AVOID AVG 8.0 AT ALL COSTS!

I hate to use caps in a title, but this time I’m forced to. Whatever you do, avoid AVG 8.0 which was released yesterday (2/28/08) . For that matter, avoid AVG altogether. I installed AVG Antivirus Network Edition on all the workstations at a clients’ and everything started to crash. EVERYTHING! Servers and workstations. I can only blame myself for installing a brand new version without testing (bad, bad mistake). I’ve used AVG extensively in the past, and I’ve never encountered any problems. As a matter of fact, I prefered using AVG because of its easy to administrate (install, monitor and update all the clients from the server) and because of its small footprint on the systems. My second choise has always been Bitdefender, and only because it costs about twice as much as AVG, but now it is my only choice.

Again, avoid AVG 8.0, at least until they get their act together. I believe they rushed version 8.0 out the door and therefor delivered an extremely buggy program. I can’t trust company like this anymore. It was nice to know you, AVG.

My new favorite antivirus is Avast. They offer a free version, but it really shines when you buy it. It is unintrussive, effective, and lightweight (it won’t bog down your computer). It scans fast and so far I haven’t had any issues, anywhere. Check them out by clicking here!

EDIT #1 – Check out my followup article

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Karel

Hi J2. We are not aware of similar issues with AVG 8.0. Could you possibly contact the technical support – or me directly? This must be a conflict with some other driver. AVG 8.0 has been tested extensively both in our labs and by several thousand beta-testers. With a completely new product, a bug can always happen but without reporting the issue to the developers / technical support, it cannot be fixed easily, as it is not a wide-spread issue.
Thanks
jr smith

Hello –

I’ve not heard of this issue to date. Not like AVG to let this happen.

What can we do to assist (24/7)?

AVG
buck

I was running 7.5 antivirus on a dell laptop with no problems at all. I upgraded to 8.0 antivirus with spyware,download went find but after it installed I lost my internet connection,wireless and DSL. When I do have internet connection I can’t open internet explorer at all. I also use counter spy and spyblaster on this laptop. No longer running those programs but has made no difference at all. There is something in this program that will not allow me to open internet explorer. Also when I run a computer scan one time it will take about 40 mins for a full scan the next time 2.5 hours. As a long time user of AVG I’am not a happy camper. At this point in time waiting for tech support for help.
albert

me too have an awful time with avg 8.0 cant get into internet also …downloaded it three times now and no luck, hate it…am at a loss now …need really need some help…al…just wont let me run internet explorer….
http://www.dailytechnologyimpressions.com Daily Tech Impressio

Ive been running AVG for almost 5 years now with no problems. Srry to hear you are having them.
http://www.blog.lgr.ca/ LGR

Hmm. I have had no problems with AVG. I have been installing them on clients computers for over a year, but have not done one in the last couple of weeks. I will have to see how the next one goes. Hopefully it is not as bad as you say. I would hate to have to use something like bloated Norton.
George

Hi!

I agree with you. I am starting not to like AVG Anti-Virus. I have a 7.1 version. Since Monday, it has started to say that it is out of date, which means it cannot be updated. When I try to click the update, it is giving me an error message all the time, like this: “An error has occurred during the update process. The update process cannot be completed”. I contact the technical service by email and they emailed me instructions what to do and the instructions are nothing, but useless. I sent a 2nd or 3rd complaint to them and they are still useless. They told me to click Technical Support by email and write a message to them, which was not necessary when I told them a few times and they are still useless. I uninstalled and installed the AVG Anti-Virus 7.1 and I still have the same problem.

Therefore, I say good-bye to AVG, forever.
Steve

I used to run Symantec, but it was taking more and more overhead as I updated to new versions. I tried AVG, and liked it better. Recently, AVG has become annoying. It started requiring that I reboot daily after every update. Once I got it to stop doing that, I found that during long periods of inactivity(computer itself runs 24/7), I would sit down in front of the computer and find IE open, and displaying a web page urging me to purchase AVG version 8. I have had to add this page to my hosts file
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random_n

I’ve been running some comparative test between AVG8 and AVG7.5 here. A few points I might make:

1) Web Shield component is a turd. Don’t install it.

