Hi guys...Looking for your help on a little problem with my AVG.

I have recently installed Windows XP and for the past several weeks, when it comes time for AVG to looks for updates (which happens once a day) I get the following message. ''Internet connection has failed. Please check your Internet connection settings''. Result: I cannnot download the latest updates and, worse, AVG seems to shut down afterwards, leaving me unprotected.

Oddly enough, for no specific reason that I could see, I WAS able to do a few downloads at times without any problem.

???

I perform the same operations from one time to the next....


And, by the way, I had that same problem when I was running Windows Millenium, so the problem doesn't seem to lie there..........


Thanks much in advance for your help.

Its something to do with the AVG Update Servers. They are being bogged down by too many update requests so sometimes they deny your connection to the server. I think they log when you last checked and allow it after a certain time, I'm sure I remember someone posting this on another forum. Not sure about the shutting down, what do you mean it shuts down???

Thanks for the reply, Owen. By ''shut down'', I mean that the AVG icon on my toolbar seems to indicate by its colour (grey colour, as opposed to the multicoloured one -- black, yellow, green and red when it is active) that it has either shut down, or is on standby, waiting to be activated. Although it DOES scan my emails.

On a semi-unrelated matter, given that I have switched to Windows XP, do you think a firewall such as Zone Alarm is still necessary?

Many thanks as usual.

Yes a third party firewall is preferable and its better to disable the Windows Firewall. I wouldn't bother with Zone Alarm, it drastically slows down your PC. Sygate is a better idea, a link is in my signature to a post which contains the link. If that isn't too confusing

The "greyed out" means that one of the components of AVG is disabled or failing. When it becomes greyed out, double click it. On the right is a load of names like Shell Extension, Email Scanner, AVG Resident Shield, Scheduler, etc. When they are functioning, they should be in Blue. If they are not functioning, they will be in Red. This can occur when your virus definitions are out of date. If you don't understand which one is failing, post back with the one in red and I'll explain it to you.

Hi Owen...

Unless I misunderstand your question, all that you have mentioned in the last paragraph, I knew about. I know that my data base is out of date, and that's the problem. When I try and get an update, I get the message I told you about above. And that would seem to de-activate the software, except for its e-mail virus scanning function. Which also leaves me with no degree of protection.

''Its something to do with the AVG Update Servers. They are being bogged down by too many update requests so sometimes they deny your connection to the server.''

THAT I did not know about. So, what you're saying, I think, is that I have to wait for them to allow me to make the connection...

Getting back to Sygate, do you think the free version of it is adequate, or do I need the PRO version? I don't download music or anything. A few short vids and pics, that's about it (although I am aware that that *does* put me at risk in some way). Is the regular version efficient enough?

And how do I go about de-activating the integrated firewall in Windows XP? Why are you suggesting that I do that? Don't Sygate and Windows XP firewall co-habitate well?

Thanks again.

Questions, questions I prefer people who ask questions instead of going away not having a clue about what I'm saying.

The software isn't deactivating, its still there running and protected you in the background, its just greyed out because its warning you that you could possibly be at risk without the latest defintions. I can't connect to the server at the minute either.

What I'm saying about the bogged down server is that AVG has a lot of users that will be checking for updates. They have probably allocated a certain amount of people that may update at one time. That way it keeps the servers fast for those who have made a successful connection.

The Free version is adequate. Please don't get the functions of the antivirus program and firewall mixed up . A firewall stops hackers and helps you detect which programs are trying to access the internet and stop those that are leaking information about you or ones that don't need net access. Yes you are correct it does put you at risk, but just connecting to the net could put you at risk in certain circumstances. As long as your aware of this and remain vigilant, fine.

I'm suggesting that you disable the XP Firewall because you do not need two firewalls protecting your PC. Standard firewalls watch incoming and outgoing data, but the XP firewall only watches incoming to prevent intrusions, so if somethings bad has already accessed your PC, it can easily access the net because your PC is not filtering outbound connections. Whereas with Sygate, it protects both ways, making it much more efficient. The simple fact is, its a waste of resources having two programs doing the same job. Sygate is more efficient and thats why you install it, so disable the XP. In some cases, if you have two firewalls installed on your PC they may conflict and cause crashes and serious slowdowns.

The Windows XP Firewall can be disabled in the control panel. Wait till you have installed Sygate before disabling it. Double click Windows Firewall in the Control Panel, put a checkmark in off and Ok it. You may get prompts.

What I suggest about AVG is a manual update. Go to the C:\ drive and create a new folder called AVG Update. Then go to this page and download both of the files at the bottom. Save these files in the C:\AVG Update folder.

Then Double click the AVG Control Center icon in the system tray. Click Update Manager and then click Properties. On the Properties tab near the bottom, remove the checkmark (if present) from the Do Not Ask For Update Source box. Ok it. Then click Update at the bottom of the AVG Control Center. A window will appear, at the bottom click Folder. Select the C:\ drive and then select the AVG Update folder. Click Ok. You will receive a message about a new update. Confirm it and AVG will install the update, shut down and then relaunch itself. Then you should be up to date.

Wow, Owen, thanks so much for the comprehensive! Looks like I have my work cut out for me. One last (this time, RELATED) question: when you say that the free version of Sygate is ''adequate'', what does that word mean, exactly, in Owenspeak?

Means that....it basically gets the job done? is efficient? or is a poor man's version of the PRO, which would be highly preferable?

Many, many thanks for your input.

P.S. : Maybe it's a coincidence but, this morning, for the first time in a couple weeks, AVG came through and I was able to download the latest version of the virus database! Maybe I'll go out and buy a lottery ticket!

Adequate means, it does the job perfectly, protects brilliantly and there is no need to splash out on the Pro version. There are a few more advanced features, but there not really necessary.