I forgot to say.....she has Windows Vista.

what AV did she have on this pc prior to your installing AVG? if it was Norton or McAfee did you use their specific removal tool to get rid of it totally and did you search through the pc to find any bits of the other AV and eliminate them? It is rare that simply doing the removal from Add Remove will get rid of all of an AV program and often that will cause errors and the inability to get the new AV running.

If you have done that i would disconnect from the internet, disable all other security programs including the windows firewall if it is enabled, superantispyware, windows defender and anything else, try AVG , you may have to remove it and do a new install and try it with every thing shut down. Another alternative is to do it in safe mode.

try those and see if that helps
did you use this method to get AVG?
FAQ

since this is Vista is she giving her permission as Admin when asked?

Hi ravencajun,
Thank you very much for your advice. I now realize that I have gotten in over my head. :(

I talked to my friend and I'll go back tomorrow and remove the programs I installed so I get her back to where she was before I offered to "help". I thought I was doing a good deed. I've learned my lesson...that a little knowledge is dangerous. Sheesh.

I installed SUPERAntiSpyware, SpywareBlaster 4.1, Malwarebytes'Anti-malware and AVG? Can I simply use the uninstall command in Add/Remove to take them off? I don't want to do anything bad to her computer.

I did remove Norton using Add/Remove. Shall I get and use the appropriate year's removal tool to get any bits and pieces that might be left?

Again, thank you and I'm *really* in awe of your expertise now!
Pam... who's running and tucking her tail

wait you don't have to take those off just turn them off while you try to get AVG to install and work. They are all fine good programs and should be on the pc.

I would bet some of Norton may still be hanging in there causing the problem, so definitely use their removal tool for the version of Norton that she had that should clear up most of it. then go to right click start then explore in the tree> program files see if there is still a folder for Norton if so delete the entire Norton folder, anything you see labeled Norton or Symantec should go.

You did not do anything wrong sometimes things just have conflicts and especially with Norton. So do the removal of that then just turn off those programs and try AVG again. The reason I suggest using the method in the AVG faq is that it keeps it from installing some of the extras that have caused problems on some pcs. It is a much slimmer version.

You are doing a good deed! You are helping someone ,that is always a good thing.

As I said it may require doing an add remove on AVG then reinstalling it, that is why it should be disconnected from the internet since you will be with out protection while AVG is not working.

If AVG continues to fail you could try AVAST free, I use it on one of my pcs.
avast! 4 Home Edition - FREE antivirus
the install and user guide are on that same page off to the left.

I do not use Vista so if anyone is aware of any conflict issue that I don't know about hopefully they will let us know.

Your message says Windows Defender is turned "ON". Did you try turning it off and then starting AVG? I don't believe you can have both turned on.

pfmastin wrote:- I talked to my friend and I'll go back tomorrow and remove the programs I installed so I get her back to where she was before I offered to "help". I thought I was doing a good deed. I've learned my lesson...that a little knowledge is dangerous. Sheesh.

Don't give up that easily. Helping others with problems is by far the best way to know computers. Sure, you can stick your head in a book but hands on or helping at sites like this gives you so much more. Keep at it, you are no doubt doing a fine job, just a little speed bump has slowed you LOL.

I have Vista Ultimate. I am running AVG and Superantispyware AND windows defender. There is no conflict.
In fact Windows Defender notified me that no AV program was installed, when I first started up my PC with Vista.
I think Ravencajan hit the nail on the head- you have some Norton leftovers. Download AVG and save it to your desktop, clean up Norton remnants and then install AVG.

Thank you, everyone, for your kind words. If this was my computer I'd jump in...as a matter of fact, I did...and had already installed all the above programs. But, I'd feel terrible if I messed something upon someone else's.

Camp..I did try to turn off Win Defender at the screen I mentioned above but it didn't change the setting. I came home last night and googled it and do see how to do it now.

If I get brave and decide to try it, I'll let you know. Otherwise, you'll know I chickened out. :)

I printed out the posts so that when my friend's brother comes on Saturday, he can see what I've done and what needs to be done. I can't thank all of you enough.

I think once all those Norton bits are gone for good things will go much better. I hear these kinds of problems a lot from people who had Norton prior to trying to install a new AV it is a very intrusive program.

I just recently took my free McAfee off one of my xp boxes and I spent quite a bit of time doing a very clean removal, including using the McAfee removal tool after using Add Remove, then I scoured the pc for anything left behind and still found stuff.