"AVG Internet Security 2011" Dec. 1st Update is PROBLEMATIC!

mikedl · Dec 2, 2010

Hi, all. Just a heads up to those here using AVG Internet Security 2011 - might also apply to those using the free version, I dunno.

Upon receiving updates last night, AVG showed a re-start was necessary to complete the update. After initiating the restart, Win7 would not boot up. It wouldn't boot up to "Last saved Configuration," nor would it boot up in safe mode.

I used a repair CD to fix it, at first. The repair CD indicated I had a start up issue and Windows would repair it. It did. No dice. Then I rebooted, again, with the repair CD, and used a recent system restore point. Fine. Booted up nicely. AVG then reiterated the same prompt, after a bit, telling me the latest update required a re-boot to install. OK. Did it again. Same results. Same repair method except this time no warning about start up files. I performed a system restore once again.

Frustrating, to say the least, as AVG wanted to update once again and, of course, re-boot. I decided to do a bit of searching regarding this issue and found this (comments in red are mine):

I just came from my night shift and found AVG was updated and needed for a computer reboot. To my amaze, the New AVG Internet Security 2011 update causes Windows 7 to crash. Even in Safe Mode, it wont boot at all. As of now, AVG haven’t release a quick fix yet. Or in worst case scenario, reinstall Windows.
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Update
How to fix your computer after AVG Internet Security 2011 update windows crash
1. download and burn AVG Rescue CD http://www.avg.com/ww-en/download-file-cd-arl-iso
I didn't do this - see below.

2. Boot thru AVG rescue CD. Go to Utilities > File Manager then navigate to /mnt/sda(x) where x depends on the partition of your computer.

3. Rename the following files
\Program Files\AVG\AVG10\avgrs*.exe >> avgrs*.exe.bak
\Program Files\AVG\AVG10\avgchsv*.exe >> avgchsv*.exe.bak
There are only the two which need to be renamed.

4. Press ctrl+alt+del to reboot your computer. Make sure that you remove your AVG Rescue CD.
Computer booted up fine though, of course, the AVG icon in the notification area indicated errors.

5. Once your computer successfully booted. Download the latest AVG Internet Security 2011 Installer AVG Worldwide - Antivirus Free Trial | Download Internet Security

6. Run the installer and click Repair.
The repair takes a while. I had time to take my trash to the curb, come back to the repair and it was still running (an appropriate metaphor, perhaps?).
After the repair, reboot your computer (or you skip step 5 and 6. Uninstall AVG and install other free Antivirus software)
You can also use Linux-based live CDs as an alternative to AVG Rescue CD.

link

I didn't use the AVG Rescue CD or a Linux live CD, I used SIW2's PE disk (thanks, SIW2!).

All is well, now, but it really makes me a bit angry that I spent two hours of my day figuring this out. Well, at least I saved time considering how long it would have taken had I contacted AVG directly.

Hamnat · Dec 2, 2010

Mine has been bothering me to reboot to apply this "free version", I havent yet because i was busy. Should i just not reboot or can I uninstall it and avoid all this until they fix it maybe?

mikedl · Dec 2, 2010

Hamnat said:
Mine has been bothering me to reboot to apply this "free version", I havent yet because i was busy. Should i just not reboot or can I uninstall it and avoid all this until they fix it maybe?

I can't say for sure, Hamnat. I use AVG Internet Security 2011. I like it but this last go 'round has me in a bit of ire.

You'll have to eventually reboot. I don't know if uninstalling prior to doing so will allay the inevitable. Perhaps it will. If it doesn't, well, be sure you have a Rescue Disc, or a Repair Disc wherein you can go back to a system restore point, handy before doing so.

CAVEAT to all. Always keep your system restore points active and, occasionally, make one yourself when all is running well. It'll save you a lot of heartache.

Hamnat · Dec 2, 2010

Well finally rebooted and boom crashed. I made the AVG rescue cd got to step 3 now i am having issues actually editing the files I can get to them then I try to rename it and I get a string of crap. So not sure how to just rename the files

mikedl · Dec 2, 2010

I don't understand "a string of crap," Hamnat. All that's necessary is to right click on the file, click "Rename" and then add ".bak" to the end of the file name.

Please let me know if you have any other issues. As mentioned, I've been through this.

BTW, the files you want, seeing as how you're running a 64 bit OS of Windows, are in the "C:\Program Files (x86)\AVG" folder - or should be, that's where mine were.

Hamnat · Dec 2, 2010

I really appreciate the help and the warning since i had the cd ready when I rebooted. Ok so I used the recovery disc was able to finally get to windows. But I was trying to edit the 2 files BEFORE I got to windows in the little program thing which i am guessing is wrong. So now I am in windows after the recovery and I should edit them to the .bak?

mikedl · Dec 2, 2010

When you say you used your "Recovery CD," do you mean that you reverted back to a previous restore point to enable Windows to boot once again?

If so, AVG will still want to update and you'll need a recovery (or Rescue) CD that will allow you to edit the appropriate files after the update - and when you can no longer boot into Windows.

