didn't agree with my system. Probably the two best freebies out there are Online Armor and Comodo.

The other choices are as follows:

Continue to use 7.5 and Ashampoo firewall together.

Ditch AVG and go with another antivirus and keep Ashampoo.

Of course there are variations to these choices, scuh as ditching both AVG and Ashampoo, but my recommendation is the third one. With apologies to colleagues in the security community, who I respect and have learned a lot from--AVG is often recommended and highly regarded--here's why I have never really liked it and it is my least favorite of the free AV's.

*No scheduling. This has changed in 8, but previously one had no option of when to run a full scan automatically. I don't care for scanning when my computer starts--I want to get logged in and go. For reasons of my own, I require the ability to run a scan overnight. Being on dialup I also like to have control over when updates are performed. The main reason I just recently gave AVG 8 a try is because I heard it now allows scheduling of full scans. However, so far the scheduler has initiated updates and one full scan on its own. The system scan was probably explained by a certain setting, but the updates are running but not at the time I schedule them for. The one system scan that did start on time took far longer than it should have.

*Certain important features are disabled that are only available in the pro version. Well, this is standard procedure for free AV's that we have to live with, but one feature that I think everyone should have is the ability to exclude certain files and folders. Both Avast and Antivir allow exclusions which are useful for eliminating the detection of false positives. There is another more important reason some folders should be excluded that I'll get into shortly.

*An overall disdain for users of the free AVG. I think the above two comments are a part of this--of course they have a right to make money from their hard work, and to limit some features, but AVG has struck me as being particularly condescending and difficult to deal with.

*Last, but by far not the least, it is possible that that using AVG will break System Restore. Not just possible, it will happen if you have an infection backed up to a Restore Point and you allow AVG to move it to the Virus Vault. I am proof of this happening. I have a small Zoo of infective files that aren't active that I've collected during the course of doing malware removal. After running the AVG full scan, about a a half dozen were removed from The SysRestore, System Volume Information (SVI) folder. It is a little known fact that disturbing the SVI folder will break SR. All restore points are logged and if files are removed from SVI without modifying the log, it becomes inconsistent and SR won't run. The only way to fix this is to delete all your retore points by turning System Restore off.--then when it is turned back on a new restore point and correct log is created.

As another poster has mentioned, having an AV move detections automatically to the Virus Vault is not a particularly wise way to set up scanning options--but people are going to set it that way and having SR come up broken just causes confusion and more panic.

But this is the reason I want the ability to exclude files/folders from being scanned--so I can exclude SVI. This is actually the subject for a good debate that could be carried on elsewhere, such as shouldn't we know that there are infected restore points, but this is the main reason I'm switching from AVG.

Just one last comment on it, the removal of SVI files was begun by the old Ewido, which became AVG Antivirus which is now integrated into AVG 8. Ewido/AVGAS was a great program that we used on this forum to help clean up infected systems and greatly enhances AVG effectiveness, but still very few people know that it broke System Restore. Also the integration of AVG AV with the old Ewido makes AVG 8 a major revision and is why they are having to iron out so many kinks.

So if you go with another free AV, here are my own likes and dislikes.

AVAST Well, it's free, and I believe it puts more emphasis on P2P and instant messaging protection that the others don't have.

No schedulling options either, which is my main gripe against it. I haven't noticed slowdown, but have had it installed for quite some time on an old 98SE machine that is slow anyway. BTW, another strike against AVG 8 is that it will only work on Windows 2000, XP and Vista, so older OS's are left in the dust.

AntiVir: Fully able to schedule and has recently improved its detection rate, the latter of which has always been subpar for all the free AV's. The support forum is more relaxed. According to their comparison chart, it does actually scan for rootkits. Simple interface and logs are easy to get to. Has a light footprint so won't slow down your computer.

Avira allows its servers to get overburdened. During peak hours in Germany you may have updates fail and if they are set to automatic, you get no warning that they did. On my system I had some problem getting it to accept what actions to take on files, but that may be specific to my machine.

