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David O'QuinnDavid O'Quinn 

Startup message about Watchdog Initialization?

What is Watchdog?  I get message when starting computer that Watchdog is initializing.
AvinashAvinash (Avast) 
Hello Dave,
Thank you for contacting us. AVG Watchdog service is a legitimate AVG process that needs run upon the PC startup in order to benefit from its functionality or so that the program will work. Thank you.
David O'QuinnDavid O'Quinn
Thanks for the information.  This is the first time I've ever seen a message about "Watchdog" and I've been using AVG for years.  
AvinashAvinash (Avast) 
You are most welcome, Dave.
Please, feel free to let us know if you require any further assistance. Thank you.
Carl ScheiderCarl Scheider
I just noticed this startup as well - not easy to determine that it is an AVG component. There seems to be a real virus or trojan out there with the name "watch dog".  I trust you guys know what you are doing.
Balasubramanian SBalasubramanian S (Avast) 
Hello Carl,

If the process name is "AVG Watchdog" then it is our AVG component.
Could you please confirm whether it is mentioned as AVG Watchdog?
Shaun AntninShaun Antnin
I restarted my mother's computer after a restart request from AVG and now it keeps freezing. Alt Ctrl & Delete won't re-start it. It's stopping at "Phase 1: starting external subsystems.".then "Phase 1 : finished". (Nb Phase 0 says "Watch Dog").
KishoreKishore (Avast) 
Hello Shaun,
We are sorry to hear that. Please try to login into your PC under the safe mode and check whether you could repair the AVG program. Please follow the instructions on the article http://avgclick.me/rebootintosafemode to reboot your computer into Safe Mode. Once done please follow the instructions on the article avgclick.me/RepairAVG to repair your AVG program.
Thank you.
Ralph NakamotoRalph Nakamoto
AVG watch dog on initialization froze  on my windows 10, I had an error code.  I tried F8; shift + F8, alt control delete; F2 and F12 Bios; unplugging my system to reboot, nothing - complete freeze.  I wanted to get to safe mode and do a system restore, I was unable to get off the frozen AVG watchdog file.

Took my laptop to Best Buy hoping they would be able to get it to safe mode, failed.  I ended up having to leave it there for servicing, diagnostic, download all my files to an external drive, and to have windows 10 reinstalled, disc reformatted, and a copy of my files on the external drive.  It cost me $303.  Oh, I tried the AVG recovery tool downloaded from AVG center, it wouldn't auto load to work for me, complete freeze.  



 
KarthikeyanKarthikeyan (Foundever) 
Hello Dave,
We are sorry to know that you have to go through all this. This watchdog error is caused due to an conflict with the wireless device attached to your computer. This issue is resolved by unplugging all the USB cables (eg: Printer, Scanner, HDD) then try to reboot the computer.
Thank you.
Paul SwiderPaul Swider
I have the same problem. Your answer for Dave is not satisfactory. It's not his problem, it's yours. Your software created the conflict and cost him money. Maybe it will me, too. You can't just say sorry when your product costs people money. That's BS. I'm a paying AVG customer but if this is the way you treat customers, I'll find another antivirus product
KarthikeyanKarthikeyan (Foundever) 
Hello Paul,
We do understand your concern. However, the issue was with the conflict with the wireless drivers. If you still have any issue, you can run the AVG tool to collect error log from your computer and we will escalate this to the next level of support.
Thank you.
AVG VICTIMAVG VICTIM
Dear AVG tech team,

Since Yesterday, I have 3 PC's with Windows 10 experiencing the same problem with the wathdog.

I am a tech guy and helping lost of people with their IT issues, even friends are helped out with their IT issues.Your claim that is is due to the wireless unit (hardware / driver ) IS NOT TRUE !

I HAVE DONE TESTS WITH AND WITHOUT THOSE DRIVERD AND DEVICE !  I even re-installed a PC after this watchdog problem and the same shit has been reproduced.

It is YOUR AVG with the latest updates that have issues with a NORMAL functioning Windows environnement.

I have asked all my contacts, on Linked In , on Facebook, on my IT-Blog to uninstall AVG as soon as possible using an unistaller and install another anit virus that I have listed in position 2.

Today, and luckily, I do have only 3  PC's to re-install, hopefuly no otherones will be suffering from this BUG.

AVG has already ONCE killed PC's with the Itunes problem before.. this is AGAIN a problem that you guys are not admitting.

At least, you could provide a BOOTABLE file in order to clean up the mess.

 
-980888528-980888528 (Avast)
Hello,
We do understand how difficult this is for you. Thank you for your valuable suggestions, we have already escalated this to our developers team. They were working on it. We will let them know about your suggestions and assure that it will get fixed soon. Thank you for your better understanding!
Autumn PeirsonAutumn Peirson
So I should remove AVG from my laptop? Anyone have other programs that I could use? That isn't like 100.00? I don't have any other virus programs.
KarthikeyanKarthikeyan (Foundever) 
Hello Autumn,
We do understand your concern. Please do not worry, our developer team are working on this issue and soon provide a permanent fix for this watchdog issue. After which you will not have any conflict with AVG and windows updates.
Thank you
Bret HammellBret Hammell
Work fast. I have a meeting at 2:00 and need my laptop. 

