Some (minor) problems after installing AVG 8

I've been happily using AVG 7.5 for a while now, but a few days ago the program threaten to stop updates unless I installed version 8, so I did. Since then I've had some minor problems:

1. When I try to change the address in firefox, something blocked the change - I think it's one of the internet shield units the new AVG installed. After I keep pressing a random letter/s for about 10 seconds I'm able to go on, but it's a minor annoyance.

2. My laptop came with a fingerprint scanner, and various sorts of password utilities. One of the functions is that HP security tools remembers all my passwords, and I just wipe my finger whenever I come to a site like this for example, where login is required. I was really getting into that system, but now it doesn't seem to work properly anymore. Did AVG 8 disable my fingerprint generated passwords?

3. In AVG 7.5 I had 1-month of real-time protection, then it expired and I switched to BOC Clean and later I've been trying out Spyware Terminator. Now that I upgraded to AVG 8, is the real-time AVG protection active again? Will is last this time?

** and unrelated to AVG 8 **

BOC Clean never altered me to anything. I did get some trojan warning in real-time but they came from AVG. Spyware Terminator on the other hand is always busting my balls. It warms me about various websites, and when I start a (relatively new) program I need to click "Allow" a 100 times before the Terminator let's it all through - I guess that's good, but it's kind of annoying too. Is it safe to disable this feature (how?) How does Spyware Terminator compare to BOC Clean? And I assume I should leave the Terminator's real-time (Clam AV) virus protection off since I have AVG installed, right?

 

Hi OnEdge,

Try going back to a restore point preceding the upgrade to AVG 8.0. See if that helps. If you've never done this before, go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / System Tools / System Restore
check the box to Restore my computer to an earlier time and click on Next. You'll see a calendar with highlighted dates. Choose one of the dates just preceeding these problems and allow your system to return to that date. See if the problem goes away.

If you decide to try this, let me know how it goes
abri

 

thanks abri, sorry for the late reply (though i read the reply over a week ago) - i don't keep system restore on anymore. somebody convinced me to maintain acronis backup copies instead as a better, more secure alternative - system restore messes up sometimes... But I dunno, I haven't been very good about making those copies. Certainly I don't do them on a daily basis.

As for AVG8, I still have it installed. The fingerprint scanner thing may or may not be related - it's working better now, but problem changing URL persists. When I have time I'll try to find out if it's possible to turn that function off rather than to uninstall AVG8 completely. I've looked into it quickly, but haven't noticed any obvious turn-off options. (Maybe it was an option at installation).

Anyway, for others, be careful, I love AVG free edition, but version 8 seems like it might be loaded with some useless extra crap or functions that impede functionality more than their protection value warrants, like this thing about not being able to change the URL without doing double takes on it...

 

Hi On Edge,

I'm one of those people who've had really good experience with System Restore and can advise its use. You may want to use it together with Acronis.

I'm not sure what AVG is going to do, but I hope they will hear their customers.

abri

 

just a quick update:

First, I recently noticed that AVG 8.0 had installed 2 add-ons to firefox. After uninstalling them through firefox->tools->add-ons menu, my browsing problems went away.

Second, after upgrading my desktop's AVG 7.5 to AVG 8.0, it gave me a virus alert on BurnAware (small CD/DVD freeware program I use), and disabled it. I assume this was a false positive, and after adding BurnAware to AVG 8.0's Excluded Files/Folders list (under Advanced Settings), the problem went away and I could burn stuff again.

Third, I just installed Windows XP SP3 on my desktop, and AVG did react adversely to it initially (updates stopped working), but I think that was temporary and has sorted itself out by now.

 

Hi OnEdge!
Thanks so much for the report! Based on AVG's history as a company, I expect they'll get all the rough edges smoothed off soon. It's quite possible since they used only their own stand-alone products to make up the security suite, that it will have more success where the others lost ground on bulkiness. Also, that's a good tip about the add-ons.
I hope everything is well now.
abri