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Hello, Subhadeep! I tried AVG 2015 and switched back to 2012 because the 2015 interface was pictorially oriented rather than text-based, and icons are meaningless to me. I want to see text menus presented as column or row headings (along the top or left side of the application window, preferably) rather than something that looks like a touch-screen menu.
I can no longer examine the old interface to find specific examples, but as I recall a lot of the old detailed options for scheduling, scans, and updates were either missing or not readily available. I didn't mind using an old version to get those options presented in a clear & accessible way, but I very much mind AVG updating itself without asking me first.
It's unacceptable to change anything on a user's computer without permission, much less an entire program. I was furious when I saw the notification that I suddenly had 2015 instead of 2012-- that's a fundamental violation of trust, and I was genuinely surprised to see AVG go that route.
So if I can revert to AVG 2012, I'll be glad to do that, but I don't want 2015. Thanks very much.
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Hello, Rajarajan! Yes, this is true ("Windows 7 can be upgraded to Windows 10"), or I could install Linux, or I could buy a Mac, but I want to keep Win 7 and AVG 2012, the latter of which was removed without my permission last night. :)
That being the case, I'll keep Win 7, use another free antivirus program, and hope AVG changes its mind. Thanks very much.
AVG just sent me two messages warning me of the update (11/12/2015), and I've made sure my AVG 2012 is set to reject that update. We'll see what happens in the next 24 hours.
We understand that you wish to get back AVG 2012 version back in your pc instead of AVG 2015 version. Please be informed that we have launched our latest version AVG 2016. I request you to upgrade your AVG product to 2016 version. And there is no option to get back the older version back. You can download AVG 2016 version from the following link www.avg.com/download .
Please feel free to contact us for any further assistance. Have a great day, Aravind AVG Customer Care
This answer was provided on 07/09/2015, and I disabled program update accordingly. AVG warned me it would try the program update trick yesterday and followed through this morning, although I did NOT want that to happen, and disabling program update was no help at all.
AVG gave me NO option to reject the update-- I couldn't even kill the program through Task Manager, which was incredibly annoying.
My AVG 2012 was replaced with AVG Zen, which I don't want, won't use, and uninstalled the minute AVG let me have a word in edgewise. That happened this morning, and I've spent most of today doing various system restores, giving up on the AVG uninstaller, and finally downloading an AVG remover program to clean the restored-but-unusable AVG 2012 off my computer.
This new answer is exactly what you never want to tell a customer: "there is no option to get back the older version back," because that says you don't care about customers who just want AVG to leave their installations alone (a modest request any way you look at it).
As it happens, there IS a way to get AVG 2012 back, because I worked all day to achieve that very thing: wipe every vestige of old AVG installations, then rerun your existing AVG install package (which you should always keep for just this kind of stupid manufactured emergency).
Here's the key: After disabling program update (see above), turn off automatic updates (in 2012, that's Schedules > Definitions Update Schedule > Uncheck Enable this task) and do a manual check for updates every day.
NEVER, ever accept a program update. There are checkboxes for various updates, so just uncheck program update every time before download. It's very annoying to have to go through this extra step, and it certainly makes AVG less functional, but the alternative was abandoning the program altogether.
Tech Support, will you please tell corporate to stop forcing unwanted program updates? Also, make extras like AVG Safe Search and AVG Web Tuneup opt-in rather than forced opt-out, because I didn't need or want either but somehow became stuck with them over the years.
Now they're gone and I have exactly what I want (AVG 2012's detailed text interface, no extras, certainly no management interface for devices I don't own). AVG REALLY made me work for it, though, and I don't appreciate that. Thank you.
We completely understand your situation. Right now we don't have an option to install AVG 2012 version, we have the latest AVG 2016 version available with us. Please be informed that we where having other version's available before the update. Also the update takes place automatically and there is no option to stop it. We understand that you are trying to install AVG free but AVG Zen is getting downloaded. You can uninstall AVG Zen using AVG remover tool http://aa-download.avg.com/filedir/util/AVG_Remover.exe and then install AVG Antivirus Free 2016 version http://files-download.avg.com/inst/mp/AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe .
Please feel free to contact us for any further assistance. Thank you.
I have a copy of this AVG 2012 install file: avg_free_stb_all_2012_2176_cnet.exe, and if anyone else needs it, just e-mail muspench-at-hotmail.com.
"the update takes place automatically and there is no option to stop it"
Actually, there IS a way to stop this unwanted Zen update, as well as other unwanted program updates. I went over it above, but here's a list of steps in AVG 2012:
1. Tools > Advanced settings > Schedules > Definitions update schedule > Uncheck Enable this task
2. Tools > Advanced settings > Schedules > Program update schedule > Uncheck Enable this task
3. Click the Update now button in the main user screen. You'll see a list of updates AVG wants to send you. Leave the virus database update option checked, uncheck Program update to block the Zen update, then (and only then) download.
Repeat that process daily until AVG stops trying to force users to accept unwanted program updates.
"We understand that you are trying to install AVG free but AVG Zen is getting downloaded"
No, I have AVG 2012 and didn't try to download anything other than virus definitions.
