AVG forces Zen program with 2016 AV Free

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I just updated my AVG Free 2015 to AVG Free 2016 and I got this other ZEN program with it. I never heard of it, nor was it ever suggested before. It appears to be some kind of program to “extend” protection to other computers on your network. I don’t have a network and don’t think I will anytime in the near future. It shows up as a separate program on the program uninstall section of Control Panel. So I’m now wondering if I could uninstall this ZEN thing. Have to admit, it’s getting more frustrating all the time. Anyone else get this or did I do something wrong?

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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Update:
I really don’t like this new thing of AVG forcing it’s ZEN program on you for 30 days! I don’t need it and I hope it uninstalls itself or at least allows me to uninstall it when that 30 days is up. I tried to uninstall it and couldn’t, that is without uninstalling the whole antivirus program too! This is the first time AVG has done something like this as far as I know. I didn’t see any opt out thing for that ZEN program. Guess I should have waited longer before updating.

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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http://www.avg.com/us-en/zen

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http://www.avg.com/us-en/zen

I don’t want to activate it. They ask for your email address, want you to set up an account, and you have to pay an undisclosed amount of money. I don’t need it, and just want the Antivirus.

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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AVG Free without Zen:
http://www.avg.com/ww-en/download.prd-afh-free

Jerry

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AVG Free without Zen:
http://www.avg.com/ww-en/download.prd-afh-free

Jerry

I already went there and it turned out to be the 2015 version which I already have. I want the 2016 version without the Zen program (if that’s even possible). It’s looking like it’s not. Thanks anyway, I thought I was going to get the 2016 version from that site too.

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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Reposted from less appropriate closed thread.

http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread//173695-Now-AVG-is-security-threat?p=1041952&viewfull=1#post1041952

Quote Originally Posted by bobprimak View Post

When a scan is initiated, Custom Scan settings (the Gear Icons next to the Scan Type) will allow a detailed Report with all kinds of notifications, to be generated and displayed when the scan finishes. By clicking on the Details tab in the displayed Scan Report, it is possible to see exactly what is proposed to be removed and otherwise acted upon. Then a right-click on one or a selected group of detections can show three options, one of which is to Allow the items detected. To be able to do this, when setting up the scan with the Custom Options, DO NOT check off the unchecked box about Automatically Heal detected items.

.
Interesting. I have AVG paid (file version 2016.0.7357) and I do not have that option . In addition:
One can not save exclusions to file scanning @ the scan result page. There is NO option for such! One must manually enter exclusions in at a settings page.
from a chat session.

I should have mentioned that is AVG AV 2015,

Last edited by wavy; 2016-01-22 at 13:54.

No Zen on my version!

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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I just installed the Free AVG 2016 and didn’t get Zen although I did see it mentioned on one download site. I usually download using MajorGeeks.

Before you wonder "Am I doing things right," ask "Am I doing the right things?"

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I just installed the Free AVG 2016 and didn’t get Zen although I did see it mentioned on one download site. I usually download using MajorGeeks.

Maybe that’s the problem – I downloaded what was indicated to be the AVG Free 2016 Antivirus from the AVG Website – http://free.avg.com/us-en/free-downloads#tba1 What I got was the AVG Free 2016 Antivirus, + Zen 30 day trial. I saw no mention of the Zen program attached to it on that site. Thanks for the reply, at least now I know that if I look hard and long enough, I can maybe find just the AVG Free 2016 AV program without Zen. Hopefully Zen will go away after the 30 days like they say. If I can trust What they say.

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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Maybe that’s the problem – I downloaded what was indicated to be the AVG Free 2016 Antivirus from the AVG Website – http://free.avg.com/us-en/free-downloads#tba1 What I got was the AVG Free 2016 Antivirus, + Zen 30 day trial. I saw no mention of the Zen program attached to it on that site. Thanks for the reply, at least now I know that if I look hard and long enough, I can maybe find just the AVG Free 2016 AV program without Zen. Hopefully Zen will go away after the 30 days like they say. If I can trust What they say.

I downloaded the “offline” installers for AVG2016Free from: http://www.avg.com/ww-en/download.prd-afh-free

AVG AntiVirus Free (32bit) “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x86_694.exe” (205MB).

AVG AntiVirus Free (64bit) “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe” (225MB).

When you run setup don’t click the large “Continue” button, rather click the “Custom installation” link just below the “Continue” button then choose the “Basic protection” option rather than the “Full protection” option.

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I downloaded the “offline” installers for AVG2016Free from: http://www.avg.com/ww-en/download.prd-afh-free

AVG AntiVirus Free (32bit) “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x86_694.exe” (205MB).

AVG AntiVirus Free (64bit) “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe” (225MB).

When you run setup don’t click the large “Continue” button, rather click the “Custom installation” link just below the “Continue” button then choose the “Basic protection” option rather than the “Full protection” option.

Thanks for that info. I’ve been to this site and downloaded the 64 bit version only to find out that it was the 2015 version! It looks to me like these people need to get their website updated. I had no trouble updating from AVG Free 2014 to 2015. I even saved the install program for 2015. But things are not the same now.

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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I downloaded the AVG AntiVirus Free (64bit) AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe from the link you gave and when I went to the properties of the file, this is what I saw:

43398-AVG-Props-snip

Is this what you got? Notice the 2015 dates and reference to Internet Security System. Will this install AVG Free 2016? I’m hoping it will, but wanted to be sure.

Thanks.

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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…Is this what you got? Notice the 2015 dates and reference to Internet Security System…

It seems AVG has released updated versions of the installers but has not changed the downloads’ file names (???).

I downloaded the “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe” and “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x86_694.exe” installers in October 2015, and have checked regularly since for newer versions but assumed that because the filenames had not changed there were no newer versions.

