Avast Virus Protection...

[Juke_spin]

...just as the Capn declared it would has made a-vast improvement in the operation and security of my PC.

After getting in trouble running my system w/o virus protection and posting about it a month ago, I took the Capn's advice and help and installed and ran the free Avast VP program. It worked.

Then, over the past two weeks, while running it in the background, I hooked up a new Logitech cordless mouse - which installed its own driver software - and have been having some serious crashes and system slowdown.

So today I ran an Avast scan on my entire system and had it either quarantine or repair the 14 infected files it found.

Item: The flashing badge-shaped alert in my system tray is not flashing any more; it's gone.

Item: The little popping sound generated by this alert to interupt my keyboarding and mouse pointer control every few minutes is absent. It is not missed either.:)

Item: The Avast program still loads, scans and runs with a minimum of delay and memory utilization, especially contrasted with the former AVG program which wouldn't have done nearly as efficent a job with correcting the problems.

Item: I have just got to reccommend this virus protection program over AVG.

[Patonb]

Funny thing, I d/l and Am trying it but I don't see any less memory use. Also everything I've read states avg is less memmory... Especially as it does less.
Just cause it loads faster doesn't mean less memory use.

I think you really need to run a second scan of another av. Run housecall.trendmicro.com When an AV acts up, it's usuaslly bad.

Btw, all the sounds are found in the Widow control panel, sounds section.

[Juke_spin]

Well from this post I see you are at least openminded enough that you're trying Avast to make up your mind if the Capn's claims are accurate. I've been wondering.

My contrasting comments are mostly based on how the VPPs have affected my system's speed of operation. AVG slooooooowed the system down, particularly on boot-up. Avast does not.

[Patonb]

I got 4G's of ram.. memmorys not a worry. As AVG updates as you login, that would slow it up on boot.

I haven't had qan issue, other than the stupid voice telling me it's updated.

[Lazlo]

I tried avast! for the first time today, and as s a long-time AVG user, I have admit avast! is superior [I'm referring to the free versions]. More protection options, easier interface. I'm really impressed.

[Patonb]

It is pretty bling bling.

I'm running both, avg on the lappy, and avast on the desktop... No issues, remember to turn off the update sound... or be on the comode.

[PN]

Thanks for the Avast update. AVG 7.5 Free Antivirus is no longer available including the anti-spyware. I am still using AVG 7.5 free antivirus along with the free anti-spyware, but I think updates will no longer be available at the end of the month. The free AVG antivirus is combined with anti-spyware technology.

When I do install this software I will make sure not to include the Yahoo toolbar.

Below is an article from ZDNet (http://review.zdnet.com/internet-security-firewall/avg-antivirus-8/4505-3667_16-32887573.html) about installing AVG 8.0.

After installation, AVG walks you through seven steps:

1. Screen one merely describes the wizard
2. Screen two asks how often AVG should update itself
3. Screen three asks if you want to report compromised Web sites to AVG
4. Screen four asks if you want to use the Yahoo search as your Internet browser default (this is the second time you asked to adopt the Yahoo search engine; if you installed the security toolbar, you'll already have Yahoo on your browser via the toolbar)
5. Screens five and six lets you to download updates
6. The seventh step tells you that the seven-step process you've completed is just the first part.

[Patonb]

Just installed AVG 8, and it looks exactly like Avast.

[Timaru]

Another convert here.......

Tried to update to AVG 8 only to be told it only works on XP with service pack 2 (my comp. keeps crashing with SP 2 installed) so downloaded Avast and it's great - like a good umpire at a ball game you don't notice it's there.

[Patonb]

Another convert here.......

Tried to update to AVG 8 only to be told it only works on XP with service pack 2 (my comp. keeps crashing with SP 2 installed) so downloaded Avast and it's great - like a good umpire at a ball game you don't notice it's there.

Hmmm, last time I knew of SP2 and crashing, was cause of hidden spyware.

In any event, make sure you turn on the firewall.

