10 replies to this topic

[taffy1967]

Sorry for the long winded waffling, but I'd really appreciate some advice from computer experts (which is something I'm not).

Anyway I've been using 'AVG Free 9.0' for some time (my PC came with Windows Vista Home Premium) plus earlier versions of the same free software. But now apart from the usual anti-virus software it provides, after a recent update it now also has it's own 'Anti-Spyware' software included which provides real time protection.

One of the problems is it now causes a conflict with 'Windows Defender', or at least it deactivates Defender whenever my PC is booted up.

I've checked on the AVG forum and I'm not the only one to have this issue, which AVG claim isn't an issue and all AVG 9.0 users should leave Defender turned off. Or at least they state that everyone should deactivate the real time protection on 'Windows Defender' via the tools/settings (even though Windows recommends it stays active).

Oh and I also have 'Spybot Search & Destroy' (version 1.6.2.46) installed on my PC (well I installed all this stuff by recommendation ages ago) and after I also mentioned this on the AVG forum, they told me to deactivate the 'Resident TeaTimer' (protection of over-all system settings) by un-ticking the box in the tools/settings there.

All seemed well at first, but then I discovered my network WiFi enabled printer/scanner was refusing to print or scan. My wife and daughter both have laptops and due to changing the settings on those too (yes they're also running Vista, but the Home Basic version), they also refused to print or scan wirelessley.

So I just returned the settings back to as they were on all our computers, rebooted and the printer/scanner worked fine again.

I mentioned the problem I had on the AVG forum, but they don't seem to know why I had this problem and couldn't offer any advice.

Oh and I've also got 'Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware' installed on my PC (yes overkill I know but my kids did allow some nasty stuff to get on to my system a while ago and this sorted it out) and I've usually found this to be far more effective than 'Spybot-Search & Destroy'.

So as I don't really have a clue when it comes to all the technical stuff and I just want the best protection for our computers, is it worth deleting 'Spybot Search & Destroy' and only using 'Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware' (which doesn't provide real time protection as it's the free version). Oh and leaving Windows Defender deactivated so I'll be just relying on the AVG Anti-spyware which provides real-time protection?

(I know I shouldn't have lots of anti-spyware programmes running at the same time, because it slows down my system and I've only got the one anti-virus programme (AVG) and one firewall which is the Windows default version).

Or should I get shot of AVG and switch to AVAST anti-virus instead? Either way I just want to be protected, but I also want to be able to use my printer/scanner wirelessley.

Edited by taffy1967, 06 January 2010 - 06:58 PM.

[Burnard]

I dont know why you are having problems, i am running windows 7 pro with all its standerd stuff turned on, and i have AVG 9.0.I do not have anything else on my system because it just slows it down too much. i haven't had any messages saying that anything is conflicting.

I have a wireless printer as well which ive never had a problem with.

Get rid of spybot seach and destroy, because its crap, when i deleted it off my old computer it also seemed to get allot faster, and i also had allot less problems.

[taffy1967]

Thanks mate and I've just checked 'help' and 'About AVG' and I'm running 'AVG Version 9.0.725'.

I think I will ditch 'Spybot Search & Destroy' because that damned Teatimer thing can prevent certain nasties, spyware and stuff (which are far too clever for their own good, such as 'Zango') to be completely deleted. So deleting Spybot Search & Destroy, running a full scan using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and then reinstalling it was necessary. Very daft.

Thanks again.

[davidv]

As a fast read on this chat.I found AVG very good in the past for free and Zone Alarms firewall.The others i tried and had big problems for free.I have a new Norton 360 ver.3 new and sealed post on friends list if wanted a very good deali am using mcafee so no use for it it cost £58.71 so must be of some bargain good.

[shorty]

technically if your going to have an antivirus software on your computer only ever have one.
seems stupid but if theres more than one then there are chances the one will do a scan and class the other one as a virus.

something norton kept doing to the AVG i had

AVG is pretty good considering its free as i use it on all my comps, as well as having spybot search and destroy on it

as for the printer problem it seems you have figured out why it stopped but does seem a little strange that it did stop

[taffy1967]

I do only have one anti-virus software programme on my PC and that's AVG. But as it's gaining extra features it's now conflicting with the anti-spyware programmes I downloaded. Plus it doesn't like Windows Defender running at the same time too.

So I'm still going to remove 'Spybot Search & Destroy' which seems slightly unnecessary now and see how I get on.

[shorty]

Yeh i don't use spybot that much anymore
AVG meets the requirements i need but as long as nothing is downloaded its all good

AVG spyware searcher thingi has found spyware before so it does work

and sorry misread thought you had more than one anti virus thing, im a bit slow today

[Darkscamp]

i just have AVG and windows firewall running, and have no problems

i do use windows defender but only when it nags me as i have the real-time setting turned off.

[Mini-Mad-Craig]

I'd ditch all of the windows ones personally, there nothing but trouble and it usually ends up in you having to buy the product in able to remove the harmfull programs anyway. AVG does the job just fine for me

[Minisniper]

Hiya Taffy
I have 3 computers all with AVG on and Spybot which is more than enough to look after your system. My advice would be get rid of Malwarebytes which maybe conflicting with Spybot and turn windows defender off which is useless anyway which id what I have done with mine for the last 3 years and never had any problems.

Hope this helps.

[taffy1967]

Thanks for the advice folks and I don't think Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is the problem because being the free version means there's no real time protection. So therefore it only operates when I activate it.

Anyway I've completely deleted 'Spybot Search & Destroy' from my computer (I also went into my computer programme files on my 'C' drive and deleted all traces of what was left there, because a TeaTimer file still remained).

I had to then restart my PC and my router (Orange Mini Livebox). Plus I also shut my PC down and then booted it back up again and the good news is everything is working fine and I have full used of my wireless printer/scanner.

But the really good news is my computer is now working at least twice as fast as it was before. So 'Spybot Search & Destroy' was slowing things down and no doubt it was conflicting with AVG and it's new Anti-Spy software?

So there you go I'm very happy and thanks again for the advice folks.