Well, another warning to everyone Vista is still filled with bugs, and
I've got AVG 7.5 and JAWS 9 and ZoomText on a computer I got in 2003.
Does anyone else have the problem with AVG 8?  When i have uninstaled a
program I always go through add/remove.  I learned this the hard way in
2002 when removing programs through the remove tool on the program, and
that can create more problems then what it is worth.





On Fri, 16 May 2008, Ted Chittenden wrote:

> Hi to all.
>
> The story I am about to relate concerns my attempts to download, use, and then uninstall AVG 8.0 and reinstall AVG 7.5.  Before I do that, some notes about the equipment I am using:  a Compaq computer with 256 k accessible (but with a 2G hardrive); a 56k modem; both JFW  5.1 and 9.0 (I use the former still because of my computer's memory failings); Windows XP; Internet Explorer 6 with SVC Pack 2; and AVG 7.5.
>
> It all started yesterday when I returned home from work at 3:pm (I only work half-days on Thursdays) and decided to update my copy of AVG 7.5 (the antivirus databases, etc.).  I had just finished updating the software when I noticed a second window that had opened up on my computer, saying that Grisoft (AVG's maker) was upgrading to AVG 8.0, 7.5 would no longer be supported after a certain date, and would I like to update my antivirus software.  I thought why not and began the downloading process.  Since I am using a modem, I figured it would take some time to load so I chose to run the new software from Grisoft's website instead of saving it onto my computer for loading later.
>
> Around 6:30 or so, the download was finished, and I began the process of installation, after first making sure to turn off AVG 7.5.  During the installation, a screen came up that said that AVG 8 had found AVG 7.5; that AVG 8.0 would overwrite AVG 7.5; and that in overwriting AVG 7.5, AVG 7.5, AVG 8.0 would make changes in the Windows kernel, and that I could not reinstall AVG 7.5 without completely uninstalling AVG 8.0 and reinstalling AVG 7.5 from scratch.  I thought "What the hell," and pressed OK.  Then there were items to be filled out, and the new system wanted to update itself.  I went ahead with the process and at the end rebooted.
>
> After the reboot, I began finding problems.  All of the 7.5 links (including the shortcut on the desktop were still there.  I tried accessing AVG 8 through the systray with limited success--AVG was on the Systray, but when you pressed "ENTER" on any of the Mouse-click items, you would go right back to the Desktop.  I then pressed "ENTER" on the AVG shortcut link on the Desktop, and I entered the program.
>
> To say that I was disappointed is an understatement.  Gone were the well-marked buttons for Control Center and Test center.  If there were any buttons on that screen that could be pushed when you tabbed to them, they were not discernible by JAWS--even with the JAWS cursor.  Hitting the alt. key, I did find some traditional functions--Scan MY Computer, Update--in the Microsoft tool bar menus, but I had had enough.  I figured that AVG 8.0 was much less accessible and a memory hog to boot, and I prepared to return to AVG 7.5.  I figured if I could restore the system to a date prior to the AVG 8.0 download, I would be OK.  So I picked a date two priors and waited for the restoration.
>
> The restoration came, but AVG 7.5 didn't.  The computer sent me a warning saying it could not find the AVG files.
>
> I then undid the restoration, and went about the process of uninstalling AVG 8.0 and installing a version of AVG 7.5--an executable file I had downloaded in late 2006.  Unfortunately, the computer and AVG were not going to play along.  The older version of AVG would not download the Virus updates since 2006 (it said I had to find a newer version of the file on the Grisoft website, and that I had to run a repair operation once I found this updated file), and the old shortcuts to AVG were not working.
>
> Once again, I went to System Restore, went back two days, and got the same AVG 7.5 response.
>
> Without any antivirus on the computer, I went back onto the Internet and typed 'AVG 7.5' into Google.  The response at the top was a list of updates on the Grisoft site, so I went there and found some updates and began the download.
>
> When the download completed, an odd screen appeared asking for a name and password and showing two names a '<guest<' and 'administrator' with the guest being on top.  With no thought, I tabbed down to 'Add New User' and created a third password with my name.  I then saved the information, and after doing so, realized that I had entered this information into JFW 5.0's administrative options!  That's right!  The files that said they were updates to AVG 7.5 were actually going to JAWS 5.1.  It was nearing 10:00 PM so I decided to close down the computer for the night--I was tired.
>
> This morning, I got up, turned on the computer, and discovered that when JAWS 5.1 came on, a warning would come on, notifying me that I was signed on as a '<guest<'.  Some investigation revealed what had happened in the JFW Administrative area, and I commenced to calling Freedom Scientific--only to have my phone die on me, while waiting for Technical Support.
>
> In the mean time, I had been doing some thinking.  It occurred to me that the only way to get rid of the shortcuts to the AVG program would be to reload the older version I had and then uninstall it through the Add/Remove commands in the Control panel.  This I did, and this time, AVG 7.5 uninstalled everything properly, except the shortcut on the Desktop which I promptly sent to the Recycle Bin.
>
> I then went back online with no anti-virus software and typed '"AVG 7.5"download' (without the apostrophees) into Google and found the latest version of AVG 7.5 (released on April 6, 2008) on hipo.com (it was a ways down the list on that site).  I clicked on the file and saved it.  It took about 2 and a half hours to download, but it worked and was updatable when I opened the saved execution.
>
> So now I have AVG 7.5 back.  I still have the administrative problem with JFW 5.1 (even though I completely uninstalled and reinstalled it).  I tried removing the'<guest<' sign-in, but JFW 5.1 says this cannot be removed.  I presume there is some corruption in the file from last night's and this morning's work, but I am hoping to get a replacement computer soon with enough memory for JFW 9.0 to work properly (though I am looking for something with XP Home--something that is hard to find nowadays).
>
> I have written this story as a tale of woe and warning.  And I hope someone on this list knows a good replacement for AVG 7.5 that is about as accessible and as close to free as possible.
>
> Ted Chittenden
>
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