[Timaru]

Hmmm, last time I knew of SP2 and crashing, was cause of hidden spyware.

In any event, make sure you turn on the firewall.

Hi Paton, like a sailor in a knocking shop I'm well protected! Zone alarm, Avast and Spyware Doctor.

What I should have said was the comp. hangs on boot up with SP 2 installed, over the last three years I've tried adding it but always the boot up problem kicks in.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[CapnGimp]

I'm out the door, but b4 I go I gotta say this TimmP00...
If you haven't reloaded that thaang in 3 yrs, all you have is trouble, lol.
Seriously though, your BEST bet, unless you wanna listen to everyone else, is to save your valuable data to dvd/cd/other drive/storage media and then do a FRESH install of xp, install sp2 or sp3, download either of these and burn to disc as you should fresh, upto date programs such as AVAST, Opera(time for a REAL browser and email client, and any other software you wish to install. DEFRAG that puppy after you install the sp2-3, whichever you use and then start adding your software. If you have a hardware router or for that matter modem, with NAT firewall built in, forget zone alarm.
There ya go.
I'm outta here! It's purrty outside n I wanna go to wally whirled and terrorize walkiez.
:D

[Patonb]

My suggestion is far from as radical as Gimpies........ Oh wait, he said format... Yha I'd do that too. Get all your latest drivers, sp2 and what not first.

I have a partion, just for my drivers, so it takes bout hr to wipe, er quick format, and reinstall the OS.

[Timaru]

Thanks for the advice people, the machine is now four years old so I'll probably bin it and buy one of those dinky little HP Slim-lines with Vista.

I was thinking of an i MAC but my SO bought me a Samsung 20" wide screen pebble monitor in shiny piano black so to keep the peace I'd better stick with a PC.

Any thoughts on this one?

http://www.johnlewis.com/230472309/Product.aspx

[Patonb]

It's not too bad, AMD so it's inexpensive, No where near top of the line, but it'll do lots at that price.

[Timaru]

It's not too bad, AMD so it's inexpensive, No where near top of the line, but it'll do lots at that price.

It'll do far more than I'll ever ask of it, it's also shiny piano black (matches the screen - don't ask) and a third of the size of my current desktop but the AMD processor is worrying me as I've only ever had Intel before.

Are AMD very inferior to Intel?

[Patonb]

Until the core 2 duals, AMD smoked the pants off Intel. Intel had to reinvent its chips to come ahead again, starting back with the PIII chip.

AMD are good chips, that chip compared to the same intel is better and better priced. You won't notice the difference i'm betting.

[PN]

I uninstalled AVG 7.5 Antivirus and AVG 7.5 Anti-spyware from my Mom's PC last night. I then installed the new free version of AVG 8.0 Antivirus + Anti-spyware minus the toolbar, along with not sending reports back to AVG. AVG 8.0 seems to be rather lightweight on system resources. It took 47 minutes to do a complete scan on my Mom's computer which only has 256 MB of RAM, Pentium 3, 1.3 GHz, and I think the hard drive is 5200 rpm. By the way, the computer is running Windows XP Home and is current with all the updates.

Last Saturday I tried to install Windows XP SP3 but the installation failed on my Intel iMac. Anyway, this turns out to be a good thing because I cannot install XP SP3 until I can install Boot Camp 2.1 which will not install.

I did successfully install XP SP3 on a 3 year old laptop, although on my rather new Core Duo laptop, XP SP3 failed to install. The service packs did not automatically deploy to me. I went to Windows Update and there they were (XP SP3).

When it comes to Intel versus AMD, I would recommend Intel for laptops. For desktops, if you are gaming, video editing or really pushing the hardware, I also suggest Intel. However, if you are just surfing the net and doing e-mail, AMD is A-OK.

[Patonb]

I installed AVG 8 the other da, and couldn't finish a scan.. Oddly, ran trendmicro, got rid of somethings, and it, AVG, finished, but it took 2 1/2hrs.

How is SP3?

[PN]

So far so good on this laptop. I will keep you posted.