Computer virus protection No AS content

[pompei]

I know there are some skilled folk on here...

 

I have AVG 12 free on Windows XP. This morning I'm getting warnings that the ant virus protection is not running. When I tried to fix it I get the message " We could not finish automatic state repair. We weren't able to fix one or more components"

 

Any suggestions on what to do next would be gratefully received

[dollywobbler]

You'll hate me for this but have you tried a reboot?

[DSdriver]

Download Superantispyware and Malwarebytes. Both free and have kept me clean.

[254575]

and use microsoft security essentials instead of AVG bloatware!

[face]

^ this

[Negative Creep]

Avast works fine for me, and has the added bonus of being free and not taking over half your computer with pointless crap a la AVG

[Jack_Harpers_Teeth]

You'll hate me for this but have you tried a reboot?

 

 

Yeah or just do a System Restore to the nearest date to when things were still good?

[Spiny Norman]

Have a look on the AVG support forum, http://forums.avg.com/gb-en/avg-forums?sec=theme&act=show&id=231.

The suggestion seems to be uninstall/reinstall....

 

To be honest, once I'd got as far as the 'uninstall' option on AVG I went straight here...http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download, I find Avast is far better and less obtrusive than AVG.

[cobblers]

+1 for get rid of AVG. It used to be good, but it's a bloody nightmare now. I tried avast but i was put off when it started talking to me, and now that Microsoft Security essentials is available, there is nothing free or otherwise that comes anywhere close. It's completely unobtrusive and does the job.

[Negative Creep]

You can turn the Avast voice off in the settings

[cobblers]

I assumed so, but having it blurt out that it's successfully scanned something by default is such a stupid idea. That combined with the needlessly flashy UI rubbish made me realise it was a program designed to appeal to the people who'll £40 or whatever for Norton and need to occasionally feel reassured that they have invested the money wisely, so I sacked it off right away and have been happily using MSE since it was released. It's probably only popped up 3 or 4 times in all that period when I was opening some well dodgy cracks for knockoff software.

[gtd2000]

Stop browsing porn sites and all your AV requirements will be moot

[Spiny Norman]

Stop browsing porn sites and all your AV requirements will be moot

 

Common misconception. Unless you visit some of the really filthy ones hosted in Russia or Eastern Europe most 'regular' porn sites are fairly clean. You're far more likely to pick up something nasty from Facebook or any regular forum-type site than a porno site.

[gtd2000]

Stop browsing porn sites and all your AV requirements will be moot

 

Common misconception. Unless you visit some of the really filthy ones hosted in Russia or Eastern Europe most 'regular' porn sites are fairly clean. You're far more likely to pick up something nasty from Facebook or any regular forum-type site than a porno site.

 

Well I can only go from experience.

 

Each and every virus ridden computer I've fixed for mates was due to surfing porn sites.

 

I've never had an issue (touch wood!) with any forums to date.

[TimothyClaypole]

I lol'd at the last line.

 

 

 

 

(Gets coat).

[pompei]

Thanks everyone Long story short - step daughter sorted it out after I nearly threw it out the window. Seems that I picked up a virus on one of those septic comedy fail sites

[Negative Creep]

Stop browsing porn sites and all your AV requirements will be moot

 

Common misconception. Unless you visit some of the really filthy ones hosted in Russia or Eastern Europe most 'regular' porn sites are fairly clean. You're far more likely to pick up something nasty from Facebook or any regular forum-type site than a porno site.

 

 

Or at least that's what you tell the wife

[quicksilver]

A timely topic this as I've just started to have trouble with my antivirus for the first time ever. Had been using Avast for years with no issues whatsoever but just recently my XP laptop started to act very oddly - it would start off ok but after a period of time nothing would run (not even task manager) and it either claimed there were insufficent resources or the file was not a valid Windows dll. After trying various fixes to no avail I remembered Avast had updated itself just before the problems started - ripped that off and hey presto everything is normal again. The good reviews of MSE here persuaded me to try that so I've just installed it and will see how it goes - it can't be worse than the latest Avast that made the system completely unusable.

 

EDIT: just found this: http://forums.ebay.co.uk/topic/Computin ... 1700080911 which suggests the latest Avast update is indeed buggered. Avast users beware!