the basics: Windows XP Pro Service Pack 2.
AVG Free Edition 7.5

Got myself into a huge pickle and am just at the end of my knowledge of how to fix.

AVG showed outdated database - updates would not apply. They downloaded but wouldn't install. Decided to uninstall the program and start again. AVG was not in add/remove programs!

Tried to install over the top - installation failed immediately saying there was an error. Tried to uninstall going through the Start, Programs, AVG settings. Wouldn't uninstall, said there was an error.

So couldn't go back and couldn't go forward. Decided to remove the grisoft folder. Removed folder and tried to reinstall. Installation failed.

Disabled services and start up references in msconfig. Tried again. Failed.

Went into regedit and looked for all instances of AVG. Deleted some, but many won't be deleted - just says it can't delete.

Gave up and thought, okay, well I'll try something else instead. Downloaded AVAST and tried to install. That installed and then booted up with an error that another virus engine was resident and that it had disabled itself. It recommended removal of conflicting antivirus program. (yeah, if only).

So that's where I am at. I can't install AVG. Can't uninstall AVG. The Grisoft folder is gone, yet something remains that is stopping the install and uninstall or anything else being used. There is no virus protection at all, and clearly this is not good.

Any help would be most appreciated!

what is the exact error?

try this little MS util to remove the reference
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

then install avg and remove if you still want avast


Cudni

Thanks for the clean tool I'll try that. As far as the exact error for installation and uninstall failures when I click on 'details' it shows a registry error along the lines of..... avg/uninstall. I can't recall the exact error at this stage as I'm not using that computer (as it has no virus protection) and I'm using another, but from memory it was something like: hklm/software/microsoft/system 32/avginstall/uninstall not found - something like that. I searched in the registry for it and it didn't find it. (probably because it was not found .

I'll try the windows tool and report back. thanks

Ran MS clean tool. Error: can't find script engine VBscript c:\documents and settings\name\1\local\1\temp\IXP000,Temp\start\msi.vbs

so that's nice too. ho hum.

try
http://www.jsifaq.com/SF/Tips/Tip.aspx?id=9713

Cudni

thanks did that. Same error.

This is the most frustrating thing. There's nothing worse than not being able to go back and not being able to go forward. The fact that it won't even let me put on anything new even is unreal!

I appreciate your help though.

I now have the exact error if anyone can shed any light.

Local machine: installation failed
Installation:
Error: Action failed for registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AVG7Uninstall: creating registry key....
Access is denied. (5)

take the ownership of that key
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310426

Cudni

I'm pretty sure I know the issue. One of the tricks current malware plays is to try and turn off and/or uninstall known anti-malware products. Anti-malware software companies responded by "hardening" their products and making it much more difficult for malware to act in that manner. One of the things they did was to protect their registry entries from change or deletion.

You had a failed, but partial install. One of the keys created during that install was likely that uninstaller key. Now you are trying to reinstall AVG, but the key is protected. So, here's how you may be able to fix this. First, boot into Safe Mode with an administrator account. Open regedit and go to that key. First, you may be able to delete that key directly in Safe mode. If not, right click on the key, then on permissions and make sure that your administrator account (that you logged into Safe mode with) is has full read/write control over the key.

Now, before you do this, I want to make sure you have a registry backup. Read this, and make a full registry backup with ERUNT before you do any further registry editing, just in case:

http://wiki.castlecops.com/User:PCBruiser/Registry_Maintenance

If taking control of the key doesn't work, there are a couple of other tricks we can try.

Oops, Cudni beat me, LOL.

Hi I hope you can help, I have a similar problem as above.
I have the following message when I try to install AVG (on XP);

Local machine: installation failed
Installation:
Error: Action failed for registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{8EC31898-D1E6-4758-80BE-31E873AC2903}\ProgID: creating registry key....
Access is denied. (5)

I have windows XP, and have been using AVG for 2 years. But I uninstalled it to test AVAST & now can't change back. My system restore isn't working (which is causing loads of other problems cos I really need to use it) so can't restore to before AVG uninstall.

Thanks for your time

Have the same problem. Program worked great for about 3 weeks, then suddenly complained about the Date of the Data Files being wrong about the time Daylight Savings hit.

I have no AVG Uninstall Registery Key. So no way of removing or taking control of the thing.

Deal is totally bogus, as everytime you boot the computer or the update deal runs it crashes and pops up a nag window and at times a Download Fild thing flashes and heads towards the AVG icon on the task bar.

Thing is tottally annoying and I wish I had never installed the AVG software. It constantly inturupts you while working in an Excel Spread sheet, word document or other important files that you don't want messed with.

Someone come up with an Automatic Clean for this problem, please.

I have WIN ME OS on this machine.

Thanks in advance.

[quote="AMP"]Have the same problem. Program worked great for about 3 weeks, then suddenly complained about the Date of the Data Files being wrong about the time Daylight Savings hit.

Recently I had a similar problem; AVG suddenly stopped updating itself. I then discovered that AVG had a free forum as well, and here I read this 'timely' advice:

"1st things 1st.... Always double / triple check your Windows clock time even am/pm, date & year. These have to be totally correct for AVG to function properly. Hover your mouse over the clock.... You won't believe how easy it is to be just one day, month or even a year out.... After correcting the DATE/TIME.. open the AVG Test Center then the Scheduler... edit the schedule for the update and disable it... close it and then open it right back up and re-enable the update schedule. This will reset the schedule to the correct date/time again."

Re: Install Error: Error: Action failed for registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AVG7Uninstall\Features: creating registry key....


for those of you having this trouble in uninstalling AVG

CHECK THIS OUT:

When the uninstall didn't work correctly, you were left with a registry entry that has the permissions set wrong. You need to correct this so you can continue.

Run REGEDT32 and navigate to the following key...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AVG7Uninstall

Right click on the key name in the left window, select Permissions from the options. Give your uname and the Administrators full permissions and apply, when it asks if you want to apply the same permissions for subkeys.. say yes.

If the Administrator or your uname is missing, under the Groups or user names area....

1. Click the Add button...
2. Type Administrators...
3. Click the Check Names button...
4. Click the Ok button...
5. Highlight Administrators...
6. Place a checkmark in Full Control...
7. Click the Apply button... if it asks to apply it to subkeys... select Yes.
8. If it didn't ask to apply to subkeys, click Advanced and select it there...

Repeat for your uname....

Delete key when finished.
To help avoid having this from happening in the future, always download the latest copy of the AVG file from [free.grisoft.com] and save it to your hard drive. Next run that file and select Uninstall from the options it gives you and follow the wizard.



I found the original here on this AVG board:
http://forum.grisoft.cz/freeforum/read.php?2,84704,84716

Hope this helps you. It sure did help me