Bret
Alok KumarAlok Kumar (Avast)
Hello Bret,
We are sorry for any inconvenience caused, we request you to contact us via chat so that we will help you with this issue as soon as possible. Here is the link to connect with us via chat: https://support.avg.com/support_sales?l=en_US. Feel free to contact us again if you need any further assistance. Thank you.
Becky NullBecky Null
I am now experiencing the same problems. Tonight as I was preparing a presentation for a new customer my computer shut down automatically and the AVG Watchdog began it's deadly dance on my lifeline. I'm now attempting a System Restore. This is absolutely unnecessary that this happened. I am a small business owner who relies 100% on my computer to complete tasks for my customers. Your above comments "do not worry" to the above users is unacceptable. Yes, like me, I'm sure they are very worried. Apparently these users like me depend on their computers. If/When my computer is restored, I will gladly walk away from AVG (who is supposed to protect). 
Balasubramanian SBalasubramanian S (Avast) 
Hello Becky,

We are sorry for the inconvenience caused. Please be informed that Microsoft has confirmed that the issue is caused by outdated Logitech drivers and is unconnected with AVG software. Please try to update or reinstall the Logitech drivers and check whether you it resolves the issue.
If you are facing any further issues we request you to contact Logitech support so that they could assist you better in updating the drivers on your PC.
To boot your PC into windows, you need not perform system restore, please unplug all the external devices that are connected to PC via USB ports.
To fix the issue completely please reinstall the Logitech drivers and if the issue persists, please contact Logitech support.
Julie MalletteJulie Mallette
I took my computer from the store today, second times in one month, over 250$ CAN trying to solve the problem with a technician..... I came back home, re-install AVG and boooommmm, the same problem again..... My computer totaly freeze on a black page with "Watchdog Initialization"..... Restart and restart and restart and restart and restart....... always the same thing..... FREEZE..... when i'll be able to restart it, I'll have to uninstall AVG and then, no more antivirus..... I paid for 2 years and I'll have to buy a new one..... I'm totaly frustrated.
-980888528-980888528 (Avast)
Julie,
We do understand your concern, we apologize for the difficulties. We would like to inform you that the issue is caused by outdated Logitech drivers and is unconnected with our software. This has been confirmed by Microsoft.
To boot your PC into windows, you need not perform system restore, please unplug all the external devices that are connected to PC via USB ports.
To fix the issue completely please reinstall or update the Logitech drivers and if the issue persists, please contact Microsoft  support. Thank you.
Mitchell ColbertMitchell Colbert
I am using a laptop that has had AVG on it since before I upgraded to Windows 10 several months ago. I haven't had any issues until this morning when I first saw the Watchdog initialization message and was nearly locked out of my pc while on a working vacation. 

I had nothing attached to my laptop...not even the power cord, so I know it's got nothing to do with Logitech drivers or attached hardware. Since AVG has repeatedly blamed the victims of their poor coding rather than offering real solutions I am going back to using Avira and uninstalling AVG while I type this.

You just lost my money.
Harry WengierHarry Wengier
Watchdog Service is chewing up 40% of my CPU and slowing my laptop down!.  Why?????
 
KarthikeyanKarthikeyan (Foundever) 
Hello Dave,
We are sorry to know that AVG Watchdog using more system resource. This can happen if the program is not up to date. We suggest you to run AVG repair and see if that fix the issue. Please click on this link for the steps to run AVG repair avgclick.me/RepairAVG
Thank you
Autumn PeirsonAutumn Peirson
How can I use AVG without watchdog? It really slows my pc down and a lot of times, my laptop won't start because of the watchdog Initialation scan.You used to be my favorite virus protection, but I uninstalled you guys because watch dog was causing more harm than good.
AvinashAvinash (Avast) 
Autumn,
The issue is caused by outdated Logitech drivers and is not connected with our software.

Removing the USB Wireless device and restarting should allow access to Windows. Once logged in it is necessary to update or remove the Logitech software. Thank you.
Hugh HardingHugh Harding
For all of you who sit in India, reading from a knowledge base database...STOP.  Your answers are completely wrong.  The problem everyone is having is caused by your product and your product alone.  YOU, as in AVG, need to update or release a patch that fixes this issue.  For everyone here who is having this issue on a PC or Laptop, to fix my daughter's laptop, I booted it and went into the BIOS and disabled all the USB ports and that allowed me to log in.  Once in, I connected to the internet and downloaded the AVG removal tool from AVG and yanked the entire application off of her laptop and rebooted again.  Not only did this resolve that issue but Like Henry Wengier, AVG was hogging CPU and memory.  Once it was removed, the laptop was back to "Brand New PC" speed with about 1/10th of the hard drive traffic.  Also, you may want to have your management settle on one excuse because it makes you guys look really stupid first saying that they need to repair AVG, then say its a conflict in wireless configuration, and now it is bad Logitech drivers.  You should be really careful because I would bet at least 60% of the people on here who are having this problem do not have any Logitech drivers at all, myself included.
Balasubramanian SBalasubramanian S (Avast) 
Hello Hugh,