So my advice is to keep Ashampoo and ditch AVG in favor of AntiVir

I've probably missed some questions of yours again but it is getting late. Let us know what you decide.

Hi Papakid
I appreciate your in depth help a lot. I haven't time at the moment, but shall do the Ashampoo firewall test soon & see if then i can update. I'm wondering if the registration key i was issued with on downloading in the 1st place will still work if i want to re-install.

I am undecided, but i think i shall go along with your advice & keep my firewall & chose another anti-virus, which is something i don't want to do either way as i'm used to what my current AVG & Firewall do & how they work!

I never have had patches or a linkscanner as someone said to me once on a forum, i can't remember which one, that if all AV, Spy/Malware progs, Firewall are up to date, it's not necessary!
I know that in the last 8 years of being online, the only issues i've had are because i've clicked on a download & being naive, but i expect i wouldn't have gotten to that page in the 1st place if i had them.

Do the other 2 AV programmes have link scanners & email scanners that are uninstallable at installation & are easy to configure??
I know they have both good & bad sides as you say, but i like to be in control of my scanning & updating & do them manually as strange as it may seem!
I have this setting in AVG now. AVG's updating isn't discreet. The Avast at my work is a home version & out of the blue, a voice is heard with a blue notification saying 'Your Avast home edition is now updated', nothing to click on etc! This may change my mind about auto updating

I will report back ASAP & many thanks again

WF

Hi waterface,


I assume you are asking about Ashampoo--which raises the question--are you using the free version or Pro? As I have not ever installed Ashampoo on my system I can't really answer that with certainty but gather from the FAQ on their site that you can get a new key from them if you need it. http://www.ashampoo.com/frontend/support/p...p;idstring=0050

If you use the free version do they require you to enter a key? This used to only be necessary for paid versions of software but some freeware does now do this.


Well, linkscanners are a relatively new tool. I read over AVG's PDF manual today and it seems to be confined to checking search results for dangerous sites. I thought maybe AVG had acquired the Linkscanner tool seen here: http://www.explabs.com/products/lspro.asp

There may be a connection to AVG's Linkscanner, but I haven't found one yet. They essentially work the same way, by scanning sites before you go there for malicious code before your browser can load the page and blocking the bad sites. It's a good idea but one has to realize and accept that it will necessarily slow down browsing since it takes time to scan those pages. That is if you have such a program or component installed and running in the background. Keeping your system fully patched reduces the need for such a program. Even with a well secured system, tho, it can still save you from getting infected by visiting a site as there are exploits out there that there aren't patches for. So AVG is providing another layer of protection, I just personally don't have a need for it--mainly because I'm on dialup. Plus security is all a matter of risk reduction--you can't eliminate risk, just reduce it to more tolerable levels. My choice of risk reduction strategy is to keep windows patched, run a good AV and firewall and don't engage in high risk surfing and other activities like P2P and opening unexpected attachments. If I do have a desire to go to a site that might be dodgy, I can use the free online Linkscanner: http://linkscanner.explabs.com/linkscanner/default.asp

Whoever told you that you don't need patches if you have other good protection has an opinion that I strongly disagree with. They are probably form the old "Windows Updates--if it ain't' broke don't fix it" school of thought. This was discussed and advocated a lot about 4/5 years ago when MS was releasing some patches that were causing problems. It still happens but not as often now. With the explosion of cybercrime and related malware nowdays you need to use all risk reduction measures available. What is the biggest risk of concerning patches? That you will have some problems with them installed that can be corrected fairly quickly or that you become infected without them and possibly have your identity stolen? I give more weight to the latter.