2) Don’t install the toolbar either.

This will leave you with something comparable to AVG7.5, with the added benefit of antispyware definitions built in, and a handy (though manual) rootkit scanner (that can be triggered from AVGAdmin, as well).

Comparing to version 7.5 by itself, AVG 8 (less Web Sheild) takes roughly 15MB more RAM – reasonable with the antispyware addition (measured via commit charge levels in Task Manager pre and post-install in a VM, reverting snapshots to change versions).

Unfortunately, this brings the total RAM usage up to somewhere around 70MB, making it a bit of a squeeze on low-end systems (compare with NOD32 v3 using 25MB RAM). Also, the AVG Watchdog service tends to grind the CPU at startup. The recent .93 update lessened that a bit, but it’s still annoying. Performance while it’s running, provided enough RAM is available, seems every bit as good as 7.5.

As for the administration side, AVGAdmin has seen some work done to the client settings page – it seems a bit goofy, and has been pretty much lifted straight out of the client GUI. Even so, the 7.5 Admin interface was goofy as well, and the new one works roughly as well once you find everything.

So; avoid at all costs? I wouldn’t call it that bad – it’s a worthy bit of software, and I’ve not seen any instabilities (though I’ve only been testing from .89 and up). Even so, I think I’ll be trying to move those I work with to NOD32 in the future, as it seems that AVG is resembling less and less of the light, fast antivirus I’d come to love in version 6, and the cost difference isn’t that large anymore.

Hrmph… maybe I ought to be getting my own blog here, eh?
felloadmin

I installed avg8 clients and server….there was a problem with exceptions…it was still scanning over the network (network drives)…and it caused a massive halt on the server and client stations….the network install is great…but I believe 8 server may still be little buggy….I had to put 7.5 on the file server until it gets fixed….evertyhing else seems to be fine….8.0 on a stand alone has brought only one problem….cant stop the scheduled scan once it started…came in today to find it scanned for 24 hours…??…this is on winxpsp2. all I know so far…
SG

Been using AVG for years without issue. Loaded 8.0 and having problems updating some of it’s components (Anti-V,Anti-S). Anyone have the secret???
Issa Awwad

When I installed AVG 8.0, I lost my internet connection. Then, when I reboot BOTH my cable modem and my router everything works fine so far.
Debbie

Been using AVG 7.5 with no problems, had to renew my license and it upgraded me to 8.0 and everything went wrong, The system scan was still running 14 hours later, could not receive my mail (I use Incredimail), system was running slow and freezing up. I emailed tech support two days ago and am still waiting for an answer to my problems. I uninstalled 8.0 and reinstalled 7.5 and everything is working fine. Don’t know what I am going to do when I am forced to upgrade to 8.0. If anyone has any answers please help me out.
Xanarch

I have nothing bad to say about ave.. they have successfully kept my PC’s virus free for over 6 years
Bob

I have always loved AVG. Now 8.0 has changed that for me. I cannot stand to have that bottom banner come up every time I check for updates wanting to sell me something that I don’t want to buy. It is a friggin’ pain in the arse. I could understand it showing up every few weeks or so but not every time. I uninstalled it (just like I did Vista). All I want is a antivirus program to be only an antivirus progam and nothing else. I have an excellent spyware program that I would not trade for AVG.
T

AVG 8.0 absolutely slowed my computer down to a crawl. Things started to go missing, programs wouldn’t open or would open so slow I would have to reboot. Avoid 8.0. Agreed.
Robert Korn

Have used AVG for years without problem until 8.0. Tried to upgrade and it failed installation, prompted me to restart my computer and on restart the machine would not boot, got the NTLDR is missing error. I am now in the process of repairing my windows install.
Ellll

I’ve had AVG for years and always loved it, it has protected all my computers well. I’ve never had any problems with it but now when it said I need to upgrade to AVG 8.0, I got a weird feeling for some reason. I googled what other people have had to say about it and found this.

