Does anyone run AVG 7.1 as their antivirus, and the free Zone Alarm for their firewall? If so, do you have any issues or compatibility problems?
After years of being a satisfied McAfee customer, I need to find a simple but effective antivirus. The new McAfee Virus Scan will incorporate a built in anti-spyware and firewall; I am not about to mess around with that. They are trying to fix something that is not broken.
Anyways, AVG is all new to me and I read that it will start scanning automatically at boot-up; I hope that is not true.... If anyone has experience with AVG, would I find it somewhat easy to set up and configure? And are there any know conflicts with Zone Alarm?

I searched the forum before I posted here, but it returned threads from 2003 and 2004 (AVG 6). I couldn't find any post about compatibility issues.
If anyone has any knowledge, could you please let me know? I am not the most experienced antivirus person..
Thanks very much....

clammer

Hi clammer

I'm running the latest AVG 7.1.394 and the free ZoneAlarm with no problems at all

After you have installed AVG click on the scheduler and set the time you want it to run a test and do the same with the update as well as the default time set is 8 am.

If any advice helps, please post back as it might help others.

Hi smifff; many thanks my friend. I deleted all McAfee files; took a few tries... many remnants. Anyways, I installed AVG without any problems. I updated and ran a scan and all is well.
I didn't know what to do with the E-mail settings... I wonder if I made a bad choice, because I chose to not install thAT E-mail scanner. Do you have it installed?
I'll have to go back and read up the FAQ section. Perhaps I should consider installing it....

The initial scan went fast; much faster than I expected which was nice. AVG seems much less resource hungry too. As I mentioned above, I actually had no problems at all with McAfee Virus Scan. But, they are now bundling up Virus Scan with the anti-spyware and firewall too. I didn't want any part of that. My subscription expires middle of September, so I am so glad I didn't renew yet. I am very happy with my Zone Alarm, and my Ewido anti-spyware programs....I didn't want McAfee too.

Thanks again smifff for the reply; very appreciative here. I'll do some more reading up about AVG; so far, all is very well.

Ah, I knew I forgot to ask something, lol... If I am able to install the E-mail scanner, could you tell me if it sends many prompts (about sending or recieving e-mail)? That was why I didn't know if I should have installed it...I didn't know if it was very intrusive with prompts...
I'll wait for a response, and then I'll see if I can install it; or if it is too late now...
Thanks much smifff.

AVG just does a boot scan on startup (can be disabled in msconfig if you wish).

This might be of interest:
AVG EMAIL SCANNER - SEE MY #1

DerekW

Awesome Derek; exactly why I was a bit nervous about installing it. I think I'll keep my present configuration and see how things go.
So far, I like this AVG. I think McAfee will see an exodus of people not wanting their entire Virus Scan package. I always said "If it's not broken, don't fix it".

Thanks again, Derek..

... better clarify my #4 tho.

I'm not suggesting you "should" disable the boot scan, just that it can be disabled (in terms of your original question).

As it happens I only run the boot scan about once a week but I am prepared to take that risk. If you can't boot up you won't be able to re-instate it.

DerekW

Oh, o.k. ... I understand... I came across something else too. For some reason, I cannot download updated definitions for Windows Defender. I'll have to check into that tomorrow; almost time to count sheep here this evening. maybe I don't have some setting set correctly.
In fact, when I open Windows Defender, it is a different color (like yellow caution) and it tells me that I haven't run it for xxxx amount of days; even though I ran it this morning. That is strange.. but I'll work on that tomorrow,

Still no other troubles so far. I even noticed a faster boot-up time without all the MaCafee files.
I'll say one thing, McAfee has TONS of imbedded registry entries, lol. I had to run the McAfee un-installer twice, then use mt search companion for left over bits....

Have a nice evening.... I'll see if I can straighten this out tomorrow. Many thanls Derek.

I've not used Windows Defender so I can't comment much. Hard to see any reason AVG would affect it.

Firewall would be my first guess but from your posts you don't appear to have altered anything in your firewall.

If you run out of luck I would repost that one as it's a new topic (webmaster only complains if it's the same topic).

DerekW

Good mornin' ... I think I'll head over to the AVG forums and see if anyone else experienced the same thing. I tried again this morning, but it still won't update...
Yes, you are correct.. I didn't alter my Zone Alarm firewall settings...

I noticed a HUGE difference in the boot-up time now... I never realized how much McAfee slowed up my computer. It's fast again like the day I took it out of the box. And all I had from McAfee was Virus Scan.... but tons and tons of registry entries. It takes some time and patience to clean up that registry, lol....

Thanks much Derek... if I need to I'll start a new thread with the Windows Defender snafu..... have a great weekend my friend. Stay cool !

clammer

There a distint lack of "what goes in must come out" with some programs.

It won't make you feel any better but Zone Alarm is probably even worse. If you ever decide to uninstall it, make sure True Vector is disabled in msconfig (ie ZA isn't working when you boot up). Failure to do this can cause all sorts of hassle.

DerekW

Thanks Derek; will do.. I'll be keeping it for quite some time; it works really good for me. Plus it always comes up "fully stealthed" on the Shields Up website. Looks like this combo of Zone Alarm and AVG is going to very compatible; so far... excellent.

AVG, updates Mondays to Fridays, don't work at the weekend, so if you've done an update on Friday, next one on Monday.

Email scanner, if 'off' launch AVG Control Center, right click on E-mail Scanner and activate.

Used AVG & Free ZA for ages and longer, NO problems ever,

have fun

John

This is what MS say about email scanning:

SEE VIRAL IRONY PARA

DerekW