Five years ago a good antivirus could put out definitions for new threats in a fairly short period of time. There is too much stuff out there now and it is getting more and more sophisticated--so you need all the protection you can get.
http://www.kaspersky.com/news?id=207575629
http://www.kaspersky.com/reading_room?chapter=207716694

On the other hand, there are some people who don't even use and antivirus and don't get infected. See number 23 here: http://techtalk.pcpitstop.com/2008/06/16/t...p-super-tweaks/

To do that takes a knowledge of security that most people don't have, so I don't advocate it at all. But since I have been fortunate in that I have never had a serious infection, I sometimes wonder how much of these security programs I really need and where I can make reductions.

But the best advice I can give you is to go to Windows Update and get fully patched. If you've read up on SP3 and think you are ready, that will take care of most of it. If not, skip Sp3 and get the rest. Then go to The Secunia Online Software Inspector, let it scan your computer and follow instructions for updating other programs on your computer. http://secunia.com/software_inspector

Neither have Linscanners. It's been a long time since I installed AVAST and I don't remember if you can choose not to install the email scanner. I kind of think you can't and will have to disable once the program is installed. I don't recall with Antivir either, will let you know when I reinstall it. While having a choice to not install an email scanning compnent is preferable, being able to disable it once installed is still good enough.


Not strange at all, just your personal preference. To clarify about manual updates--there are two practices that could be called manual updates. What you think of as maqnual might be called non-automartic updates. Instead of the program controlling when it updates and carrying it out, you open the program and tell it to update when you are ready, correct? I think what extremeboy was referring to, and what most security pros think of as manual updates is something else altogether. It consists of Downloading the definitions file from the vendor's site, usually in zip form, and then extracting and placing those files in the proper folder.

Yeah I don't know why AVAST makes that vocal announcement--not necessary but then again I don't see any harm in it.

Good luck, and you're welcome for the help--thanks for listening to my rantings.

Hi Papakid
Well i disabled Ashampoo & AVG 8 wouldn't update, i uninstalled it & AVG did update, so i guess i'm now stuck with the decision!
Not a hard one you may feel, but i am pretty used to AVG & it is familiar, but it still has the 'Firefox crashing' issue which i can't seem to find others having (have you heard anything about this?)! Also i hear it slows down people systems!!
I have to make a decision as in a thread here i see the date is 31 Aug that 7.5 comes to an end!!
My Ashampoo Fw is pretty straight forward to use & small in size which i like, also, if i did change firewall, i'd be confused as to which as i used ZA before & hear it isn't that good!


The linkscanner & emailscanner, as you say can't be enabled or disabled in AVG, but in Avast it maybe able to?, enable & disable, that would be helpful in my decision. Although Linkscanners make browsing slow as they chaeck all links in browser before fully loading pages.

Can Avast & Antivir both be updated manualy & set to scan manualy?, i mean manualy in a way that i decide when to click on 'update' detections.
In AVG, when the box greyed out, i updated the anti virus database! The resident shield was always ok, just the database was the 1st to go outa date & then i'd manualy update!! Thats what i like to do, the same with scans!!
I just hope these can at somepoint be disabled!

Many thanks as usual

wf

Hi Waterface,
I have been very busy for the last few days, I'm glad that someone was able to help you out, I probably wouldn't be able to respond in a few days.

I hope your not installing 2 anti-virus programs... Yes Avast can be set to scan manually and I'm not so sure about the update manually, I think you have to do it yourself. Avira however is different you can scan and update automatically.

I used ZA for a few weeks and removed it because my dad didn't want it on his computer..........
ZA was a good firewall I say but it might be confusing and difficult for some people. Instead of ZA there are other firewalls that you can try out. Test it and see which one is best for you. There is alot of firewall free programs at
www.filehippo.com
Scrool down to firewall and click view more and there will be a list of free firewalls that you can try out.
Hope that helps and good luck

Extremeboy

Hi extremeboy
Thanks, i don't know wether we're getting wires crossed about manual & automatic!
In Avg i set it so i updated it when i wanted, not set it for a specific time, the same with scans!, i like to start them as opposed to set them to start themselves at certain times.

No, i'm not installing 2 AV's, just confused as to which!! I may downlaod a fiew seperately & try them out!

