Posts Tagged: upgrade
25
Apr 08
AVG Free Antivirus 8.0 Upgrade – Video Tip
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.
21
Apr 08
PayPal Agrees
Last week I wrote a tip called 7 Habits of highly inefficient Internet Users. The very first habit I wrote about was the use of old browsers. Literally, the next day PayPal (the leading online payment source for eBay and person-to-person payments) announced that it would stop supporting old browsers and users who did not upgrade to more modern and safer browsers would not be able to use the service. This will not be an isolated incident. Some banks also require the use of at least Internet Explorer 6 with all its updates or Firefox 2.0.
If you are still using an older browser and like to shop online or do banking online, you need to upgrade your browser immediately. Read my tip from last week that I linked above for more information.
21
Mar 08
AVG Antivirus 8.0 Upgrade Advice
The past few days calls and emails started filtering in about the new AVG 8.0 version folks have seen appear on their free versions of AVG Antivirus. The common query is, “Should I upgrade?”
No, home users of AVG Antvirus do not need to upgrade at all. The current free version of AVG will continue to be updated and as it has been for years. The new 8.0 version is the newest commercial product from AVG Technologies (they changed their name from Grisoft last week).
As much as we like AVG Antivirus and their anti-spyware product, we don’t like their full Internet Security package. Like all the other all-inclusive security packages from Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro, etc, the AVG Internet Security product packs in too much software that will decrease the performance of your system. If you like the Swiss Army approach, it is probably the best of these types of packages, but we prefer you select your security packages a la carte.
To review our security recommendations for Windows home users, we recommend:
- AVG Antivirus Free Edition
- Mozilla Firefox (or Opera) web browser (don’t use Internet Explorer)
- Keep the Windows Firewall enabled
- Use a router with high speed Internet connections
- If you use Outlook, Thunderbird, or Outlook Express, there is nothing better than Cloudmark Desktop to fight email spam
- IF you have teenagers (or immature adults) who use your system regularly, add SpyBot Search & Destroy and the AVG AntiSpyware product to the mix and update and scan at least weekly.
Links to all these products can be found on our Links & Resources page.
21
Mar 08
Vista Service Pack 1 – Don’t do it….yet
Microsoft released the first service pack (major upgrade) to the barely one year old Vista this week. In fact, the Service Pack has been in the works almost since Vista was released last year. You will see and read it being referred to as Vista SP1.
Microsoft missed the mark so badly with Vista that the company had to immediately go back to work in trying to improve an already mediocre release.
Should you upgrade to SP1?
No! At least don’t upgrade for the next month or two. After just a few days since release, there are already widespread reports of crashed computers, bigger problems with compatibility and slower performance with this upgrade. Don’t be a guinea pig with your computer, wait it out until it matures a bit.
What does SP1 include?
- The 40+ security and other updates released since February 2007
- Speed improvements
- Security improvements
- Mostly under-the-hood tweaks that we won’t see
Can I still get Windows XP?
Yes, but only until June 30 of this year. If you are thinking of a new computer or want to put XP on your new, slow Vista machine, do it before July. Since the first day of Vista’s release, many online efforts started to encourage Microsoft to continue allowing the sell of Windows XP. The largest one, that you can be a part of, comes from InfoWorld.com. They already have over 100,000 netizens who have signed their petition to Microsoft to Save XP.
Do I have other options besides Windows?
Yes, you do.
- The opportunity to think about a Macintosh computer has never been more right than now. Although the cost is a little higher up front, you will make up for it in savings by not having to invest in costly security software or repairs because of security problems.
- Also, you could stay with Windows XP.
- Or, if you really want a newer operating system, the Linux operating system and its derivatives like Ubuntu get stronger every day and make a lot of sense for many computer users. Like Macintosh computers, they are not plagued with the security problems a Windows machine has AND you can use your existing computer instead of buy a new one.
Summary
- DO NOT UPGRADE TO VISTA SP1 FOR AT LEAST 2 MONTHS.
- You do have great alternative options in Macintosh or Linux.
12
Mar 08
Have an old computer? Check your RAM
I saw two clients today with slow computer problems. Actually the problems weren’t slow, the computers were and that was the problem. But, I digress.
Both computers were Dells of the same age. As it turns out each machine only had 256MB of RAM – too little for XP to run at its full potential.
I added 512MB to each machine and suddenly the systems came alive and ran faster than most brand new machines I setup.
Don’t know how to check your RAM?
Here’s what to do:
1. Right-click on My Computer
2. Click on Properties in the menu that comes up
3. Look for the amount of RAM that’s installed
If it is less than 512MB for an XP machine or 2000MB for a Vista machine, you should add more.
You can watch Rick’s helpful video tip on how to upgrade RAM by clicking here.
11
Jan 08
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times
Software upgrades can cost you much more than they help you. Very few computer users need to upgrade any software, except for daily updates for security software.
Today, I helped a couple who became frustrated after updating from AOL 9.0 to 9.1. They relayed to me that they went ahead with the upgrade because of the promise that AOL would be easier and faster with the upgrade. After the upgrade, AOL changed their Internet Explorer and Firefox home pages, made getting to email more time consuming, and even lost some of their bookmarks.
It didn’t take long to get them back to their familiar 9.0, but they were extremely frustrated by the changes made to their system.
Moral of the story: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it nor upgrade it.
28
Nov 07
Department store fix it people
I encountered another department store computer fix-it horror story today. The client called me because they had the proverbial slow computer. I show up and the owner proceeds to tell me that they just got it returned from a big box electronic store with the initials CC whose computer experts work under the initials of FD. Incidentally, I could tell similar stories of woe with another store whose initials are BB and their resident experts work under the initials of GS.
The computer owner showed me a receipt from CC-FD totaling nearly $250! The computer was operational, but very slow. Upon inspection, I discovered, within 90 seconds, that the 5-6 year old computer had only 256mb of RAM and was running the latest copy of Webroot Internet Security that craves at least 512mb of RAM. Yet another hack job done by experts with little practical experience and a mandate to sell product and not give customers the best advice. My charge for similar services would not exceed $175 and usually hover around $125-150, and the customer would have the added benefit of not having to call in someone else to properly diagnose the situation after paying me to fix the problem.
Unfortunately, because of the age and make of this computer, upgrading the RAM was not economical. It used older Rambus RAM or RDRAM and would cost a minimum of $260 to upgrade…not worth it at all.
We discussed his options which included:
- Take off the software he already paid for and paid FD to install. Then replace it with a less memory intensive anti-virus like AVG or Avast (both free for home users).
- Ditch Windows altogether and install Ubuntu or Kubuntu Linux which would run very well on this computer.
- Stay with what he has and realize the limitations of his system.
In the end, he chose to go with option #3, but said he might buy a new computer for himself and wife, then go with option #2 and give the computer to his son.
Moral of the story: Know your options for computer repair and also know that repair people working in a retail environment usually don’t have your best interest in mind.
26
Sep 07
Track multiple time zones in Vista – Video Tip
Windows Vista has few redeeming qualities, in my humble opinion. Some users, however, may have the need to track multiple time zones for work or personal use. I use this tip to track the time in Arizona where my brother lives. Because they don’t follow daylight savings time, I am forever confused about what time it is for him when I call.
Watch the short video below to learn how to quickly track up to three time zones if you are a Windows Vista user.
UPDATE: I just stumbled on this free utility from Microsoft that gives Windows XP users the same ability described in my tip above that Vista users have…tracking multiple time zones. Yet ONE more reason NOT to upgrade to Vista.
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