AVG 8.0: A Tale of Woe and Warning

Hi to all.

The story I am about to relate concerns my attempts to download, use, and t=
hen uninstall AVG 8.0 and reinstall AVG 7.5.  Before I do that, some notes =
about the equipment I am using:  a Compaq computer with 256 k accessible (b=
ut with a 2G hardrive); a 56k modem; both JFW  5.1 and 9.0 (I use the forme=
r still because of my computer's memory failings); Windows XP; Internet Exp=
lorer 6 with SVC Pack 2; and AVG 7.5.

It all started yesterday when I returned home from work at 3:pm (I only wor=
k half-days on Thursdays) and decided to update my copy of AVG 7.5 (the ant=
ivirus databases, etc.).  I had just finished updating the software when I =
noticed a second window that had opened up on my computer, saying that Gris=
oft (AVG's maker) was upgrading to AVG 8.0, 7.5 would no longer be supporte=
d after a certain date, and would I like to update my antivirus software.  =
I thought why not and began the downloading process.  Since I am using a mo=
dem, I figured it would take some time to load so I chose to run the new so=
ftware from Grisoft's website instead of saving it onto my computer for loa=
ding later.

Around 6:30 or so, the download was finished, and I began the process of in=
stallation, after first making sure to turn off AVG 7.5.  During the instal=
lation, a screen came up that said that AVG 8 had found AVG 7.5; that AVG 8=
.0 would overwrite AVG 7.5; and that in overwriting AVG 7.5, AVG 7.5, AVG 8=
.0 would make changes in the Windows kernel, and that I could not reinstall=
 AVG 7.5 without completely uninstalling AVG 8.0 and reinstalling AVG 7.5 f=
rom scratch.  I thought "What the hell," and pressed OK.  Then there were i=
tems to be filled out, and the new system wanted to update itself.  I went =
ahead with the process and at the end rebooted.

After the reboot, I began finding problems.  All of the 7.5 links (includin=
g the shortcut on the desktop were still there.  I tried accessing AVG 8 th=
rough the systray with limited success--AVG was on the Systray, but when yo=
u pressed "ENTER" on any of the Mouse-click items, you would go right back =
to the Desktop.  I then pressed "ENTER" on the AVG shortcut link on the Des=
ktop, and I entered the program.

To say that I was disappointed is an understatement.  Gone were the well-ma=
rked buttons for Control Center and Test center.  If there were any buttons=
 on that screen that could be pushed when you tabbed to them, they were not=
 discernible by JAWS--even with the JAWS cursor.  Hitting the alt. key, I d=
id find some traditional functions--Scan MY Computer, Update--in the Micros=
oft tool bar menus, but I had had enough.  I figured that AVG 8.0 was much =
less accessible and a memory hog to boot, and I prepared to return to AVG 7=
.5.  I figured if I could restore the system to a date prior to the AVG 8.0=
 download, I would be OK.  So I picked a date two priors and waited for the=
 restoration.

The restoration came, but AVG 7.5 didn't.  The computer sent me a warning s=
aying it could not find the AVG files.

I then undid the restoration, and went about the process of uninstalling AV=
G 8.0 and installing a version of AVG 7.5--an executable file I had downloa=
ded in late 2006.  Unfortunately, the computer and AVG were not going to pl=
ay along.  The older version of AVG would not download the Virus updates si=
nce 2006 (it said I had to find a newer version of the file on the Grisoft =
website, and that I had to run a repair operation once I found this updated=
 file), and the old shortcuts to AVG were not working.

Once again, I went to System Restore, went back two days, and got the same =
AVG 7.5 response.

Without any antivirus on the computer, I went back onto the Internet and ty=
ped 'AVG 7.5' into Google.  The response at the top was a list of updates o=
n the Grisoft site, so I went there and found some updates and began the do=
wnload.

When the download completed, an odd screen appeared asking for a name and p=
assword and showing two names a '<guest<' and 'administrator' with the gues=
t being on top.  With no thought, I tabbed down to 'Add New User' and creat=
ed a third password with my name.  I then saved the information, and after =
doing so, realized that I had entered this information into JFW 5.0's admin=
istrative options!  That's right!  The files that said they were updates to=
 AVG 7.5 were actually going to JAWS 5.1.  It was nearing 10:00 PM so I dec=
ided to close down the computer for the night--I was tired.

This morning, I got up, turned on the computer, and discovered that when JA=
WS 5.1 came on, a warning would come on, notifying me that I was signed on =
as a '<guest<'.  Some investigation revealed what had happened in the JFW A=
dministrative area, and I commenced to calling Freedom Scientific--only to =
have my phone die on me, while waiting for Technical Support.

In the mean time, I had been doing some thinking.  It occurred to me that t=
he only way to get rid of the shortcuts to the AVG program would be to relo=
ad the older version I had and then uninstall it through the Add/Remove com=
mands in the Control panel.  This I did, and this time, AVG 7.5 uninstalled=
 everything properly, except the shortcut on the Desktop which I promptly s=
ent to the Recycle Bin.

I then went back online with no anti-virus software and typed '"AVG 7.5"dow=
nload' (without the apostrophees) into Google and found the latest version =
of AVG 7.5 (released on April 6, 2008) on hipo.com (it was a ways down the =
list on that site).  I clicked on the file and saved it.  It took about 2 a=
nd a half hours to download, but it worked and was updatable when I opened =
the saved execution.

So now I have AVG 7.5 back.  I still have the administrative problem with J=
FW 5.1 (even though I completely uninstalled and reinstalled it).  I tried =
removing the'<guest<' sign-in, but JFW 5.1 says this cannot be removed.  I =
presume there is some corruption in the file from last night's and this mor=
ning's work, but I am hoping to get a replacement computer soon with enough=
 memory for JFW 9.0 to work properly (though I am looking for something wit=
h XP Home--something that is hard to find nowadays).

I have written this story as a tale of woe and warning.  And I hope someone=
 on this list knows a good replacement for AVG 7.5 that is about as accessi=
ble and as close to free as possible.

Ted Chittenden=


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