AVG decided to sneak the Zen program update in with the virus definition download. To AVOID the program update after reinstalling AVG 2012, you notice I had to take this step ("Tools > Advanced settings > Schedules > Definitions update schedule > Uncheck Enable this task").
That is how I ended up with Zen and without most of the day I had to waste ditching Zen and reinstalling AVG 2012.
I reinstalled AVG 2012 on November 14, I've been using the three steps outlined above ever since, and I still have AVG 2012, so it can be done.
AVG probably hasn't told you guys how that works and if you don't have a copy of AVG 2012 you won't be able to figure it out, but a customer CAN keep a copy of AVG 2012 running if that is what the customer wants.
It is always advised to install the updated AVG version on your computer for the better protection. That is what the previous agent was about to convey with his reply. All our online portals will be uploaded with the updated latest versions of AVG software by replacing the outdated AVG programs.Please feel free to get back to us for any issues with AVG.
Thank you.
We regret the inconvenience caused. We always recommend the latest version (2016) of AVG program for more advanced protection and features. What is the operating system of your computer? Does your computer meet minimum system requirements (http://avgread.me/1Ewajhi) ? Could you please elaborate the issue you find in the latest version, which will help us in assisting you. If you are experiencing any issue in AVG GUI, please provide screen-shot (http://avgread.me/1aZxsAV). Thank you.
AVG Guru
You have still not explained why you are so arogant as to upgrade a paid for product without asking the customer first. Is the customer not always right where you come from ?
We apologize for the inconvenience caused.
We like to keep you inform that AVG 2016 version has many advance features like better malware detection, real time outbreak detection, Artificial detection, improved online shield, faster and easier navigation and also attractive graphic design. It is always recommended to upgrade your latest version of AVG to be free from latest virus definition.
We will also respect your valuable feedback and forward it to our developing department. It will get resolved as soon as possible.
Thank you.
Thank you for contacting us with your concerns. We certainly understand that your PC does not support the newer version of AVG program and Windows OS. But unfortunately the older version of AVG programs does not receive any program updates. So we suggest you to consider upgrading your OS and AVG to latest version. Appreciate your understanding, thank you.
That's new to me-- I don't recall AVG holding posts for any length of time before, and since there's nothing resembling objectionable material in the instructions, I'm posting this test response to see whether it's also held.
Perhaps length of instructions is creating "Post pending review" issue, and if so I'll split them up to post as sections.
This statement in the reply you received above is not correct: "But unfortunately the older version of AVG programs does not receive any program updates," as you can see by looking at the AVG Download Center page: http://www.avg.com/us-en/download-update.
That page contains links to updates for the following versions, and although it tells you not to use them for AVG Free, I've been doing just that since November 2015, without any malware issues. Note: I double-check that result using AVG and Avast.
Updates AVG Latest
Updates AVG 2015
Updates AVG 2014
Updates AVG 2013 (http://www.avg.com/us-en/download-update-2013)
Updates AVG 2012
Updates AVG 2011
Updates AVG 9.0
Updates AVG 8.5.
The key to keeping my AVG 2012 has been to accept NO updates-- either definitions or program updates-- through the user interface. Don't let the AVG program update for you, but follow these manual steps:
1. Disable all automatic updates.
--Tools > Advanced settings > Schedules > Definitions update schedule > Uncheck Enable this task
--Tools > Advanced settings > Schedules > Program update schedule > Uncheck Enable this task
2. Go to AVG Download Center page: http://www.avg.com/us-en/download-update. Here's the current list of 2013 updates:
OS---Name---Description---Date---Size
os: All---Iavi: 12356---Virus definitions.---June 3, 2016---146 MB
os: All---Ifw: 240---Definitions for firewall.---August 13, 2015---620 kB
os: All---Ichjw: 4---Database of safe applications.---May 31, 2011---110 kB
os: All---Link Scanner: 2912---Link Scanner DB full.---June 2, 2016---943 kB
os: Windows_64---Windows x64: 4477---Core module.---7 MB
os: Windows_32---Windows x32: 4477---Core module.---4 MB
os: Windows_64---Windows x64: 3556---All necessary modules.---70 MB
os: Windows_32---Windows x32: 3556---All necessary modules.---60 MB
Each separate update is linked so you can download only the updates you want (I created a separate Updates folder in which to put them).
3. Choose ONLY safe updates that don't change your version of AVG (that is, the non-program updates). For AVG 2012, I download files with these descriptions:
Virus definitions
Definitions for firewall
Database of safe applications (which hasn't changed for years, so you won't need to repeat download/installation until there's a newer version)
Link Scanner DB full
4. NEVER download updates with names like these:
Core module
All necessary modules
Those contain program updates. If you see a description you don't recognize, create a system restore point before downloading/installing it, in case it contains an unwanted update of the entire program.
5. When downloads are complete, install downloaded updates from the AVG user interface:
Tools > Update from directory > [Navigate to your downloaded updates folder, click OK, review updates listed before installing].
I then move the updates files to a second installed updates folder so I can avoid duplicate downloads, but that's not necessary.