It definitely sucks if I have to stop using AVG but I can’t be bothered with product that doesn’t work. Or works too much and doesn’t let me use the computer at all! So I guess I’d better start searching some other anti-virus program.
http://profiles.friendster.com/suzyneta Suzynetta

Agree with you guys. AVG 7.5 always be the best for me until I decided to upgrade to AVG 8.0 free. My laptop start to slow down and my brother’s laptop cannot start after the installation.
Michael Scott

Normally, I wouldn’t comment when someone else has already said what needs be said (see #16 by “T”). However, I am a long term fan of AVG and was looking forward to AVG 8.0. While it did install cleanly, it slowed my evaluation system (Pentium 4, 2ghz, 512 mb main, not networked) to a crawl. Think 5-15 seconds for Firefox to open a tab. Think of mysterious lock-ups for 15-45 seconds. Think of stripping the options down to “next to nothing” and still experiencing severe slowdown.

And then it gets worse.

“Big Al 43″ of AVG technologies stated in the AVG 8.0 forum that AVG Technologies would continue to support AVG 7.5 until year-end. Having restored my system to AVG 7.5.524, I was dumb-founded to see the dire warning, “…support stops 31 May” screen pop up after updating.

I truly hope that the folks at AVG will be able to turn the product around but, alas, they have been sold (See AVG announcement, http://www.grisoft.com/us.314) which is apparently why they’re no longer “Grisoft” and apparently why we’re starting to see bad product.

Thanks to Jan Gritzbach and Tomas Hofer. You guys did a great job!
gsi

AVG 8.0. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
I downloaded an upgrade to AVG 8.0 in Windows 2000. This program is a mess. It will not scan or update. Tried several times to install. Program fails every time.
Requesting help from AVG-Grisoft is like conducting a seance to talk to the dead. Nothing but eerie silence in response to a dozen e-mails.
Levans

Tried 8.0.1, and it won’t even perform a scan. Settings options are now nearly nil. I consider myself fortunate that the new version didn’t trash my windows installation, and have uninstalled and reinstalled 7.5, but will start looking for a replacement program now.

I’ve appreciated AVG greatly for the last few years; but now I’m done with it. More trouble than it’s worth, for me.
Bill

I have had two clients that could not print from the web and also could not print e-mail after I installed AVG 8.0 free. Once I removed the program the systems worked fine. I then installed AVAST free and the systems are working just fine.
thanatos

Good Catch, Joe. My bro upgraded to 8.0 and that sent his already slow computer into purgatory. Thanks AVG for being first in Free AV, but I recommend AVAST to everyone now. I’ll keep checking on them to see how they resolve this
MalMal

I upgraded to AVG 8.0 a couple of days ago and am also having problems I’ve never encountered before. I use Gordian knot and since installing AVG it has slowed to a crawl, the last XviD encode took about 22 hours, when it’s normally about 12. I’ve just transcoded an AC3 file to MP3, this’d normally take a few minutes, today it took about 4 hours! Time to find a new antivirus I think.
the gamles

Well looks like im not the only one having problems, I have had enough of this stupid version of AVG 8 it wont let me open certian webpages and slows the laptop down so much and it is always wanting to restart the computer and even if i do(which is asking me loads of times a day)it still says the anti-virus ,anti-spware and update manager is out of date even though i update it seems alllll the time with this version, ok so i wanna go back to the old one which was 7. something
mike

I recently updated from AVG 7.5 to AVG 8.0 and have had nothing but problems with it. Auto update or scheduled update does not work. Even when I tick the box , set the daily time for the update and tick the save settings box, as soon as i go back in, the boxes remain unchecked.
This means a manual update daily as the AVG icon in the tray is red with an exclamation mark. So sooner has it updated, it tells me that I have to restart my computer. Restart?? I just started it!! Once restarted the AVG tray icon is STILL red with the exclamation mark!! This requires me to again select update. Nothing to update but for some reason it is now active.
Firefox seems to be running slower opening pages as well. In all, very similiar problems to what others are having.
AVOID AVG 8 AT ALL COSTS!!
Be

I totally agree with this subject.

