Keep the Pro! Has the "web shields"!!!
Hi all,
Figuring upgrading and paying for the latest AVG was a good thing, I bought the 8.0 (whatever the latest build was) and have had nothing but problems since. Tech Support doesn't answer emails except in the vaguest of form-letter terms. If I could go back to the free 7x version, I would in a heartbeat.
It's the "update manager" that is in a constant error state ("disabled") and can't be enabled from AVG's control center on my PC which means that the virus database can't be updated, automatic scans can't be done, and there's a little red exclamation point over my system tray icon. Oh, and another icon appeared at the same time: the "local area connection" symbol has a red x over it even though I'm not on a LAN of any kind.
The third form letter I received told me to change my Win2000-based FAT32 volume to NTFS, but instead of telling me how to do this, they provided a link to Microsoft's site, where the FATx to NTFS conversion only applies to XP systems.
I'm going bald with frustration.
Anybody have any advice (re: AVG, not my hair)? Beaucoup thanks!
1. Right click the icon in the startup menu ... "open AVG interface"
2. At the TOP; click Tools/Advanced Settings/
3. In the left hand "folder tree" ... click on "update" ... THEN in the right hand screen ... put the green ball in the "update immediately" AND "complete at next computer restart" [unless you happen to like restarting your computer after every update; they didn't use to do this but recently it has been doing this too often in my books] ... ALSO a check in the "additional update options" box is a helpful thing.
THEN ... in the left hand tree under Update, click Proxy ... and unless you're using a proxy ... use the drop down arrow to pick "don't use proxy" ... if you are using a proxy, pick one of the other options and/or manually tell it which one to use, etc. Then back to the folder tree; click on the "dial-up" and make sure that is either ticked or not according to your situation. Then back to the folder tree and click on the URL and make sure that there are tick marks in their server boxes so it knows where to go to look for updates. (some people/businesses have a different way of updating their computers)
Now, go up in the folder tree to "resident shield" and UNLESS you're burning movies or something and are offline; "enable Resident Shield" or yes it'll give an exclamation mark meaning it is "unhappy" with your choice. This is the "malware/anti-trojan" portion of the package deal designed to protect your computer esp. while you're connected to the internet. You can pick and choose exactly what you want it to do or not. Then under the "advanced settings" of the Resident Shield are a couple more options ... unless you know what you're doing, I wouldn't recommend "touching" that long list of extensions! As files without extensions are suspect, that's a good one to leave ticked. Then over in the "Exceptions" arena is the place for placing any information for the files/exes/etc that you want it to ignore the actions of. This is where the "paid for" version is nice to have. If AVG pro is calling one of your good programs a virus or whatever; you can report that now to AVG and they will correct the matter in following updates!
Now, go up to the E-mail Scanner and click your choice for whether or not to scan incoming and/or outgoing emails. At least have it to scan incoming! Then check out the "certification" and "mail filtering" options you want.
Now, go up to the "Scheduled scan" under "Schedules" and "enable this task" [or you'll get one of those exclamation marks again] ... and then pick "something" in the schedule running field. If you want it to run by triggering it manually (at least once a week is recommended) ... pick the "run at specific time" and then pick a time when the computer is turned off and do not check the "run on computer startup if task has been missed". Then for the "how to scan" and "what to scan" tabs ... your computer, your call. If you like to run a full scan and then want the computer turned off ... that's under the "additional scan settings" and it works!
Then, under the "virus database update schedule" ... "enable this task" [or you'll get one of those exclamation marks again] ... it's your call when you want it to try.
Same goes with the "Program update schedule" ... "enable this task" [or you know ... !]
Then up to the "Web Shield" ... check enable (this can also be enabled or disabled at will via the toolbar) ... and also check enable for the instant messaging even if you don't have it;-)
On each page where you've made changes ... also click the "apply" button at the bottom before moving on.
And I don't know I feel I may have forgotten something here ... but hopefully this will help get everything going for you without those exclamation marks!
If you click on the "update now" bar; AVG will immediately look for updates and seek your go ahead before downloading and installing them ... and this is how/when to see that lovely green progress bar in action! When we update from the icon in the start up menu we don't get the progress bar but it is working. It still seeks your go ahead for downloading/installing updates and/or it'll pop up a message saying that there were none available.
Hope this helps.
Catherine.