Let me know if the above does not work for AVG 2013 and you'd like to try AVG 2012 instead. I'll be glad to send a copy of my original AVG install file--just e-mail muspench-at-hotmail.com.
We understand that you were using AVG 2012 version and it got updated to AVG 2016 version. We regret for the inconvenience caused. The update for older version of AVG has been stopped and right now we have our latest version of AVG 2016 http://www.avg.com/us-en/download . Unfortunately, there is no option to go back to other version of AVG to be installed in your pc. You can also write your valuable feedback http://avgclick.me/AVGfeedback .
Feel free to contact us for any further assistance. Thank you.
Dave, Just for your ref have a look @ this AVG webpage (http://www.avg.com/ww-en/download-update-2012).
AVG Guru
Is it possible for me to get the 2016 Protection back? I have been assured by AVG tech support that this is not possible, but this thread has proven that statement to not be entirely true.
I'm trying to figure out how to do this, because
A) 75% of the 2017 interface version is dedicated to telling me how awesome it is instead of telling me things I actually need to know.
B) there is no user manual, so there are no instructions on how to do things like disable popups (there are now 6 different types of popup controls, none of which are marked as "ads")
C) AVG shredder cannot be removed from the explorer context menu
D) AVG 2017 Protection is not fully compatible with AVG 2016 Zen - you cannot manage a 2017 AVG Protection from the 2016 AVG Zen of a different computer (instead, it reports that it has no protection installed at all)
E) AVG Protection crashes 3/4s of the time when I wake up the computer in the morning
F) I lost the ability to do scans via Explorer about a week ago, intermittent at first but now completely
G) Inability to actually find logs of scans, and AVG 2017 does not register a scheduled scan when it displays "Date of last computer Scan" (it only acknowledges when the user last clicked the "Scan Computer" button) so unless I am watching the scan running I don't know if it actually runs or not
H) Today I can no longer access AVG Zen, AVG Protection, or AVG Tuneup's menus
The good news is that this was NOT the result of normal virus definition or program updates. It only happened when I did a complete reinstall of AVG. The bad news is it happened even though I used the exact same installation file that I used to originally install the 2016 suite.
We are sorry to hear this. The issue might have caused because of the unstable version of AVG installed in your computer. The product is neither in 2016 or in 2017 version completely. We suggest you to completely remove all the traces of AVG from your computer and install the latest version from this link http://files-download.avg.com/inst/mp/AVG_Ultimate_1827.exe and that should fix this issue. We do not have an option to install 2016 version of AVG again. You can install latest release of 2017 version of AVG and that should fix all this issues.
Thank you
-No user manual and therefor no explanation of how to disable advertisement popups or do almost anything really
-An AVG Shredder option from Protection 2017 that cannot be removed from the explorer context menu
-AVG 2017 is still not fully compatible with AVG Zen, and continues to incorrectly report its status to other computers on my AVG Zen network
-AVG still displays an error message it wakes up in the morning, though as of today it does not actually crash, it merely says "Woops, there was a problem with program, you should restart or reinstall this" for 5 minutes before the message goes away on its own and the program
-Inability to find logs of past scans, and AVG Protection 2017 still does not register a scheduled scan when it displays "Date of last computer Scan" (it only acknowledges when the user last clicked the "Scan Computer" button) so unless I am watching the scan running I don't know if it actually runs or not
If 2016 cannot be reinstalled, I will be even happier to completely replace the nonworking hybrid of 2016/2017 products on my laptop with a proper suite of 2015 products, because I know those actually work and in fact work better than the 2016 versions.
Chris, As per AVG 2016 the AVG 2015 install files are also unfortunately no longer available.
AVG Guru
Thank you.
We do understand your concern. Due to the arrival of new threats and infections, we have updated our AVG security program with high new security patches and updates to enhance the computer security.You can also submit your valuable feedback through this link, so that concern team will definitely get look into that: http://www.avg.com/product-feedback .
Thank you for understanding.
Thanks for letting me know. I am willing to take your word for it, since you have shown you know what you are talking about.
Between having AVG 2016 Protection "upgraded" without my request to an unfinished (no manual, no logs unless you manually create log files, no way to disable popup ads on a paid product as far as I can tell, no control over reporting scan results, no way to disable AVG Shredder) version of 2017 Protection which is incompatible with the rest of my AVG Software then being told that I can't have back 2016, as well as the abysmal responses offered by the official tech support on this thread, this does mean that after 20 or so years of using AVG I'm going to jump ship instead of renewing my subscription when it runs out.
I hate being one of those people who claims everything is always going downhill, but I stopped recommending AVG to other people a few years ago, and my desktop ran noticably better with AVG Tuneup 2015 tweaking it compared to 2016 (to the point that I have left 2015 Tuneup on my gaming laptop). I've made an earnest effort to stick with the company that provided me with such wonderful free products for 15 years, but by this point I've made all due diligence in sticking with them. Now I'm instead forced to actively warn people about the problems they have instead of recommending AVG when people ask me for advice on keeping their computers safe.