I tried AVG 2011 & it seriously Messed up my PC.

Just minutes upon installation my computer went bonkers :(First my system froze when I tried to play Flyff which uses GameGuard. AVG has always had issues with GameGuard even before, in times thinking it's a virus or trojan. But this time around it "literally" went anal with it. My system crashing was caused by 2011's rootkit scanner trying to kill GameGuard so I had no choice but to..."Reboot!" Quoting Bob from that 90's CGI cartoon "Reboot".But doing so just started a cascade of "fun filled" times :PMy system acted up, restarting as if it has been infected with a nasty virus or my RAM about to die off. This was the cause for my "un-explained" system random reboots from two years ago apparently that's why I thought so. But no, the problem was not with my RAM but with the AV itself. It messed up several things on my computer, add to this that "they" AVG successfully tricked me into using a new feature on 2011. The so-called "PC Tune-Up! utility. This travesty of a scrapware was masquerading as AVG's version of CCleaner, but no... it doesn't do the job it claims to do :PI confirmed its "report" that my registry had errors & needs fixing & as I said, instead of fixing said errors it messed things up more.It took me some hours to fix the mess the thing left & upon researching via Google, I found out that the damn thing still has tons of bugs AVG's staff needs to work on until the product's "sea worthy" so to speak.And that deal with that PC Tune-Up! app is a dick move in the part of AVG. So are they resulting to scareware tactics now to sell their stuff that do not deliver as promised? What has gotten with AVG's crew all of a sudden?For now the problems have died out ( no faggy random restarts in four hours) so I guess I can rest for a bit....I've also been thinking of switching AV's, Avira to be exact but I'm not sure if Avira's compatible with Malwarebytes & Spybot as AVG & those two were my tri-fecta so to speak.

avira automatic update doesnt work. you have to do manual updates.

There is a 2011 avg? Never heard of it till now. i still use he AVG 9 internet security suite and well, no problems yet... maybe the fact of it being 2011 gave out the bugs or it maybe in its beta stage... where did you get it? So that i might try it on my testing comp.

get kaspersky. it's completely stable

You could try MSE in the meantime

Replying to #5

it's not really that effective

I wonder if I should PM Grinler from BC,or take your word for it LotlolCahos,MBAM free is a "on demand scanner",if you want real-time protection youve got to get the pro/paid for version.

damanali · #3There is a 2011 avg? Never heard of it till now. i still use he AVG 9 internet security suite and well, no problems yet... maybe the fact of it being 2011 gave out the bugs or it maybe in its beta stage... where did you get it? So that i might try it on my testing comp.

A damn pop up notified me & it's legit:http://free.avg.com/ww-en/homepage

Replying to #7

The only useful feature of MBAM's paid version is the update scheduler, which is equivalent to any other application's "automatic updates" managers. My work around is I manually update MBAM weekly.

Loonylion · #2avira automatic update doesnt work. you have to do manual updates.

Yeouch, kinda like this for MBAM ;)

Ah so thats whats wrong, ive had a few problems too, my pc takes 30 minutes or more to shutdown sometimes and i had a random crash and a bsod, I forgot I had upgraded to 2011.
Nothing else has been installed or changed so I guess thats the problem.

Cahos Rahne Veloza · #8Yeouch, kinda like this for MBAM ;)

No, by 'manual' I mean going to a webpage, downloading the update file and manually installing it into the program. Clicking the update button inside avira causes the update window to appear then just sit there doing nothing.

Loonylion · #2avira automatic update doesnt work. you have to do manual updates.

Is this the program or definitions update Loony

definitions.

Replying to #12

Are you sure.It used to update automatically and you got that annoying nag screen telling you it had.Im not currently using Avira so I cant personally check.

im sure, I use it on my netbook.