Just 1 question! In start>search>files & folders, i typed avg when i had no avg programmes installed & both .exe files were on a usb stick.
It found many entries that were 'prefetch' & more!
If i was to use 'Antivir' for e.g. , could i delete all AVG findings in search>files & folders, to get all AVG stuff off my pc?

Many Thanks

wf

Hi I suggust uninstalling it using add/remove because that delets everything including registry keys.
Ok, I got to go run now see you tonight.

Yes, of course, you can delete all stray files and folders from any program you have uninstalled. Just make sure you have uninstalled it. What you are doing is common practice for experienced users. I have to disagree with extremeboy in saying that all files and reg entries will be removed by using Add/Remove. This is the proper way to uninstall a program but very often the folder in program files is left behind as well as other strays. How much, if any, gets left behind depends a lot on the skills of the programmer, but for the most part, those files are harmless and just take up a bit of extra hard drive space. One thing I can say in AVG's favor is that 7.5 and earlier versions have been very easy to uninstall.

But many will uninstall a program and then look around for old folders, as you have done, and reg entries. That is basically what the Revo uninstaller program I mentioned earlier does. You might want to give it a try if you really want to clean up. A real advantage is that it will create a Restore Point before you uninstall any program, which most people forget to do. There are basically these steps to how it works.

1. Creates a Restore Point.
2. Runs the uninstall routine the same as if you had clicked the icon in Add/Remove.
3. Searches your computer for leftover files, folders and reg entries. It will list these for your review before you delete them.
http://www.revouninstaller.com/

One word of caution. If you aren't familiar with the registry it might be better to chose not to delete leftover reg entries. A few leftover orphan reg entries will not slow down a system, despite what the reg cleaner companies want you to believe.

If you want to continue to use search and delete files manually, that's fine too.

Yes, don't worry about this at all. Every scanner that I know of, whether antivirus, antispyware or whatever allows you to update and scan on demand. Most will also have an option to allow you to scan a single file or folder by right clicking on it and choosing Scan. You have a different personal preference than I do. I want a AV that I can schedule to update and scan automatically. Avast does not allow me to schedule a scan, it has to be run manually, so this is something you don't have to worry about. Both update on demand easily, Antivir a little easier than Avast. They both allow scheduled updates. I know you don't like doing those on a schedule but it is my opinion that is a better security practice. Allow your AV to automatically update at least once a day as I can't emphasize enough the importance of keeping definitions updated.. You can always check manually and update manually at any time you want.

So, as you have said, you are at the point now that there is nothing left but to try these programs out and see how you like them. My personal opinion is that Antivir is slightly better than AVAST. I know it takes less resources and so will probably not slow down your computer as much as Avast would.

If you also decide to switch firewalls, there is a complete list of both commercial and freeware here: http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-...roduct-list.php

Are you using Firefox 3? No I haven't heard of Firefox crashing because of AVG 8 being installed. I would think if it was it was because of the LinkScanner being installed. BTW, I found a page that shows that the LinkScanner I linked to earlier is in fact integrated into AVG 8. http://grandstreamdreams.blogspot.com/2008...op-madness.html

Yes, I have noticed an overall slowdown with AVG 8 installed. Not reall bad but noticeable.

Hi all
Been away a while, i know i needed it!
I agree, whenever i delete a programme via 'add/remove', it doesn't remove everything as when i go to run>search> all files & folders, i often see remnents left over.
Even if i go to programmes>the specific programme & the uninstall option, i get this too!
Using Ccleaner is often most effective in removing programmes though.

However
Will there be things in search>All files & folders, that i wouldn't want to delete once i've uninstalled AVG & want to install, Antivir for example!?
Wouldn't everything it finds about AVG be ok to delete once i have no use for it anymore?
Will search>all files & folders, find reg entries (that i'm not used to) & what do they look like in search?.
I may uninstall all & post here what search>all files & folders finds!