We can understand your concern.
Your PC worked perfectly when you disabled all the USB ports connected to the PC and this was the issue the drive and one of the update of Windows conflicted with the AVG program which caused the AVG Watchdog issue.
Most of the people faced the issue of having the outdated Logitech drivers and the others faced the issue because of the particular update of "Windows".
We apologize for not informing about the windows update nvolved in this issue.
Once we got this problem, we already informed the Logitech and Windows and they have fixed it.
Now, no customer's should face this issue.
Regarding the other issue that AVG slowing down the PC, This issue occurs for some customers and this can be fixed by completely reinstalling AVG program once.
Daryl MarinoDaryl Marino
The issue still has not been fixed. As of 20 minutes ago I had to reboot my laptop three times before I was able to get in. The only way for it not to happen is for me not to shut the cumputer off. I lock it out. It would be great that who ever created this crap get it fixed. AVG or window. FIX the issue. I would like to use my computer as though it is normal and not worry if I will be locked out or not, or you can send me a new computer with this bug fixed so I can complete my schooling. It suuks when you get locked out and get behind in class because of some idiot that designed this malfunction program.

Thanks idiot.
DJM
AvinashAvinash (Avast) 
Daryl,
Please disconnect all the USB devices connected to your PC and try to boot it. Once you are logged on, please uninstall and reinstall AVG as described in this article http://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?urlname=How-to-reinstall-AVG .
Thank you.
Tina RogersTina Rogers
I am having the same problem as users describing above. Am resetting my desktop computer, which I really hate doing, but I don't know how else to get the computer started again. This is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE from AVG and I'm completely pissed off that they messed up my computer. 
Abirami ShanmugamAbirami Shanmugam (Avast)
Hello Tina,
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to you. Please let us know whether you have followed all the steps mentioned in this thread. If so, please write back here and we will be glad to help you further.
Thank you.
Brian JacksonBrian Jackson
Hello to all, I (like a lot of you) dislike coming to a forum & getting 'answers' that are not 'solutions'. I do Computer Repair & install AVG Cloud Care on many clients computers. I recently had the 'pleasure' of dealing with this Watchdog Issue. This particular customer had an HP Pavilion Laptop Model 15-n046us running Windows 10 - 64 bit. They did have a Logitech USB Dongle plugged-in, but that wasn't what was causing this issue. I had to manually right-click on several componenets within Device Manager (Both Network & WiFi Drivers) & click on 'Update Driver' & Windows fetched the updated drivers. I also had to go into the System Devices & click the + to see all the Drivers & once again manually right-click on particular drivers (such as Intel Root Ports - 4 of them one at a time) & Intel Controller. You can also download Intel Driver Update Utility, but for those of you not afraid to go into Device Manager, you can manually update drivers as well. If you have an AMD Chipset, disregard dowloading Intel Driver Update Utility. In my Customer's Case, both of the Network Drivers (Ethernet & WiFi) needed updated, as well as the Chipset. I then went to re-install AVG & no problem with Watchdog, but now I get all Red (not Green) & when you click Check for Updates, it gives you the 'You must be a System Administrator Warning', so I uninstalled it again & this time I downloaded the full installation package (not the regular small download). Note: I did run AVG Remover Tool after the 1st reboot (after uninstalling AVG) just for good measure. Finally AVG works! That was not easy! I install AVG all the time for my customers & I work on Computers every day, so I can imagine how hard this process can be for a novice. In AVG's defense, it would appear that Windows dropped the ball as I went into Windows Updates prior to going into Device Manager & clicked on the Check for Updates & although it found some updates, there were no Driver Updates available. But for those of you stuck in the Black Screen with Watchdog Messages, you can just hold your Power button in for 8 seconds until your system shuts off & then do it 2 more times. Windows 10 will automatically go into Repair Mode after you have shutdown your computer improperly 3 times in a row. I think AVG is a great product, or I wouldn't sell it, & this rarely happens, but when it does, it is quite frustrating! Good Luck to all.
Alan BinchAlan Binch
@ Brian Jackson
Brian, Just for your info.. AVG CloudCare isn't dealt with on the AVG Support Community.. Have a look @ this AVG webpage (https://support.avg.com/partners_contact_form?l=en).
AVG Guru
Brian JacksonBrian Jackson
OK, Thanks for the link, but my comments should help others as I'm certain the things I experienced in Cloud Care that caused the Watchdog to hang, are similar in the retail & free versions of AVG.
Blake DobsonBlake Dobson
No macs are having this problem and only the laptops in my house have this problem but all it does is black screen when it starts up saying watchdog mode activated etc. Then everything is fine the desktops however are fine no such watchdog problem.
Alok KumarAlok Kumar (Avast)
Hello Blake,
If the issue persists, then please take a picture (using your mobile phone) of the watchdog error to assist you further. You can post the screenshot here in your topic. Click on 'Answer' & then click on the 'Image' [mountain symbol] & follow the instructions.
Best regards,
Alok.
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