AVG Update Bricking windows 7 64 bit

Published: 2010-12-03
Last Updated: 2010-12-03 04:24:55 UTC
by Mark Hofman (Version: 1)
15 comment(s)

 We've had a few reports on AVG updates breaking things on Windows 7 64 bit  (thanks Bill, et all). 

The problem lies with the mandatory update. 

The AVG site has some info on how to deal with the issue here http://forums.avg.com/ww-en/avg-free-forum?sec=thread&act=show&id=94159

  • Basically get the machine started somehow (use AVG rescue Disk or any Linux Live CD).  In the windows/system32/drivers directory rename everything starting with avg. Reboot and your system will be back (minus the AV). I  guess it will then be a matter of waiting for it to be fixed, reinstall or change to something else.  

M

Keywords: AVG Updates
15 comment(s)

Comments

More info here: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2f43nem

AVG help:
Everyone: updateissuehelp@avg.com
Home and Free customers: +1-877-367-9933
Business customers: +1-828-459-5436

Gentle reminder. If you are running Truecrypt or similar, you may need to decrypt the system disk before attempting a rescue.

Nate

Dec 3rd 2010
1 decade ago

There were issues for non 64 bit Win 7 boxes. With Version 9 (paid corporate edition), we experienced having our users receive interactive messages asking them to install the AVG toolbar. AVG told me that this was another issue with that update and the toolbar request should have only gone to home users. We intentionally don't install the toolbar on business instances. Another issue noted was that the "safe search" IE plug in feature would crash IE 7 and IE 8 if you had Bing or Live Search (same thing) set as your default search provider. We had to disable this feature until there is a fix.

This issue brings up the issue of AVG's QA processes. I dealt with the McAfee update from hell earlier this year with another customer. In both cases it appears that basic QA controls would have prevented the release of the problematic updates. I have had discussions with my customers about delaying updates to both definition updates and app updates so that testing can be performed. That is a catch 22 when you have 40K+ new malware variants identified daily. Anyone testing every definition and app update release in your environment?

This is one more case for whitelisting in combination with traditional AV. You could easily delay app/def updates for days for testing if you had a solid whitelisting solution in place. Food for though.

BillR

Dec 3rd 2010
1 decade ago

Saw this issue with XP 64bit, 7 64bit and SBS2008 so far.

Quicker fix then the above from AVG.

Boot using AVG Rescue CD or any bootable OS disk.
Delete the AVG directory under program files (x86), the system should now boot.
Use the AVG removal tool to remove remaining files and reg entries.
Reinstall AVG and update if needed.

Adam

Dec 3rd 2010
1 decade ago

AVG has had so many false positives I finally gave up on them. If this is not one of those situations, it is still only a matter of time before they err on a clean system file and similar to this happens.

Former AVG user

Dec 3rd 2010
1 decade ago

I've been running AVG for awhile and just like any other app it definitely has its hiccups ... and it dang near bricked my Win 7 ... restore worked. What freeware AV is everyone running with now days?

GMDGeek

Dec 3rd 2010
1 decade ago

GMDGeek, lately I've been recommending Microsoft Security Essentials to the people I used to recommend AVG to. The heavy integration with Windows is a big benefit for unsophisticated users, because they never have to manually install an update to keep it current.

David

Dec 3rd 2010
1 decade ago

Wanted to chime in here. I want to requote David's post. MSE is a very good AV. It's one of those set and forget AVs. I also suggest Avast as their recent overhaul of the UI makes it a pleasure to work with.

If AV companies keep up this trend of bricking computers, I may start up my own computer repair shop.

Onibus

Dec 3rd 2010
1 decade ago

When I googled MSE, I found a link ranking it, with the spokesman for AVG dissing it as not any good. Irony lives.

StW

Dec 3rd 2010
1 decade ago

@Nate - thanks for the reminder
@Adam - thanks that will certainly also do it.
@stw - it will be an intestine day when one av vendor says "you know what x's product is pretty darn good, better than ours even"

I usually suggest people use the MSE mainly because then they no longer call me to fix their machine. That is until MSFT bricks a machine through an AV update.

Mark h

Dec 3rd 2010
1 decade ago

I will have to try MSE. I have tried all previous MS attempts at Anti-malware. First was MS Antispyware (rebranded), then Defender and then did a proof of concept of the first generation of Forefront end point. I was not impressed with any of them. Maybe they finally got this figured out.

BillR

Dec 3rd 2010
1 decade ago

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