Good-on-yer AVG.

Screenshot of PropertiesDetails for “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe” from October 2015:

43408-AVGx64_693_OCT15

I have downloaded the new versions and will test them on my workbench PCs later tonight, and will post back with results.

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Check the driver dates (Modified dates) with DriverView. 2016 drivers would have been released from about the previous August onwards, with a new OS out, that might be earlier this time around.

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Further to my #13 post I have run the newer “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe” and “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x86_694.exe” installers on my workbench PCs with the following insights.

In neither case did the installer attempt to install “ZEN” BUT (see below).

After you run the installer (either 32bit or 64bit) the first screen you see should be as in this screenshot:

43409-AVG2016FreeInst

Do not click the large “Continue” button (red arrow), rather click the small “Custom installation” (green arrow” link just below the “Continue” button.

43410-AVG2016FreeInst_1

In the next dialog click on the “Basic protection” option button to select it (green arrow).
AVG2016 should then install over your previous version of AVG (free).

After the installation has completed you might see a pop-up in the notification area as below:

43411-AVG2016FreeInst_2

I recommend you should un-tick both checkboxes then click the “Decline” link (green arrows) rather than the somewhat more attractive and larger “OK” button. Believe me you don’t want anything from ask.com on your computer.

Once the installation is finished you should see:

43412-AVG2016FreeInst_3

Ohterwise you might have to reboot your computer to allow AVG to properly upgrade itself.

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Thank you very much for all that info.! I came across most of these things when I installed mine, but I may have missed a trick or two. I’ll give it another try. Did you use the download “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe”? I haven’t had much time at the computer because I’ve been digging out of a super snow storm here on the east coast of the U.S.

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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…Did you use the download “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe”?…

Yes, I ran “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe” on a Win10 Pro 64bit system, and “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x86_694.exe” on a Win7 Home 32bit system.

In both cases the installation steps were as in my #15 post, and both resulted in just “AVG AntiVirus Free” (no ZEN).

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?Forcing Zen is like forcing the Locust Yoga Position?

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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?Forcing Zen is like forcing the Locust Yoga Position?

It doesn’t seem like a bad or annoying program (so far), but I don’t really need it and I don’t like having been tricked into downloading it. If it does give me any problem, I want to be able to get rid of it. Also, to activate it, I’m pretty sure you have to set up an account, give them your email address, and pay for it (which they don’t tell you up front).

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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Update – I just bit the bullet and uninstalled the AVG 2016 Free first, then uninstalled the AVG Zen program. I then used CCleaner to clean out as many AVG registry entries as it could find. I used Windows Explorer to clear out any traces of the AVG programs I could find. I turned off my modem so I could be sure of no interference from AVG, and used the “AVG_Antivirus_Free_x64_693.exe” installer program to install just the AVG Free 2016 program.

To my great relief, just the Antivirus program was installed. I didn’t even see any references to the Zen program. Right after I updated the definitions, a webpage popped up to let me know that I could get AVG for any Android tablets, etc. that I may have. Hopefully this won’t happen every time it updates! This is the way to do the update though. I will not go to the AVG website to get a new version again if I can help it! Thanks to all who helped me with this, especially you Coochin. I now have just the AVG Free 2016 program. I needed that push to do it.

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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Everything below happened before I found this thread.

Powered on my Desktop this A.M. & got a Notice from AVG that they did not recognize my License Number.

Since I had AVG AntiVirus Free 2016, I did not know I even had a License Number.

Found a Screenshot I had printed months ago that actually did show a License Number.

So, I input that License Number, but AVG would never recognize it.
AVG did suggest that I just re-install the Software.

So, that is what I did.

Problem was that the installation (with the “Zen” Interface) got up to 98% but never completed. Tired several times with the same result.

So, I then tried to UN-install AVG.

That also failed (repeatedly).

So, I contacted AVG online.
Since I had AVG AntiVirus Free, I figured I would get nowhere.
I was shocked to see I had 2 Choices: Chat or be given a Phone # I could contact AVG with.
I chose the latter & was shown a “Ticket Number” (valid for 60 minutes only) and a “special” Phone # to use.

Called AVG Support.
Spoke to 1st person who listened to my problems.
He gave me a “Case Number” & had me log on to a Remote Session with a different tech.

During the remote session, tech UN-installed AVG using an AVG Remover Tool (AVG_Remover.exe which can be found at http://www.avg.com/us-en/utilities).

Then Tech installed AVG AntiVirus Free (but it did have the Zen interface).
I had earlier told the Tech I did NOT want the Zen interface, so he used the AVG Remover Tool again to uninstall that installation & subsequently found the installation that did NOT have the Zen interface.

Now, all is good again in AVG land.

It is curious that my License Number did not change with this new installation.
Could it be that everyone who uses AVG AntiViurs Free has the exact same License Number?

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I’m glad to see that things finally worked out for you Steven. I’m glad you found this thread. Seems as though nothing is easy anymore. I’ve used AVG for years with no problems, then that changed with the Zen program. I haven’t had any more problems since other than more than the usual amount of ads popping up from my notification center. A minor inconvenience, I just click on “No Thanks”.

As I found out, the best way to update your AVG is to download the new version from a reliable download site, save that program, and run it with your internet connection off. Hope things continue to go well for you.

Even astrophysicist Carl Sagan when speaking astronomically used Billions, not Trillions.

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As I found out, the best way to update your AVG is to download the new version from a reliable download site, save that program, and run it with your internet connection off. Hope things continue to go well for you.

I wish I would have found this thread earlier.

But since the Zen installation never completed & I could not uninstall the partial installation, I could not download anything else anyway.

Having access to the AVG Remover Tool would have avoided my need to call AVG.
But, now that I know where it is, I can get to it if the need ever arises.

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