AVG released a new version of their popular AVG Anti-virus on Wednesday. An alert web site visitor alerted us to this yesterday, and I immediately downloaded and have been testing it since then. Here are some important facts you need to know about the upgrade.
- Do NOT use the Upgrade feature in your current version of AVG Free, as it will take you down the road to their pay version. The pay version is good, but if you plan to stay with the free version, use the link below to get it.
- Your current AVG Free version (7.5) will be supported only through the end of May after which you will need to upgrade to this new version 8.0
- The new version is only for Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista users. AVG will stop supporting Windows 95, 98, and Me later this year. For you folks using the older operating systems, I would suggest uninstalling AVG and using Avast.
- The new AVG Free version includes not only their anti-virus product, but also their anti-spyware product. This doubles your protection and helps protect your computer even better. My philosophy for keeping Windows computer safe applies more now than ever: Use Firefox as your browser, keep the Windows firewall enabled, and use AVG Anti-virus, and that should be all most people need.
- You do NOT need to uninstall your current version of AVG before installing this one. Watch the video below for complete instructions.
I think that covers the basics, feel free to leave comments below and ask any questions you might have about this exciting new upgrade for AVG users. Click here to download the free upgrade to AVG antivirus 8.0 (for home users), it will bring you directly to the AVG download page saving you time and confusion. Then watch my short video below for exact installation and configuration instructions.
UPDATE
If you are having problems updating or getting AVG 8.0 to work properly, try this:
1. Double-click AVG
2. Double-Click Update Manager
3. Un-check the Start Automatic Updates box
4. Click the Save Changes button
5. Check the Start Automatic updates box
6. Click the Save Changes button
7. Click the Update now button
If that doesn’t work in your case, use one of the links above to download a fresh copy of AVG, then reinstall using the REPAIR function that will be presented to you during the install.
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HelpMeRick.com started as a monthly tip site for beginners in 1996, and now supports our popular call-in computer show, and hosts thousands of useful computer tips and links.
Windows XP SP2 has been out for many years now and is a MUST update for your computer. If it froze up the first time you tried it, you might need to reformat the system, and install Windows and SP2 from scratch. Good luck.
AVG says SP1 will not support AVG 8.0. I have stayed with SP1 for three years because SP2 froze and it took an hour of online help to uninstall it. Is there an answer to this?
I have Windows 95 and have taken your advice and installed AVAST on my system. Does this program have all of the support that AVG 7.5 had or do I need to add something else? Thanks. Patsy
Windows 95 users should stick with Avast since the newer AV programs require so much more processing power and memory.
While the basic interface of AVG 8 Free is much improved, it unfortunately also installs a Link Scanner that adds on to FireFox searchers.
Firstly, I’m not at all sure that the Link Scanner is all that necessary …and… Secondly: it seems to cause hickups in FireFox from time to time.
Unfortunately if you disable the Link Scanner, it causes the AVG icon in the Toolbar to gray out and to have an overlaid red exclamation mark indicating something is wrong –even though you told it to disable the Link Scanner.
Here’s how to remove the Link Scanner so that you get a normal and still useful icon in the Toolbar.
First: Uninstall the free version of AVG 8
Second: Follow the following to reinstall the Free version of AVG 8 without the Link Scanner component as follows:
*******************************************************************************
1338: How to install AVG without LinkScanner
If you wish to install AVG 8.0 Free Edition without the LinkScanner component, or uninstall this component from your program, please proceed as follows:
* Download the AVG 8.0 Free Edition installation package from our website.
* Run the installation with the parameters /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSurf /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSearch. One way to achieve this is to:
o save the AVG Free installation file directly to disk C:\
o open menu Start -> Run
o type
c:\avg_free_stf_*.exe /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSurf /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSearch
* The installation will be started, and AVG will be installed without the LinkScanner component.
*********************************************************************
The above is from FAQ1338 at this link: http://free.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1338#faq_1338
When I try to download AVG8, like you said to do, eventually before it’s downloaded, I get the message that the server has reset. I got the computer about two weeks ago & at that time downloaded AVG 7.0 free with no problems. Why can’t I download AVG8 now? Do I need to switch something off on the computer to allow the download to go through?
Your response is precisely why we allow and encourage comments on the site…thanks so much for a great find.
The method works great. I would caution many folks (especially Internet Explorer users), however, to keep those new features to help avoid clicking into land mines that can exist in search results. The feature is unobtrusive enough to not be a bother.
But for computer users who don’t need the extra protection/hand-holding, this method works perfectly.
Thanks again!
Thank you so much. Works like a charm! Corrected my slowdown in FF.
Lynn
I have discovered that when I install AVG8 free on my Vista notebook, I can no longer print to my HP networked printer from IE7. Printing from any other program is successful. Have you heard of this problem? It works fine on my XP SP2 machine, though, only on Vista is there a problem.
Thanks for any help/suggestions as AVG does not support this product.
I watched the above video which is great. However, I am not able to
follow the steps along and do the installation at the same time.
How can I save the video to my hard drive and view it at my pace.
