AVG help please!

Got a problem with my AVG. It stopped downloading updates - it came up with the screen to show it was doingit, but now just hangs there, doing nothing. I've had this before and found that uninstalling and then reinstalling seems to work, so tried that. Went ok, until right at the end when I got a message about it failing to initialise and something about a kernel. Does anyone know what this means and how can I sort it out? I've also tried doing a sytem restore, a couple of times, but it hasn't made any difference. I also had the laptop crash.... I'm not happy as at the moment, all I have is Windows defender, but no virus checker. It's running vista...

Any thoughts? I did wonder whether I should just try to instal some other free virus checker instead - but again, any recommendations? Obviously, if I do this, it needs to be ok with vista as well....

Hi,

The first thing is not to panic! If you don't open email attachments and don't run untrusted files from then internet then in general you won't be needing your virus scanner at this second. What does need running all the time while you're on the internet is a firewall for which Vista will give you the best protection as it's automatically set to On.

I'm not sure about the error you had. I use AVG and sometimes when the screen has hung I've been able to do the manual Check for Updates and it brought up a dialog box offering a newer version to install which I did and then it was all fine.

Sorry I can't help further but I wanted to reassure you that this is not a minute by minute situation.

Hi,

The first thing is not to panic! If you don't open email attachments and don't run untrusted files from then internet then in general you won't be needing your virus scanner at this second. What does need running all the time while you're on the internet is a firewall for which Vista will give you the best protection as it's automatically set to On.

I'm not sure about the error you had. I use AVG and sometimes when the screen has hung I've been able to do the manual Check for Updates and it brought up a dialog box offering a newer version to install which I did and then it was all fine.

Sorry I can't help further but I wanted to reassure you that this is not a minute by minute situation.

Originally posted by McMaddog
Hi,

The first thing is not to panic! If you don't open email attachments and don't run untrusted files from then internet then in general you won't be needing your virus scanner at this second. What does need running all the time while you're on the internet is a firewall for which Vista will give you the best protection as it's automatically set to On.

I'm not sure about the error you had. I use AVG and sometimes when the screen has hung I've been able to do the manual Check for Updates and it brought up a dialog box offering a newer version to install which I did and then it was all fine.

Sorry I can't help further but I wanted to reassure you that this is not a minute by minute situation.

Thanks - not panicking majorly, as I always try to be aware of not opening email attachments from unknown sources as well as unstrusted stuff, as you mentioned. I've got my vista firewall on as well, but obviously I do need to try and sort it out. Have been away for a few days, so will need to have another look at it - it's not on this laptop, but nonetheless, have already made mental note not to be checking my bank account on that particular machine..

Originally posted by McMaddog
Hi,

The first thing is not to panic! If you don't open email attachments and don't run untrusted files from then internet then in general you won't be needing your virus scanner at this second. What does need running all the time while you're on the internet is a firewall for which Vista will give you the best protection as it's automatically set to On.

I'm not sure about the error you had. I use AVG and sometimes when the screen has hung I've been able to do the manual Check for Updates and it brought up a dialog box offering a newer version to install which I did and then it was all fine.

Sorry I can't help further but I wanted to reassure you that this is not a minute by minute situation.

Thanks - not panicking majorly, as I always try to be aware of not opening email attachments from unknown sources as well as unstrusted stuff, as you mentioned. I've got my vista firewall on as well, but obviously I do need to try and sort it out. Have been away for a few days, so will need to have another look at it - it's not on this laptop, but nonetheless, have already made mental note not to be checking my bank account on that particular machine..