AVG forum: Help - AVG 9 free trial download killed my computer

Hi,

please accept our apologies for this situation.

Was some infection detected by AVG scan?

If so, please check this How-To - http://forums.avg.com/ww-en/avg-free-forum?sec=thread&act=show&id=85163

Is possible to boot into Safe Mode and uninstall AVG?
How-To boot in Safe Mode - http://forums.avg.com/ww-en/avg-free-forum?sec=thread&act=show&id=85145

Do you suspect BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death with automatic restart) is happening on your computer?
Please check this thread at AVG Free Forum about possible reasons - http://forums.avg.com/ww-en/avg-free-forum?sec=thread&act=show&id=51131

Please provide us with more information about your computer (installed protection applications, firewall, etc.).

Thank you

It also had EnetNOd32 or whatever it's called on it, which had been working fine but my subscription was about to run out so I thought I would try AVG full version. I have used AVG free in the past, and I had also tried AVAST, but found they slowed the computer down too much, so thought it might be that free ones weren't so great, so I tried the trial of the full one in the hope it might be better....... I uninstalled the NOD32 before downloading AVG 9 trial (had uninstalled the others as I installed new ones) so there should not have been any conflict between programmes.

Hi grrrgrrl,

if you are positive that the computer is not the problem (e.g. the disk has not overheated), you can try the "Last known good configuration" in your Vista system. Detailed description of the procedure is available here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Using-Last-Known-Good-Configuration

More information about BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death) can be found on this Wikipedia page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Screen_of_Death

Alternatively, you can use e.g. the Hiren's boot CD to run hard drive check and to repair any possibly damaged hard drive sectors. Also, while another operating system is launched, you can rename the following files on your hard drive:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\avgfwdx.sys
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\AVGIDSxx.sys
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\avgldx86.sys
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\avgmfx86.sys
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\avgrkx86.sys
C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\avgtdix.sys

- You can change their extension for example to "bak".
- Then, you can restart your computer. AVG will not be engaged in the booting process at all.

However, this would require downloading an ISO CD image and creating a CD. If it is possible, you can find the Hiren's boot CD here:

http://www.hirensbootcd.net/download.html

Booting from the CD might require changing your BIOS configuration. This should be described in the laptop's manual. When you boot from the Hiren's boot CD you can proceed as follows:
- Select the "Mini Windows XP".
- Double-click the "This computer" icon.
- Navigate to the C:\ drive and rename the above mentioned files.
- You can also run some disk test using the HBCD menu (the only tray icon displayed), if you would like to.
- You can use e.g. the "Testing" -> "HDDscan" -> "Surface test".
- Restart the computer.

Thanks.

- Click here to visit the AVG forum on CNET
- Click here to visit publisher info on CNET Download.com

I do read 2 years old which is typical for when laptops begin to have problems. There is still debate how to work with folk that think a software killed their machine. It is possible but unlikely.
Bob

Hello WhyIsThisMyJob,

> I loaded AVG free on it.
Are you sure about this action? As "avgrkx86.sys" is driver of AVG Anti-Rootkit component, available only in paid AVG (or Trial).

Did you rename this driver, when hard disk was in slave drive? To avoid its start?

You can follow this How-To article from AVG Free Forums to disable it.

Is possible to provide us with minidump files from folder ?:\Windows\Minidump for closer analysis? (pack in zip file, upload to a favourite online storage, provide us with link)

If you are able to start the affected computer, please make sure everything is fully updated (operating system, drivers)

Thank you

Hello WhyIsThisMyJob,

According to your previous note:
> Next I tried just adding to my computer and making it a slave drive,

I expected you had attached the hard drive from affected computer to working computer as second hard drive with possibility to access files on it. Apologies for this misunderstanding.

My previously pointed thread uses Linux Live CD (AVG Rescue CD) to boot the computer from, and make needed "rename" changes of AVG drivers without running main operating system.

In case of use another boot mediums (CD, USB) without running main operating system, and the computer still shuts off when using them, the issue will be very probably in the hardware. Please check memory modules, overheating possibility (check and clean fans), all cables (connections) and power source.

Thank you

I think your AVG hitched the Eset Node antivirus SW. I had the same problem in the past. I reinstalled the op sys, of course uninstalled the Eset Node and this solved my problem. I was a lesson for me, 2 several antivirus sw on the same computer simply kills it!

Hi imlatino,

Please try disabling AVG as described here. If the issue appears to be resolved, please contact AVG customer care to further investigate the situation or further describe the issue in forum. (Provide us with an msinfo output for brief analysis. What is the exact error message when the system won't boot properly? If possible, take a picture of the screen using a digital camera and upload it to some public image sharing service and post here a link to the picture.)

Should the issue persist even after disabling AVG completely, it would seem the root cause lies elsewhere. You could use the AVG TechBuddy premium support service to analyze and resolve the issue remotely or try consulting some local computer repair shop.

Thank you.

- Click here to visit the AVG forum on CNET
- Click here to visit publisher info on CNET Download.com

Just reading some of the posts about the AVG free variant creating issues some of which may have nothing to do with the download, leads me to believe that many users do not realize that some free variations ( many and most) have limitations that the paid version(s) might not have. There is no such thing as a "PANACEA" for total security on the internet but it is a good idea to have something that will cover such things as spyware/malware removal anti phishing and real time updates, etc., which freebies generally do not include. As far as freebies are concerned, for the basic purpose, AVG is a decent choice, the paid version is considerably more effective.