TommyRay Web Productions

Some symptopms:

PC freezes up altogether after upgrade to AVG 2011.
PC boots up and/or runs slower.
Internet Explorer temporarily freezes or pauses when starting or opening a webpage.
Computer gives a warning that your are "Low on Virtual Memory".

The Problem:

AVG 2011.

     It appears that Grisoft had sold thier product AVG Antivirus, and the new "owners" have changed it drastically, bloating it to the point that it simulates Norton. Alot of unnecessy and/or unneeded added "features" have made personal PC requirements a significant factor. If your PC does not have a fast enough CPU, enough memory or is using an older operating system, you are vulnerable to these problems that the new 2011 version of AVG is causing.

     In addition, when Uninstalling AVG 2011, the process is currently uninstalling all protection and asking to reboot the PC, after which my default browser (Which is Internet Explorer) is opened up automatically to open a webpage asking for feedback. NOT GOOD. Either the people in Project Management or in Security have failed you. Please ask for such feedback first and foremost. So BE SURE to be DISCONNECTED form the internet, and copy the address of the page when your browser comes up right after rebooting so you can use it after installing a working Antivirus to provide your feedback. ALSO: When sending that feedback, if you do, then know the "other" option is (or was at this time) is like 4 or 5 options down. Just an FYI!

THE SOLUTION:

     Since I do not foresee this being handled anytime soon, personally I have no time to help them troubleshoot or wait for the problems to get resolved. Therefore the solution, for me, is to simply switch to another Antivirus product. I chose Avast after a little research and am VERY pleased!!

     It was awesome; quick boot time, fast running, faster browsing/surfing and no long pauses or freezes!! Woohoo!!! Too bad for AVG. I've used them for at least a decade of more nad have recommended them to all my customers. When I get the time I will be contacting them via mass Email. To me, AVG and its new owners stand accused of:

Being Bloated
Being Sly in adding "features"
Being Unavailable for Support
Being Un-Secure in the Uninstall method

     I had been succesfull in contacting a 3rd party affiliated with AVG. The person I talked to agreed to forward my information. (See the Email I sent to them here.) You can also see more information from a myriad of other users on a blog entry written by a Microsoft Professional here.

     PLEASE COMMENT with your own experience. If you would, please include your PCs CPU speed, Memory size and Operating System if you also have had problems with AVG so that others may benefit from the information. No registration is required. Here's my contribution to start things off...