AVG AV Free Edition 9.0 Review

Discussion in 'other anti-virus software' started by JRViejo, Oct 17, 2009.

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  1. gery

    gery Registered Member

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    i had the same issues and uninstalled it after a week of problems. It was not they way 8.5 worked tho'.For the moment i will wait a little more. For now
    LnS Dr Web Trojan Hunter And mamutu are more then fine in my comp
     
    gery, Oct 18, 2009
    #26
  2. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    gery, very wise decision! And although my Free 9.0 is working fine (minus the Email Scanner :mad: ), that's the advice to everyone... wait for now.
     
    JRViejo, Oct 18, 2009
    #27
  3. progress

    progress Guest

    Maybe the Avira files are not encrypted? I remember that I had the same problem with AVG & Panda several months ago, the answer was: Panda didn't encrypt their files :)

    Nice review JRViejo - my email scanner is working fine :)
     
    progress, Oct 18, 2009
    #28
  4. Zimzi

    Zimzi Registered Member

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    What problems you had with Email Scanner? Which software you are using for sending and receiving email messages?
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2009
    Zimzi, Oct 18, 2009
    #29
  5. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    Zimzi, I'm glad you asked that question because as soon as I got up this morning, I was determined to find out why the Email Scanner avgemc.exe process was not enabled (especially after ance reported it working fine). FYI, I use Thunderbird and my wife uses Outlook Express.

    I decided to re-install the program again but this time I downloaded it from FileHippo (yes, it's the same as the one in the AVG server, but I thought what the heck) and instead of a repair installation, I chose Add/ Remove Components and this screen came up (I'm using the screenshot from the User Manual, Page 20, to prove a point):

    compselection9.gif

    Twice before I had selected the Personal E-mail Scanner box (after un-checking the Link Scanner and Additional installed languages boxes) and clicked Next. This time I wanted to see if there was a difference between what I was seeing and what used to be in version 8.5.

    Because I keep all the old User Manuals, I went looking for that same page (avg_afe_uma_en_85_7.pdf manual, page 13) and this is what I found:

    compselection8.gif

    Can you spot the difference between the two images?

    The Plugin for Microsoft Office (I do have Office 2003) came previously selected by default! As soon as I selected that box, clicked Next and the installation finished... VIOLA!

    taskmngrprocess4.gif

    Houston, the Email Scanner avgemc.exe process has landed! :D

    Now, if you are with me so far, you have noticed that there is a second avgcsrvx.exe process (AVG Scanning Core Module - Server Part) running at 5408K. Using Process Explorer, I can confirm that it is a child process of avgemc.exe and as I write this now, after using the above mentioned email programs a couple of times today, it is steady at 5712K. Does not seem to release Mem Usage, as the other processes do, and it's one that I'll keep my eye on.

    I thank ance for lighting the fire to check on this, and in the discovery process, I have found several mistakes in the User Manual, that I will detail in a future post.
     
    JRViejo, Oct 18, 2009
    #30
  6. Night_Raven

    Night_Raven Registered Member

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    I keep wondering why you mention only the working set (Mem Usage) which doesn't mean much anyway. You could show AVG's private bytes ('VM Size' in Task Manager) which is actually more important and more significant in general.
     
    Night_Raven, Oct 19, 2009
    #31
  7. clocks

    clocks Registered Member

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    VM is a lot per process explorer. Like 500meg. Not the same as private bytes, which is lower. Why are these two more important that working set?
     
    clocks, Oct 19, 2009
    #32
  8. Night_Raven

    Night_Raven Registered Member

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    No, it's not.
    'Mem Usage' in Task Manager is the same as 'Working Set' in Process Explorer.
    'VM Size' in Task Manager is the same as 'Private Bytes' in Process Explorer.
    Process Explorer does have a column 'Virtual Size' but it's not the one I mean.

