AVG (vers.8.0) available now

[Alan Zoff]

Sorry, am not able to offer any advice Le Haut.

I loaded the new 8.0 Free a couple of weeks ago without any difficulty. Only problem seems to be that the computer runs a lot slower since it was installed - or at least it takes longer to boot up and to find websites (seems to work pretty much the same once you are in a particular site). Is this normal?

Although as part of the set-up a message told me it was removing the old AVG, it still seems to be there in my Program list. I was a bit wary about removing it manually without having some advice first from someone who knows more about these things than I do. (Most of you, I am sure.) Could there be some sort of conflict having the 2 versions on the computer that is slowing things down? If so, is it safe for me to delete the old one now (including, presumably, whatever is in the old vault)?

[Clair]

On my Vista laptop, I had to deleted AVG 7.5 before I could install AVG 8, even though the setup advice screen said the old version was being deleted.

It worked fine afterwards.

[Albert the InfoGipsy]

I installed AVG v8 after using v7.5 happily for yonks. The new version completely killed MS Access 2003 on Vista, to the extent that even Task Manager couldn't shut Access down. I had to restart Windows.

I tried re-installing Access and made sure I had the Office service packs up to date. Nothing worked until I uninstalled AVG.

Looks like I'll have to look for a new anti-virus package, because I can't afford to be without Access. Also, a program that has major problems with something as mainstream as part of MS Office really worries me.

[Clair]

I have uninstalled AVG and now use Avast: http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

[mint]

Clair, how do you uninstall AVG?  Sorry, but I am the technophobe and computer illiterate to rival all others.  No, I'm not proud of it; slightly sheepish, in fact. 

[Clair]

Go to the start button,  All programs, scroll down to AVG and click. There should be an Uninstall option.

OR

use the add/remove programs facility on Windows: start, control panel, add/remove programs, find AVG and click on it, then follow the prompts.

[Russethouse]

If you go to Start > all programs> AVG you should then see 'uninstall free edition', click there.

[Russethouse]

Snap ![:)]

[mint]

Many thanks, Clair and RH.  Done it and the system is working much faster, yippee!

[Alan Zoff]

When I click on Uninstall from Program menu, I get a message saying it is searching for the exe file - which it can't find. This suggests the earlier AVG software has been removed - but if that's the case, why is is it still in the Program directory? (I'm using XP Home by the way.)

[Russethouse]

I spent several hours trying to install AVG 8 last night - each time I checked AVG 7 was uninstalled, re started the computer, only to get to the last stage and AVG 8 not install again because some vestige of AVG was left, as I was unable to locate this in the end I downloaded Avast, but I'd like to go back to AVG........I'm on XP home too.

[AnOther]

If AVG8 is such a problem then why not just stick with 7.5 ?

Newer doesn't always mean better [:P]

 

[Alan Zoff]

Because they won't update 7.5 after end of this month.

 

[AnOther]

Where did you get that from Alan ?

There seems to be nothing about it on the main AVG site however I found THIS which says that 7.5 will be supported until the end of this year.

I'll let you know if mine still works and updates in a couple of days time [;-)]

EDIT: Perhaps the actual download of 7.5 will be discontinued on May 31st. but updates will continue until the end of the year.

 

[cassis]

AVG seem to be trying to play "catch-up" with Avast with their new edition and failing in the attempt (by bundling it with antispyware, but failing to add anti-rootkit).  I was a fan of AVG but I'm glad I dumped it, given the problems that version 8.0 seems to have caused.  A personal opinion backed up by other, specialist forums, not just this one.

[Iceni]

[quote user="cassis"]

I was a fan of AVG but I'm glad I dumped it, given the problems that version 8.0 seems to have caused. 

[/quote]

In the world of software change is rarely an improvement (in the short term anyway).

John

[Bugsy]

I'm close to dumping it too. It works fine for me apart from its insistance of checking every site on Google with annoying little spinning things. Click on them before the turn green and it just locks my pc. I've disabled the check but now get a message telling me that I am not fully protected.

Bring back 7.5 please

[Alan Zoff]

I've managed to lose 7.5 from Program list at last - but perhaps I should have kept it, at least until end of year, in view of Ernie's comment.

8.0 works OK but it is slower to update than 7.5, much slower if you carry out a scan and, the biggest drawback for me, my PC as a whole runs slower since it was installed.

[Clair]

[quote user="Bugbear"]

I'm close to dumping it too. It works fine for me apart from its insistance of checking every site on Google with annoying little spinning things. Click on them before the turn green and it just locks my pc. I've disabled the check but now get a message telling me that I am not fully protected.

Bring back 7.5 please

[/quote]

I hated that too. That's why I uninstalled and replaced it with Avast.

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

[AnOther]

All in all it seems like case of a good product gone sour in the name of progress and I for one will not be installing AVG8. I'll decide what to do when 7.5 stops working.

Symantec (nee Norton) were once the undisputed kings of the AV world but their quest for an ever increasing 'feature set' resulted in a programme which was both massively bloated and a drain on a PC's resources so their ill conceived attempts at progress ended up relegating them to 'also rans'. I also think it's scandalous the way that Norton trial is bundled with large numbers of new machines thease days along with various other 'essential' programmes which the average user has absolutely no need of. At the very least one should be given the option of not installing this dross when first firing up that shiney new PC or laptop.

Maybe Avast's trime has indeed come [;-)]

 

[powerdesal]

I went with AVG 8 and have noticed no difference what ever. Running XP Pro on laptop.

Maybe tomorrow when I attack SWMBO's pc (Vista) I will have problems.

[powerdesal]

[quote user="Bugbear"]

I'm close to dumping it too. It works fine for me apart from its insistance of checking every site on Google with annoying little spinning things. Click on them before the turn green and it just locks my pc. I've disabled the check but now get a message telling me that I am not fully protected.

Bring back 7.5 please

[/quote]

Isn't that "link scanner" ?. Mine is disabled but I still have anti virus (I think)

[Twingoman]

I've been using AVG 8.0 for almost a month on my new Vista laptop without any problems whatsoever.  It will scan in the background without it being noticeablly slower.

I'm also running it my (almost) 5 year old work PC running XP Pro and it does slow things up there whilst scanning, but I just let it scan overnight whilst the pc isn't being used.

[Bugsy]

[quote user="powerdesal"]
Isn't that "link scanner" ?. Mine is disabled but I still have anti virus (I think)
[/quote]

Yes it is Steve. Disabled you get an exclaimation mark and a warning that you're not fully protected. That said the anti virus still works.

Gary

[powerdesal]

So apart from a spurious warning, there is no problem.