ARGH!! (Venting Frustration, No Reply Needed)

[chaos1]

This just happened to me too, I can't even turn my anti-viruses back on (AVG and Windows Defender).

I'm kind of disappointed that this thread turned into an AVG debate, I was hoping for probable solutions.

 

[David Bailey]

I was hoping for probable solutions

I use Avast Internet Security.
Works good.
Only run 1 AV at a time.

Direct some specific questions at me & I'll try to provide good answers.
Vague questions are hard to deal with.
Use screenshots too.
I like pictures.

A picture---

 

[soubeagi]

I'm kind of disappointed that this thread turned into an AVG debate

So am I, but I take comfort in knowing that at least two readers were helped by reading my misadventures.

Oh, and BTW, everybody, I tried switching to Windows Defender for a few weeks, but switched back to AVG when I realized I couldn't configure it to automatically download virus definition updates without allowing automatic, unattended installation of all Windows updates.

I was hoping for probable solutions.

I use [redacted].
Works good.

Telling people how terrific Brand X Antivirus is does nothing to provide a solution to the person whose system got hosed by Brand Y (even assuming the person knows unequivocally that Brand Y Antivirus is at fault, which in my case, I didn't). IMO, advice on how to avoid future messes, no matter how well-intentioned, should only be posted after one's current mess is resolved. For the record, the mess that caused me to start this thread is officially resolved, but the other people posting to this thread about similar messes - well, they came here for help, not for scolding about the decisions they made in the past that may have led them to need help, no matter how awful you may feel those decisions were.

 

[oneeyed]

Oh, and BTW, everybody, I tried switching to Windows Defender for a few weeks, but switched back to AVG when I realized I couldn't configure it to automatically download virus definition updates without allowing automatic, unattended installation of all Windows updates.

Actually you can.

Windows Defender can be updated via a very simple command-line utility included in Windows.
More info : Run (and Automate) Windows Defender from the Command Line

So running : "MpCmdRun.exe -SignatureUpdate" will update the definitions, bypassing the Windows Update service.
You can add a scheduled task with this command, it's relatively easy : http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2070-task-scheduler.html