My SIL is half her age and had the same problem when I started the download for her with written directions to follow when finished. Same computer and OS. Seems she downloaded it then didn't know she had to install it. Think it was under Start>My Computer>my dowloads /open/install (at the prompt).

Morz if you also have Windows XP you should consider installing Skype on both computers. Then get Mum a set of headphones so you can talk and walk her through the procedure - or any other problem while both of you are in front of your computers. Then you can keep up by showing the same page on your own computer. I use this quite often when helping folks.

Having said that back to the issue. Have Mum install Crap Cleaner, linked below. Before using it go to Add/Remove Programs and remove the AVG install. Now run Crap Cleaner with the default settings to get those corrupt files off the machine and then do your install.

If you or Mum are concerned about Crap Cleaner (it is a brilliant little freebie actually) you can create a Restore Point before moving forward so you can go back if necessary. This is just to give you confidence, you will not use it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Crap Cleaner

Thanks, both of you...

I have CCleaner on my own computer, but I'd never thought to install it on hers. Hadn't thought in terms of a corrupted file either....I wonder when the last time disk clean or defrag has been done.

I'll look into the Skype too. Mom has dial-up and only one phone line so trying to explain something to her when she can't be in front of her booted up computer is frustrating.

Thanks again!

Morz check Mum's connection speed, I believe 35kb is the absolute minimum for good voice transmission with Skype. But if she has better than that it would certainly be worth a try. If it fails it can be removed quite simply.

Didn't want to suggest a defrag after Ccleaner in case it muddied the waters a bit for her. It is a good plan though after each run of Crap cleaner.

If she is on dial-up, then AVG 7.5 will take some time to download, I recall it being almost 20 MBytes, that's a long wait at

Even though I am on high speed I usually save a program to a utilities folder before an install. That way it is there if things go wrong and another install is needed. From my own perspective I try to keep all those kinds of programs on a thumbdrive for when someone brings a computer that needs fixing. Then I can fix it without being on the net and open to attack until I need to be.

I assumed (perhaps wrongly) that Mum had saved the file to disk. If so it will be easy enough to install once the corrupt file/s is/are removed.

Thank you again, everyone. It took several emails and some convincing that she could do it, but

Owbist, she said she followed your instructions and has a current anti virus program installed again. She didn't answer me directly when I asked about the scan and defrag so I suspect maybe not yet, but the AVG seems to be upgraded...From her tonight:

"The AVG symbol goes round and round at the bottom of the screen so I know it's working. "

I'm sure this was good for boosting her confidence level too

Umm, great news indeed that she has an anti virus program installed and running.

However she appears to have installed Avast rather than AVG. AVG has a small square with red/black/yellow and green quadrants. Avast has the black ball with an A on it and spins when activated as an email arrives or leaves or she starts to surf.

Absolutely nothing wrong with Avast, easily as good as AVG and it will update automatically for her.

Just so you are aware if she calls, it will occasionally pop up a small window near the clock saying it has updated itself. In some ways that is good because it instills confidence that the program is working behind the scenes.