    Perhaps this article would shed some light on the matter: http://shsc.info/WindowsMemoryManagement
     
    Night_Raven, Oct 19, 2009
    #33
  9. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    Night_Raven, actually, I'm more interested in the Peak Mem Usage and CPU Time, than anything else. I like to mention Mem Usage, because that's what is actively being used in the process, and since I let the System manage the size of the pagefile, besides shutting down the PC every night, VM size might not give me the right picture. For example:

    taskmngrprocess5.gif
     
    JRViejo, Oct 20, 2009
    #34
  10. robinb

    robinb Registered Member

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    it is interesting that even in the free version the email scanner is having a problem.
    I have on my client's computer where there is the AVG Pro, the email scanner turned off until AVG sends up the program fix.
    I emailed them 2 days ago and still have not heard back from them. I hope they fix this soon.
    I will not update any of my other clients who are running pro or free until this is fixed.

    robin
     
    robinb, Oct 20, 2009
    #35
  11. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    FYI. Although I have not experienced this issue (perhaps because I performed the recommended Optimize scanning now during installation?), looking at the AVG 9.0 Free Edition Forum, quite a number of users are complaining about the avgchsvx.exe process and its high Mem Usage. AVG has looked into it and Replied:
    PS. robinb, let's hope your Email Scanner issue is also fixed in that update!
     
    JRViejo, Oct 20, 2009
    #36
  12. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    As promised in Post #30, I will detail problems with the present AVG 9.0 User Manual, regarding the Email Scanner. Please follow along, using the User Manual version 9.0.3.

    1) System Menu (Page 29), under section 6.1.2 Components.

    While every component has a link to its own page, the Email Scanner link is conspicuously absent.

    2) AVG Components (Page 37).

    Again, every component is thoroughly discussed in the pages that follow, except the Email Scanner.

    3) AVG Advanced Settings - Email Scanner (Page 85)

    If you look at the screenshot that I took of my own AVG program while my Email Scanner was not working:

    Capture10-15-2009-9.54.03 AM.gif

    You will see that my Email Scanner only shows 2 sub-sections: Certification and Mail Filtering, exactly what you see on Page 85. And it is what I reported in my first post, Item D, regarding missing sub-sections.

    What happens after I fixed my Email Scanner problem? You now see the Logs and Results sub-section:

    Capture10-18-2009-10.21.06 AM.gif

    And the Servers sub-section, including both POP3 and SMTP:

    Capture10-18-2009-10.21.14 AM.gif

    Capture10-18-2009-10.21.18 AM.gif

    Was the Email Scanner not working in the AVG Beta version (AVG Free 9.0 build 665, dated 9/3/2009) used to compile the manual? I guess only AVG knows the answer to that question, yet its omission from the Manual pages informs me that it was not working, IMO. At least now, you have the missing screenshots that should be in the Manual.

    PS. robinb, perhaps this info will help you in convincing AVG of your problem.
     
    JRViejo, Oct 20, 2009
    #37
  13. robinb

    robinb Registered Member

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    I sure hope so or i am going to have to remove the program and put another one on which i really do not want to do.
    robin
     
    robinb, Oct 20, 2009
    #38
  14. Night_Raven

    Night_Raven Registered Member

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    VM Size doesn't represent the amount of pagefile data occupied by the process. Did you even read the article I provided? If no, it's about time. If yes, then there is no point in me explaining anything further since you just don't grasp the issue in the first place.
     
    Night_Raven, Oct 21, 2009
    #39
  15. robinb

    robinb Registered Member

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    AVG Pro all versions just updated to version 9.0.697
    The free has not as of yet
    This upgrade needed a reboot of the computer

    This so far has fixed my client's problem with email

    I am a waiting for the free to upgrade before i put it on my other clients computers.

    robin
     
    robinb, Oct 22, 2009
    #40
  16. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    FYI. New Documentation page today. User Manual 9.0.4.

    Still does not include the Email Scanner, as detailed in my Post #37 above.
     
    JRViejo, Oct 22, 2009
    #41
  17. robinb

    robinb Registered Member

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    I just got this from AVG this morning:

    Dear Sir/Madam,


    thank you for your e-mail.


    Please be informed that this issue was fixed in AVG Free Edition as well. The update was released earlier today.


    Thank you for your cooperation.