I use internet explorer 7
thanks
nixie21@bellsouth.net
For me the AVG 8 toolbar with FF is just a waste of space. I’ve looked around for a way to remove it but this info doesn’t seem to exist.
Would appreciate knowing how to remove the toolbar.
Thanks
You will probably have to reinstall AVG and follow the steps I outline in the video to prevent the toolbar from installing. In Firefox, however, you might be able to click Tools –> Add Ons, then find the AVG toolbar and uninstall or disable it.
Hola
Mi nombre es Javier Polo Pérez y soy Ingeniero, y desde hace varios años me dedico a la Informática de Gestión. He desarrollado varias soluciones informáticas que en el Mundo Hispano han obtenido una buena acogida debido a sus prestaciones y fácil manejo, muchos ya las conocerán sus nombres son: Clinicas @Clinic @OdontoClinic @PsicoClinic @PodoClinic @FisioClinic Inmobiliarias InmoServer Facturacion ProServer @GesPYME Comunidades AdmiCom Veterinarias @VetGes Promocion GesProm Prevencion PrevGes Almacen @GeSTOCK Personal @GesRRHH Turismo @GesTUR
Me gustaría comentar que tras un año de pelea con Windows Vista intentando adaptar mis programas a dicho sistema operativo, lo cual he conseguido con mucho esfuerzo, finalmente he vuelto con mi Windosw XP, por tanto si lo que desean es un sistema operativo estable que no de ni un solo problema lo recomiendo.
Si desean ver mi trabajo y descargarse mis programas en forma gratuita pueden acceder a la web del Club ReM su dirección es http://www.clubrem.es o en http://www.e-rem.net
Un Saludo
Javier Polo
CRC failed in files.dat
Unexpected end of archive
What’s up with that? I’ve tried the download 3 times following your directions from your website.
You might want to try cleaning all your temp files first using Windows Cleanup or one of the cleaning programs we have posted on our Links & Resources pages.
I followed your instructions from the video and downloaded AVG 8. I get a message that says: Some installation files are corrupt. Please download a fresh copy & retry installation. And a message saying:CRC failed in files.dat. Unexpected end of archive. I did try downloading 2 more times and got the same messages. Any suggestions?
I think I’ve solved them problem, there are corrupt versions of AVG8 so you need to download it from the AVG site on this link
http://free.grisoft.com/ww.download?prd=afe
DO NOT click the blue button “Download AVG Free 8.0″
INSTEAD click the hyperlink “Download AVG Free 8.0 (AVG server)”
Clive
hi rick, first of all i think your site is very good and informative, the thing is i have a little problem, i downloaded avg 8 but after installing it said my anti-virus and anti-spyware database are both outdated, do you have any ideas on how to fix these, i’ve updated but those two don’t update, a little window pops up and says new updated files cannot be found !hope you can help and thanks for taking the time to look at this if you do
donal
good day..can i combine AVG 8.0 with another anti- virus which is avast?
The theory that multiple antivirus programs are better than one is the same as adding multiple fuel additives will improve the performance of your car.
Too much security can cause bigger problems than most viruses and spyware. We recommend just sticking with one antivirus.
Hi Rick and Adam. My win XP home is kind of slow now. I have read many comments here and other sites about AVG 8 problems. Some say ver 8 slows their computer and other problems !
Shouls I update to ver 8 or go to Avast ??
Also if I go to AVG 8 should I uninstall ver 7.5 first ? I ahve read many comments saying yea and no !! ??
Another computer has WIN 98. AVG 8 does not work with 98. You suggested some time ago to go to Avast. Should I uninstall AVG first ??
George
GJ, CO
AVG 8.0 will not run on Windows 98 so you will have to use Avast – until Avast quits supporting 98 too.
As for the slowness issues, everyone who has had me come and see their computer due to slowness after updating to 8.0 has accidentally installed the trial of the AVG security suite. I haven’t seen AVG FREE 8.0 slow anyone down. In fact, I think it is even a little faster.
When you update to AVG FREE 8.0 it is very important to do it the way Rick explained in the video. Otherwise you may end up with the trial version and it is very different.
The only gripe I have about Avast is that the interface is a little tougher to interpret. It works great and has some excellent features that AVG doesn’t, but overall I think the two are very comparable.
is Avast 8.4 a great anti-virus? i have combined avg 7.5 and avast 8.4 but mostly the avg 7.5 can detect first that there’s a virus in my computer…but avast couldn’t detect it even spyware avast can’t delect it..why?
thanks a lot for the previews answer!…it really help..More power!!!
I upgraded the free version of AVG on my computer on 5-22-2008. When I did, it deleted/hid/removed my paid for AVG spyware program. It was due to be renewed this fall anyway, but now I show a different LIC #. Will this cause any problems? Should I contact AVG about this?
I too am having this problem. Uninstalling the AVG does correct the problem with printing from IE7. Unfortunately, in researching this topic, yours is the only mention on this problem.
Would appreciate a real solution to this problem from someone in the know.