I think I will de-install AVG and look for an alternative antivirus. I realy fed up every time my pc needs to restart after restart by AVG update.
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Tarbet Balfour

AVOID AVG 8.0 AT ALL COSTS I purchased the 7.5 internet security suite 3 user licence 2 year, it ran like a dream, THEN I had to update to 8.0 nothing but trouble SLOOOOWS down the computer and always getting a pop up windows always asking me to allow an ip connection, every time the computers start up and at intervals, tried tech support what they wanted to know was unreal a TOTAL WASTE OF TIME, they have obviously made a total hash of this 8.0 BRING BACK 7.5 and give us all PEACE if not I WILL CHANGE TO A BETTER PACKAGE.
Patrick

This was obviously done before I did any research on Ver 8. The problem I’m seeing is I can no longer VPN into my office.
clair

Ive had avg 8 for a while, but one day I did an update which told me to restart my comp.
Since then the AVG tray icon is having difficuties opening and out of date. Also my windows task manager will not work at all. So I am now totally unprotected.

Help!!!!! What can I do?????
http://www.avg.com Raymondo

I recent had weird fake virus detection being displayed by AVG about my MP3 player being infected with a Tojan horse PSW. It refused access to my player stating optical drive not accessible. I ran McAfee scan and found nothing. Uninstall AVG 8.0 and my problem was solved. My machine is fine and my MP3 player is accessible. I also saw a major improvement on my machine once I removed AVG 8.0

Sorry AVG, but you’re last virus update file messed up my machine.

Ray
Todd

I do not like AVG anymore . I can’t see any text at all when I open the user interface.
Another disappointed AVG user

I to have been having a problem with AVG antivirus network edition 8.0 paid version where the icon that is usually in the system tray is no longer there and when trying to access it from the start menu or desktop icon it is unresponsive (hour glass icon appears for a few seconds and goes back to the arrow and nothing happens). When I tried to uninstall AVG, the setup program would freeze and “(Not Responding)” would appear in the title bar (blue bar at the very top of the window); this has happened with every setup option as well (install, repair and uninstall). It’s to bad to see a once excellent program go down like this.
poltergeist

I like using AVG. But the problem is it slows down your PC start-up.

I use AVG licensed which my old company issued on me. It works fine at first. but when I Upgraded it and re-boot my PC, it makes all my processes mem usage go up.

It slowed down my pc.. really granny-slow..

I had to use the cyberlat ramcleaner to boost my pc again..

I hope AVG would find a way to fix this problem…
alex

My AVG went tits up when i got it (3rd Jan 09) I ended up using Windows Defender for it. I now think AVG is a bunch of rubbish.
dextaboy

Used AVG at home and work for years but latest version could not be more different. besides a few conflicts the renewal e mail links did not work – eventually expired, final reminder link crashed machine then even their web pages stopped working, contact by phone is a nightmare – i eventually subscibed that way out of misguided loyalty but things continued to be problematic so i asked for my money back – numerous e mails and phone calls but still waiting. Its got to the point that what ever they say will happen simply does not. I asked them the question – how am i to trust you with my protection when you can’t resolve basics – not had a response.

Some of the stuff was just stupid – auto responses saying they cant respond because they have no contact details – rrrrgh!!
Bill

Yep, I upgraded to AVG 8.5 and was NOT able to open Internet Explorer 8.0. Tried everything to fix the IE 8.0 not opening up and freezing but as soon as I UNinstalled AVG 8.5…everything was fine. Sounds to me AVG needs to find out “WTF”(over)! Many customers having this problem I’d say it’s AVG’s Programming issue where some of the AVG’s registry keys are hosed causing some real BAD corruption problems with MS WINDOWS XP.

C’Mon AVG….what the hell are you doing??? Fix the problem or I move forward. Don’t fix this problem and give me my FULL refund so I an go elsewhere

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