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General discussion

Computer Crash from AVG update

Dec 6, 2010 6:24AM PST

I didn't want to start another one of these but it looks like I need to.

I am fairly computer savvy for a non computer person (for a geologist), I have built PC's, but that is fairly easy.

My computer crashed last Wednesday, like most others. The operation system is Vista. But I can't boot at all. I can get to the point where it asks about starting in the various Safe Modes or to start as a normal start. None work.

I have tried the reboot USB file and the reboot CD file. I burned the CD as a Bootable file like the AVG site tells us to do, luckily my Daughters computer works (Windows 98 SE, still the best Windows program).

I keep reading these forums hoping to find a solution. Most rely on your computer working to some degree. It has been almost a week without my computer (and I hate the TV, but I am reading more).

So, what do I do now?

Thanks in advance.

Discussion is locked

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Re: Computer Crash from AVG update
Dec 6, 2010 3:56PM PST

Hello uilleann4,

please accept our sincere apologies for this unpleasant situation.

Did you use modified AVG RescueCD tool for CD and USB mediums described at FAQ 4080 (recently with video tutorial), which contains automatic solution, when affected computer is booted from it.

In case the modified AVG RescueCD did not solve the error, please use the non-modified version of AVG RescueCD from this website. Boot the computer from it. In AVG RescueCD interface choose menu Utilities -> Midnight Commander. There navigate to folder /mnt/sda1/program files (x86) (path depends on used partitions) and rename (by F6 key) AVG folder to something else.
Then start the computer again. It will be needed to (rename the AVG folder back in operating system and) repair AVG installation to get everything working properly.

What is the current situation?

Thank you for your cooperation and patience

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Re: Computer Crash from AVG update
Dec 7, 2010 12:29AM PST

Thanks for the response.

I did try the modified AVG RescueCD tool for both CD and USB mediums as described at FAQ 4080 numerous times over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I used up half a dozen CD's trying different burns of bootable CD's. My computer is not reading those files at all. I don't know if the CD/DVD reader is working now (yes, it worked before). At least the USB device would light-up at times.

I will try these tonight on both USB and CD, but I am not expecting much. It looks like it is the same thing, just un-modified. So should I press F12 repeatedly during start-up, or is there some other trick?

Does it matter that it is a 64-bit version?

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Re: Computer Crash from AVG update
Dec 7, 2010 11:24PM PST

Well I tried the non-modified version of the Rescue CD (USB version) and it still did nothing.

Is there anything in my Bios that I can change?

It has been a week and I am starting to get frustrated. I don't want to take it to a shop. That will be (1) expensive, (2) it will take an other week, and (3) they will probably just wipe my drive and start over.

What next?

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Re: Computer Crash
Dec 8, 2010 5:42PM PST

Hello uilleann4,

You can find the bios settings to boot from CD at this website. If the CD is still not booted, there can be some issue in the booting procedure. Could you please describe your followed steps in CS burning in details?

What is the operating system you are using?
If Windows 7, you can use "Advanced Recovery Options" as described here. Then use "Command prompt" and enter this command:

ren "C:\Program files (x86)\AVG" "C:\Program files (x86)\AVG_old"

This should rename AVG program folder and you should be able to start the computer in normal way. You can then rename the folder back and repair AVG installation.

What is the current situation?

Thank you

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Computer Crash
Dec 9, 2010 12:49AM PST

The operating system is Vista (64-bit version). My motherboard is Asus, I wouldn't normally mention this, but I have noticed that a lot of people with this issue have Asus boards.

The computer continually loops to the point where it asks about the start method. The various "Safe Mode" options and start the normal way. Whatever I choose the computer thinks for a moment and then restarts the cycle from start-up.

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Re: Computer crash
Dec 9, 2010 4:56PM PST

Hello uilleann4,

is there an option "Repair computer" in the list with "Safe Mode" and normal way?

Is possible to plug the hard disk from affected computer into another? There you can rename the AVG program folder on newly showed (attached) drive as well.

Thank you for your cooperation

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Computer Crash
Dec 10, 2010 12:49AM PST

Hi Ondrej

There is not a "Repair Computer" option. There is a "Last known Good Configuration" option, but it does nothing. After I start it that way it just starts the cycle again. Also a Safe Mode with Command Prompt" but all of these don't do what they are supposed to do.

I had thought of hooking my hard drive to another computer but my wife's computer is an old lap top and my kids computer is running XP (32-bit). Would it be able to read from my hard drive since it is Vista and 64-bit?

Thanks,
Doug (AKA uilleann)

I just noticed that the Forum removes all punctuation.

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RE: Computer Crash
Dec 11, 2010 7:51PM PST

Hello,

Yes, Windows XP 32bit should have no issues with reading the harddrive.
After renaming AVG program folder it should be possible to boot your system.

Thanks

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been watching
Dec 12, 2010 10:47PM PST

yeah thanxs avg ( yes i know i got it for free but come on !! ) - i have a $2000.00 gaming paper weight cause of this issue - also running vista 64bit - been watching your post for a week now - if you have ANY luck please post so i can do the same - any help would make you the most awesome person on earth !!

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Computer Crash
Dec 13, 2010 2:09AM PST

Update on computer situation (almost two weeks without my computer).

First, I hooked my hard drive to my Daughters computer, which is an older computer. My hard drive is a Serial ATA (SATA) and her computer actually had two plugs for SATA. But her computer would not recognize my hard drive. I know that with SATA hard drive you do not need to classify one as a slave. I tried a few old trick anyway, but no go.

So I brought my hard drive and the SATA cable in to work this morning. Our work computers have protections on them so you can not add, change, or remove anything. So I told IT about my problem (they knew about the situation) and asked It if I could use one of their computers to modify the file.

I have renamed the file and will test it out tonight when I get home. If that does not work I will bring it back in to work and delete the file.

I will post here tomorrow how it works out.

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FOUND A FIX !!!!
Dec 13, 2010 2:15AM PST
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Found a Fix
Dec 13, 2010 3:30AM PST

Good to hear that it worked out.

I don't have Windows 7. I do have my Windows Vista disk and this was the first thing I tried to do, almost two weeks ago, but my computer would not even recognize Vista Disk.

I hope I will be celebrating tonight.

I should be taking the time I am not wasting on the computer to play my uilleann pipes but at the end of the day, after the kids have gone to bed, I like to decompress on the computer.

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Re: Found a Fix
Dec 13, 2010 2:19PM PST

Hello uilleann4,

could you please share with us information about current situation?

Thank you for your cooperation

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FIXED
Dec 13, 2010 6:50AM PST

couldnt reply down below - i had to go in and set bios boot sequence to boot from cd/dvd - once i did that i used a windows 7 recovery disk because i lost my vista one - i am running vista but the 7 disk did what the guy in the video said for vista - if you have your vista disk just follow the direction from the link i sent - and REMOVE AVG permanently - cnet also has avast antivirus - which seems to run awesome - keep me posted on any success - as i said watch your posts for a week with same problem with the avg recovery both usb and disk - and am now SUPER happy that i found a fix !!

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fixed
Dec 13, 2010 10:43AM PST

oh when your done make sure you go back and change the boot sequence back to hard drive first

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Computer Crash
Dec 13, 2010 11:32PM PST

Well it worked. After connecting my hard drive to another computer yesterday and renaming the AVG file, my computer started up fine.

I should have left my computer disconnected from the internet for starters. A lot of software wanted to update all at once.

Thanks everyone for help and suggestions. Now my wife has one less thing to nag me about.