    Best regards,


    Zlatina
    AVG Customer Services


    only thing is I have not seen the update as of yet.
    robin
     
    Last edited: Oct 23, 2009
    robinb, Oct 23, 2009
    #42
  18. robinb

    robinb Registered Member

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    i have not seen it yet via the servers but you can get the installation package here

    http://free.avg.com/us-en/download?prd=afg#tba2

    avg_free_stf_en_90_698a1730.exe

    they just re emailed me and said:

    "In response to your request please let us inform you that AVG Free was released earlier today and it is available as installation package on our free.avg.com website.


    Please note that AVG Free version has different priority to our update servers which could result in the described way. Please attempt few more times to get the latest program update for this version by performing an update of our free application."

    so eventually it will come through the update on the probram
    robin
     
    robinb, Oct 23, 2009
    #43
  19. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    FYI. Received AVG Free 9.0.698 via Normal Update this morning. AVG 9.0.698 Free - Release notes
    avgupdate.gif

    Task Manager screenshot, right after reboot to finalize update:

    taskmngrprocess6.gif
     
    JRViejo, Oct 23, 2009
    #44
  20. Stephan123

    Stephan123 Registered Member

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    And what do you think about the detection rate mate :)

    I see its very low on memory use
     
    Stephan123, Oct 23, 2009
    #45
  21. JRViejo

    JRViejo Super Moderator

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    Stephan123, although I saw the latest test, where AVG was a couple of percentage points below the top AV, I really don't pay too much attention to tests. I concentrate more on the frequency of updates (2 to 3 times a day) and how AVG handles my virus samples (once submitted, AVG usually creates a new Virus Definition Database update within the hour). These are my benchmarks as to how well AVG functions.

    In my small sample world, AVG takes care of my PC and as a Mod here, exposed to all kinds of stuff, it has not failed me yet. Your mileage may vary. ;)
     
    JRViejo, Oct 23, 2009
    #46
  22. robinb

    robinb Registered Member

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    I totally agree :)

    robin
     
    robinb, Oct 23, 2009
    #47
  23. Stephan123

    Stephan123 Registered Member

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    Thank you very much. I must try it out sometimes :)
     
    Stephan123, Oct 24, 2009
    #48
  24. bloomcounty

    bloomcounty Registered Member

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    Hi there,

    I'm sure glad I found this thread. Thanks for posting such great information! :thumb: Sorry in advance if this isn't the proper thread to post this on. I wasn't sure if I should post here, or here or here. o_O If you need to move my post, I understand! :)

    My system stats are:

    Windows XP SP2
    ZoneAlarm Free Firewall (6.1.744.001)
    Firefox 3.0.14
    Outlook Express 6
    IE 6 (used *only* for Windows Critical Updates at the MS update site)
    SuperAntiSpyware 4.28.1010
    AVG Free 8.5.423 (Virus DB 270.14.29/2455) -- No linkscanner, no security toolbar, no plugin for Microsoft Office, but with "Personal Email Scanner" (not the plugin for Microsoft Outlook)

    I've always been one to wait until the last possible minute to update something like this, and will most likely wait until the dust completely settles (I stuck with AVG Free 7.5 for until they finally stopped giving virus definition updates for it! :) )

    It seems like virus definitions will be available for 8.5 Free for the foreseeable future, is that correct? (I just got the newest ones this morning.)

    Is the flag about not working with ZoneAlarm not really correct then? Or will it actually not work with my version of ZA? (It sounded like JRViejo was saying that even though it said there was an issue, there really wasn't?)

    Once I finally have to update to AVG 9.0 -- can/should I just use add/remove programs to uninstall AVG 8.5 and then do an install of 9.0 Free?

    And will I be able to install AVG 9.0 Free in the same manner as described above for 8.5 Free (No linkscanner, no security toolbar, no plugin for Microsoft Office, but with "Personal Email Scanner" (not the plugin for Microsoft Outlook))?

    Thanks for the help and the great info!
     
    bloomcounty, Oct 24, 2009
    #49
  25. minacross

    minacross Registered Member

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    Is this a bug?
     

    Attached Files:

    minacross, Oct 24, 2009
    #50
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