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Alex VAlex V 

Request: add option to disable AVG Zen

One of the main functions of AVG PC TuneUp is to disable startup entries and deactivate programs. I have nothing against AVG Zen, it does what it is supposed to. However, I do not use it (and probably many other users, too) and the 2015 TuneUp version forces AVG Zen, adding system services and startup entries that cannot be disabled. These services and startup entries also have their impact on system performance.

Please add the option to disable AVG Zen entirely.
Hariharkumar LakshmiHariharkumar Lakshmi (Avast)
Hi Alexandros , I will help you resolve the issue , if you have installed AVG Protection or AVG Performance its not possible to uninstall the AVG ZEN program,  but if you have AVG PC TuneUp , AVG Free, AVG anti virus or AVG Internet security then you can uninstall the AVG ZEN. Please let us know which AVG program do you have and also AVG ZEN doesn't make any changes in your computer, it always takes sometime to load Antivirus program. Thank you
Alex VAlex V
Thanks Hariharkumar, that's a good question. What's the difference between AVG Performance and AVG PC TuneUp? I thought the first is a collection of programs, not a program itself. In my AVG My Account web page, under the category AVG Performance PRO, I always download the AVG PC TuneUp for PC installler (avg_gse_stb_all_ltst_105.exe). That installs automatically both AVG Zen and AVG PC TuneUp 2015.

In my PC's add/remove programs, I have AVG and AVG PC TuneUp 2015 installed, they are two separate entries. Can I just uninstall AVG only or not?
Balasubramanian SBalasubramanian S (Avast) 
Hello Alex. I certainly understand your concern. There are no difference between AVG Performance and AVG PC TuneUp. AVG PC TuneUp program gets installed on AVG Performance component. The reason we have changed the name as Performance because it is a program with a new feature called Zen. So to make difference between these programs we have named the new Zen programs as AVG Protection, AVG Performance and AVG Ultimate. The setup file you have provided is the right one which will install the AVG Performance. In your program list the program named only with AVG is none other than "AVG Zen" and the AVG PC TuneUp 2015 is the Performance component of your AVG Zen. If you wish to uninstall this you have to first uninstall the AVG PC TuneUp 2015 and only then you can uninstall AVG which is AVG Zen.
Alex VAlex V
"If you wish to uninstall this you have to first uninstall the AVG PC TuneUp 2015 and only then you can uninstall AVG which is AVG Zen."

Ok thanks. So, if I understand this correctly, it is impossible to only have AVG PC TuneUp 2015 installed, without AVG (Zen). If so, it brings us back to my original post: please add to possibiliy to do this and don't enforce the installation AVG (Zen). Like I said, it does its job and can be useful but if you enforce an extra program on your users, a program that adds system services and startup entries that cannot be disabled, you give them the right to classify it as "bloatware" and believe me, that is never good for a software company.
Komal Sathish KumarKomal Sathish Kumar (Avast)
Hi Alexandros, I can see that you have purchased AVG Performance for your computer. AVG Performance is the AVG PC TuneUp program but it can be used in multiple computers. This is the major difference between AVG PC TuneUp and the upgraded AVG Performance program. If you have purchased AVG PC TuneUp, you can use one license in only one computer. You have purchased AVG Performance and you can use the same copy to install it in multiple computers. AVG Performance comes with AVG Zen network. It wont be possible to uninstall AVG Zen and use AVG Performance. If you wish to remove Zen and use only AVG PC TuneUp, you have to purchase AVG PC TuneUp program. Thank you.
Alex VAlex V
Fair enough, all is clear now. Although, I see you now have the subscription model for the single product too (AVG PC TuneUp, ex TuneUp Utilities) and at the same price. So, apart from not having AVG Zen on the system and unless I'm missing something else, there's no other reason why someone should prefer the single-PC license of AVG PC TuneUp over the many licenses of AVG Performance + Zen.
Balasubramanian SBalasubramanian S (Avast) 
Hello Alex. The main reason for using AVG Zen is adding multiple devices and managing it via Zen network whereas this is not possible on our previous products.
Thomas DAlimonteThomas DAlimonte
Wow.  I find this horrifying.  First, just the cluelessness of the support people (other than Komal and ShriThillak), they must just be either marketing shills to divert people from uninstalling the marketing-ware Zen, or just having the typical HORRIFIC English skills of 3am India support.


But more importantly, I fix computer for a living for people.  I switch them away from the bloatware of McAfee and Norton BECAUSE of this very type of thing, where the anti-virus program behaves like a virus itself, constantly pestering and misleading the user to buy products, now not only for one machine, but for many, under the GUISE of Zen 'managing' their devices AND not allowing itself to be removed or shut off!!  YOU PEOPLE HAVE GONE OVER TO 'THE DARK SIDE'!


PLEASE, _back off_ of this slippery slope!  You've gone too far!  Yes, I understand you have to make money and I WANT you to, so you are still around.  But to adopt the tactics not only of your AWFUL competition, but of VIRSUES and MALWARE itself??  Come up and breath the fresh air and rekmember your beginnings and purpose.  Rethink this Zen thing.  Make it an option, repurpose it to be TRULY what you say it is or get rid of it even better!


This thread and others are SO distrubing to me.  I literally have instaled THOUSANDS of coipies of AVG over the years and my customers have loved you.  NOW I am getting complaints!!  People think its a virus diguised as AVG and are UNINSTALLING IT!  Others see it as the bloatware/ADWARE it is becoming and uninstalling it and going BACK to McAwful and igNorton!


You're killing you golden goose!
 
KishoreKishore (Avast) 
Hello Thomas.
We have posted the solution for your query in your another post. Please follow up with that and I request you to avoid multiple postings for the same query because it would be confusing for us to follow up your thread. Feel free to get back to us for any further assistance.
Thank you.
Alex VAlex V
I might have been a bit too harsh on AVG Zen. I now added a few PC's and it works well. Hopefully, you could add more control to it (for better control of the remote devices).

Still, it'd be nice if it didn't have to run at startup and in the background, but only at user request.
AvinashAvinash (Avast) 
Hello Alex.
Pleased to see that you appear to be now sorted. Thanks for returning to the Community & posting. I would request you to share your valuable feedback at http://avgclick.me/AVGfeedback . Thank you.
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