My thinking is going towards Antivir as i think it is smaller, more basic, easier to use & setup programme to Avast!
Thats why i chose Ashampoo firewall. I haven't managed to try them yet as i want to know what i wrote above is ok to do about removal! I kinda have this thing about wanting to get rid of a programme totaly before using another! A clutter thing i feel ever since i couldn't remove a part of programme in the past & i couldn't install another whilst it was there! Can't quite remember which one, think it was trojanhunter!! Was a right pain!!

Thanks very much

wf

When you perform a Search of all files and folders, by clicking Start, Search, then you are searching for just that--files and folders. The registry is a collection of database files and the entries you want to get rid of are part of the contents of the database. So you aren't going to find reg entries with a Search of all files and folders. You need something that reads and edits the database, the native Windows tool of which is the Registry Editor (regedit).

For more info on the registry, see BC's Demystifying the Windows Registry or this general tutorial.

Registry Cleaners and some other programs read the registry as well. It is against BC's policy to recommend reg cleaners as they often can do more harm than good in the hands of those that don't know what they're doing, besides the fact that in most cases cleaning the registry automatically does not improve performance, despite what what marketing gurus want you to believe. CCleaners Registry/Issues function is basically a regcleaner. So if you use this, use it with extreme caution. But any reg entries it or any other reg cleaner finds that are obviously related to an uninstalled program should be safe to delete. Make sure the program makes backups and even if they do, backup your registry beforehand with erunt.
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

If you are familiar with the registry editor, you can use the Find function to search for all AVG reg entries if you want. There are some registry search tools that are a bit quicker as well. But I don't recommend using regedit. The safest course of action would be as I described earlier. Use Revo. It specializes in searching for reg entries for the program you uninstall. And many times a System Restore is all that is necessary, rather than restoring a backup of the entire registry.

If you've already used CCleaners Issues to search for and clean up reg entries related to uninstalled programs, then you are going to be about as clean in that regard as you can be. If you are using the Run Uninstaller button in CCleaner's tools section, then all you are doing is running the uninstaller as if you had gone to Add/Remove programs. CCleaner just saves you the step of opening Add/Remove. If you click Remove Entry it will remove the icon from the Add/Remove list--not uninstall the program--many get confused about this.

Security tools and especially anitiviruses and firewalls are bad about this--is why I don't recomemend ZoneAlarm. So I can see why you are concerned about reg cleaning after an uninstall. Now just about every antivirus out there has a cleanup tool to be used after uninstalling so it's not necessary to root those stray entries out. However AVG is about the only one that doesn't have such a tool. But since version 7.5 uninstalled so cleanly, that isn't a problem. I don't know if version 8 needs one, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. I just switched back from AVG 8 to Antivir and everything is fine so far. You can search after switching to your heart's content.

Just a note on something I said I'd get back to you on. Antivir had been the only major free AV that didn't have an email scanner, and I thought for sure it had changed. It does have an email scanner now, but not for the free version, so don't worry about that. It is not even necessary to do a custom installtion unless you don't want desktop and other icons or want to install outside Program Files folder.

Hi & thanks again
i have antivir .exe ready to install soon & try it out!! i'm wary of the unknown, but i need to do it & am thankfull for your advice that has pointed me in th 'antivir' direction!
Now you say that the new freeware version doesn't have a email scanner, is a good thing & that it won't intervene with my mailwasher.

I do use CCleaner for Applications to clean cookies, download history, cache, internet history & nothing else! The registry stuff i beyond me & somewhere i'm not wanting to go as i have no idea!

I'l report back on Antivir & say how it goes!! I just want it to let me know if i get a virus (i.e. if i click on something i shouldn't & it can quaranteen it as AVG did & it lays in the background waiting until something suspicious arrives & i can run scans manualy & update manualy as i could in AVG).

I hope i can

Thanks again

wf

Hi Waterface I'm gald that you got this all sorted out

Hope everything goes fine.