I just had a look on their forum.The Mod there doesnt know whats going on-he says v10 auto update is buggy,and to use v9 instead.Someone says he creates an update job/schedule and repeats it and that works.So youre right.

you should have got Avast

Damn! AVG has lost a believer in me with 2011 or simply version 10.This article IS exactly what happened to me.http://forums.avg.com/sk-sk/avg-free-forum?sec=thread&act=show&id=120625

I have a community forum, and we share information on technical support for Windows environment PCs with our members. I always included AVG as a recommended application until recently. With this new upgrade, I have had to enter a huge disclaimer, and warn my members away from this application now. It makes me sad to see this commercialization of the application causing such issues for the user, and to see that the word is spreading to stay away from this software. So here is my experience combined with other AVG users who have contacted me. The below content is what I had to share this week on my forums, and note that some comments were in RED font to ensure the member caught the warning:Headsup about the newest version of AVG Anti-Virus software called AVG 2011 or v10The most recent versions of AVG had a LinkScanner component that many users would disable, as it was affecting session cookies, and the ability to open links on webpages. It was always a component that one could SKIP if they chose Custom Installation in the past, but there was no need, as it could be disabled. Since then, I have found that the Email Scanner is equally annoying, and have disabled that component.BUT HERE IS THE KICKER! The Czech company that owns AVG is pushing for more paying users, and trying to garner more income. With that in mind, they have completely altered their free version of this application. It has TONS of features usually held back for paying customers only, and therefore when you install it, there are MANY functions running on your PC at once, and you may not want all of them running. Disable as you will, but you can see in your Windows Task Manager that it has many features going at once regardless of your attempt to reduce this load. This is after I disabled the Link and Email Scanners, as well as the new ID protect feature. Then the madness really begins...When you install this app, you are forced to accept the following component:
PC Analyzer
which leads you to eventually download the next component:
PC TuneUpThey CANNOT be disabled once installed, and are currently mandatory components of the installation. The former will pop-up to bother you a miniumum of every FOUR hours demanding a one-time scan of your PC. If you agree, it will frighten you into downloading and using the tune-up component (that you can use only once, then must pay for) and it will MESS UP YOUR PC! Fortunately, I investigated this component instead of running it *phew*If you have installed the upgrade, and do not agree to run that analyzer, it will harass you forever. If you do agree, you will likely need to use their Recovery Center to repair your PC. Oh, and it defrags your drives, as well as mucking with your registry of Windows. IT IS ONE WACK APP NOW!Btw, it will close your browser without warning during its installation, ending your sessions, and losing your incomplete works, like a post you're composing or a PM your preparing to send. Then it will force a reboot on installation. It is over the top without boundaries, and very much like old Microsoft Updates before customers started complaining that they felt hijacked. And did I mention the ads now?! SHEESH!You can read more complaints about this on their forums found here. The moderators are clearly not willing to OWN UP TO THE FACT in a direct manner that it can't be avoided in installation nor disabled once installed. You will wish you have never upgraded the app in the first place, but of course it harasses you to upgrade DAILY if you are on the old versions. If I were you? I would use an older version of AVG and NOT update, but if you feel you must update, then DO NOT RUN THAT PC ANALYZER *eeipp*If you're as exasperated with this company as I am now, you will choose another virus protection program for your PC instead of trusting this application.

Loonylion · #10No, by 'manual' I mean going to a webpage, downloading the update file and manually installing it into the program. Clicking the update button inside avira causes the update window to appear then just sit there doing nothing.

Err... this doesn't sound good, but doable I think. Had to do something of the sort for AVG once too.Anyhoo, after researching some more on the whole matter, I'm kinda thinking I need to have my registry values fixed, I don't want to reformat as that's more labor intensive, as I'm still getting random restarts (one more today). I'm not 100% sure if my restore operation (to a restore point I made prior to installing 2011) fixed everything.I'll be visiting thebleepingcomputer for now to ask for assistance as I do not know how to use tools like GMER as those are tools not intended for the uninitiated.

Cahos,it looks like all the free AV's are going downhill,maybe you could source a £5 KIS key.I think you would be able to use BC's guides-the warnings are aimed at people like Lotlat.
Loony gave me a link for KIS,but it didnt work.

Replying to #18

I might have to try Kaspersky or NOD32..5 UK Pounds eh? That's 345.20 Philippine pesos... I might consider going for a paid AV for once.

Replying to #19

Kaspersky and Eset Nod32 are great