Best free AntiVirus?

csimon

What's everyone using nowdays? I've been using AVG for a few years now and have had excellent results ...wouldn't ask for better except for the annoying restart everyday after updates. This is especially horrible since it means I have to clock down my cpu and then clock it back up again we I reenter. This is a unique circumstance I'm sure but it's the way this Abit works and it's gotten on my last nerve.

So ...what should I switch to that won't require me to restart everytime I update the virus list?

Thanks

Thomas

The Networking and Security forum looks to be the best location for questions like this csimon.

csimon

Thanks Thomas ...I hadn't a clue. I reported the thread to be moved.

Linc

Moved! I'm using Kaspersky, but it's $50 a year. I got it on Brian's recommendation.

Snarkasm

Wait, what restart with AVG? I've never had to do that.

mas0n

Snarkasm wrote:

Wait, what restart with AVG? I've never had to do that.

I've never had to restart after an AVG update either. That would be totally unacceptable for me.

muddocktor

I've only had to reboot with AVG after major updates to the main program, Chris. Are you sure your install isn't damaged and hung on some major update? You might try totally uninstalling it and then reinstalling it back again and see if that stops the daily reboots.

Thrax

mas0n wrote:

I've never had to restart after an AVG update either. That would be totally unacceptable for me.

Same.

csimon

Well I did try that when it originally started requiring a restart after updates ...and that's when it began each and every time.

Can someone supply a link to the download? I'll try it again.

QCH

I've also had AVG ask for a reboot after an update.

GnomeWizardd

i use Threatfire its free and awesome

Thomas

Why not take a look at the AVG suggestion here for removing the older update files before doing any uninstalls (628:Update requires restart). Another area to check would be any other protective software interfering with AVG completing it's task. SpyBot's TeaTimer is a prime example of that - best to just keep that disabled anyway (uncheck all references to "Resident" in SpyBot - Mode - Advanced Mode, then reboot to complete the changes).

csimon

Thomas wrote:

Why not take a look at the AVG suggestion here for removing the older update files before doing any uninstalls (628:Update requires restart). Another area to check would be any other protective software interfering with AVG completing it's task. SpyBot's TeaTimer is a prime example of that - best to just keep that disabled anyway (uncheck all references to "Resident" in SpyBot - Mode - Advanced Mode, then reboot to complete the changes).

Thanks Thomas I took your advice instead or reinstalling (may try that if this doesn't work) and so far so good.

csimon

csimon wrote:

Thanks Thomas I took your advice instead or reinstalling (may try that if this doesn't work) and so far so good.

I tried this and it still asked me to restart after the next update so I completely reinstalled AVG 7.5 (v516) and reinstalled v.524a. This was yesterday and I did one update at install w/ no reboot so lets see how the rest goes.

csimon

csimon wrote:

I tried this and it still asked me to restart after the next update so I completely reinstalled AVG 7.5 (v516) and reinstalled v.524a. This was yesterday and I did one update at install w/ no reboot so lets see how the rest goes.

I did the install and next day I do another manual update and wham ...restart message. I don't get it.

Thomas

Restart suggests completing a registry change. I do hope you do not have SpyBot's TeaTimer (Resident) enabled there. Or others like SpywareGuard, Ad-Aware's Ad-Watch. All more or less older, known blockers of normal functions. Disable security software and trial and error until you get the solution. May take few updates, but don't forget before doing each to try a different disable technique.

csimon

Here's an update ...not only did the restart never go away ...now I get this dialog today.

The latest version that I have installed is avg75free_524a1293.exe ...I don't get it.

Thomas

Means that you, and I, are going to need to download and install the newer AVG 8. Much different user interface so will take some getting used to.

csimon

Right ...I did that just after I posted. It's different but if I don't have to restart after each update I'm cool with that.
One thing though ...there is no reference to grisoft on this version I got ...it only says AVG from AVG Technologies. Could it be a rip-off?

I may have answered my own question here ..."© 2008 AVG Technologies, formerly Grisoft"

csimon

So far so good ...all weekend and not a single restart. I starting to wonder if I had a more current version of the avg free and that's why it was making me restart. Who knows. I'm just glad things are back to normal for now!

csimon

I found a way to remove the AVG Free 8.0 toolbar ...you have to add "/REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSurf /REMOVE_FEATURE fea_AVG_SafeSearch" flag onto the installation string.

http://grandstreamdreams.blogspot.com/2008/04/taming-avg-free-version-8.html

Supposedly you can re-run the install to fix a current installation but I managed to screw it up by hitting the repair button. I'm sure someone else can figure it out though.