Once you've edited (renamed) the aforementioned files, you can then boot into Windows normally, run the AVG repair, and then reboot once again, normally, with no issues (please refer to my initial post in this thread).

Hamnat · Dec 2, 2010

I uninstalled the whole thing I will just use MSE 2 for now. Everything is running much faster anyway without it

mikedl · Dec 2, 2010

Hamnat said:
I uninstalled the whole thing I will just use MSE 2 for now. Everything is running much faster anyway without it

I can't blame you, Hamnat.

I was considering the same for quite a while. I'm very, very happy you've resolved the issue.

As mentioned in the last part of the link I presented:

After the repair, reboot your computer (or you skip step 5 and 6. Uninstall AVG and install other free Antivirus software)

Being in a commercial environment does not allow me the same concessions.

mikedl · Dec 2, 2010

Thankfully, AVG is on top of this.

Still, maddening as heck, for me and at least one other member here!

Meow · Dec 2, 2010

Hi people. Apparently I suffered the same problem from the update. Now, I have this new problem on my hands with the AVG rescue CD. I made a bootable USB drive following the instructions on AVGs website.

I could get to the AVG rescue CD menu. After selecting the first option to boot AVG rescue CD, the thing freezes with the caps lock LED flashing. I restarted and tried the second and third options to try my luck. The AVG boot messages mentioned not being able to find some arl_rootfs.ext2 file or something like that and quit booting. It just froze there.

Does anyone have any idea whats going on? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...

swarfega · Dec 2, 2010

Horror AVG update ballsup bricks Windows 7

An update from AVG on Wednesday night rendered 64 bit Windows 7 systems unstable after it was applied.

Several Register readers have been affected by the problem, which leaves machines in a continuous reboot loop.

AVG has pulled the problem update (3292) and published an advisory apologising for the cock-up and providing instructions on how to get hobbled systems back up and running again.

Recovering a Blue Screened PC is more involved than simply rebooting in safe mode, as the security vendor explains. Desktop versions of Windows 7 seem particularly prone to the bug.

It's unclear whether or not other versions of Windows are vulnerable to going weak at the knees after applying the misfiring update from AVG. Both free and paid-for versions of the software seem to be problematic.

Users have vented their understandable frustration through AVG's online forum.

AVG hasn't said what caused the problem, but normally such auto-immune snafus occur when security software packages identify a vital Windows component as potentially malign. Such problems are far from unknown in the anti-virus biz and have affected multiple vendors in the past.

Testing procedures have been improved across the industry, but not fast enough to cope with the growing volume of updates vendors are obliged to publish in response to increased malware production rates.

more

Skulblaka · Dec 2, 2010

Ha! I have Norton, I heard bad things about AVG, this doesn't help them...

Win7User512 · Dec 2, 2010

I use Avast, and the most serious issues I've had are false-positives.

McAfee had a reboot issue a couple years ago too. Wonder if it is the same cause.

swarfega · Dec 2, 2010

This isnt the first time its happened with them either.

ken9122 · Dec 2, 2010

Skulblaka said:
Ha! I have Norton, I heard bad things about AVG, this doesn't help them...

Don't laugh , Norton could next. :devil:

Ken

sygnus21 · Dec 2, 2010

This is really nothing new as it happens from time to time. Even Microsoft has had to pull updates that have screwed their own systems. It's unfortunate but stuff happens. The important thing is that they fix it immediately, which they appear to be doing now.

I use MSE btw.

Purkinje · Dec 2, 2010

Hello! AVG has provided a fix for this, and can be found here. You'll need a blank USB drive with about 300 MB of clear space.

Atkray · Dec 2, 2010

Purkinje said:
Hello! AVG has provided a fix for this, and can be found here. You'll need a blank USB drive with about 300 MB of clear space.

Thanks.

Unfortunately last night I ended up doing a system restore(the first one failed but the second one worked).

Ever since I updated to AVG 2011 I have had problems I implemented a permanent fix, I uninstalled it and switched to Avast.

Aonghus · Dec 3, 2010

Hey guys, first post. Great forum here. I'm a big fan of forums like this, I use one for my motorcycle on a regular basis, impressive knowledge base out there.

I have apparently encountered the exact same problem. I shut down the laptop last night (ASUS UL50VT) and went to bed. I had noticed that AVG needed to restart but I normally shut down the laptop at the end of the day anyway. My wife tried to turn it on today while I was at work and bam, here I am.

I do have a new wrinkle though; I am trying to make an AVG repair USB and it won't get past the third file transfer (NTUSER.DAT). I get the following error message:[Operation failed: Copy files 'NTUSER.DAT'->'E:\NTUSER.DAT' failed with Win32 error '32']

I am using an older USB stick (maybe 4 years old?), would that have anything to do with it? I am also using my work laptop right now to search for fixes and make the repair USB (Dell E6510 running XP Pro). I'm at a bit of a loss here.

I would not consider myself to be a total computer idiot but I'm not really a computer guru either. Any suggestions you guys have would be much appreciated.

"AVG Internet Security 2011" Dec. 1st Update is PROBLEMATIC!

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