A gamer-friendly and free anti-virus

[Tsuyu]

Alright, I'm having PC issues.

Again.

This time it is due to AVG-free being a selfish little resource hog and making me unable to play certain games, so I have to get rid of it. But I don't like the idea of going without protection, so, anyone know of a free anti-virus that won't interfere much with online gaming?

 

[Dark Drakan]

Avast Free seems to be mentioned a lot in PC gaming threads ive just been reading.

 

[Gikoku]

Yeah, I recommend Avast as well. Had tried to get rid of AVG on my computer awhile back and the little bastard just wouldn't go away, so I had to download another software just to remove it and then manually delete the folders... ugh.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Ive never had any issue with my AVG and ive used it for years on multiple computers with multiple versions.

 

[TRA Rotid]

Currently using Avast as well on my other PC since AVG was such a resource hog. Avast is much better in that regard.

 

[Tsuyu]

Avast sounds piratey and neat. How were you able to completely remove AVG, Scott? Security Center still tells me it is installed even-tough I used the uninstaller. I even used the official "clean this mess up!".exe from their website but nada...

 

[Gikoku]

Avast sounds piratey and neat. How were you able to completely remove AVG, Scott? Security Center still tells me it is installed even-tough I used the uninstaller. I even used the official "clean this mess up!".exe from their website but nada...

I downloaded the AVG remover here, then ran it. After that, I restarted my PC and went to these directories and manually deleted the AVG folders:

Windows XP/2000
C:\Program Files\AVG or C:\Program files(x86)\AVG (for 64bit OS)
C:\Documents and settings\All users\Application data\AVG

Windows Vista/7
C:\Program Files\AVG or C:\Program files(x86)\AVG (for 64bit OS)
C:\ProgramData\AVG
C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming\AVG

If you can't delete some of the folders because it claims that it's open in another program, then pull up the Task Manager and go to the Processes tab, then at the bottom click on "Show processes from all users" there you should see some of the AVG apps still floatin' around, and just end those. All done.

 

[Tyloric]

Really? I've never had problems with AVG. :X

 

[Tsuyu]

Its a resource hog, mainly.

Scott; that's the one I used. It gives me a error log as .txt telling me it doesn't find anything to remove.

 

[Gikoku]

I'm not surprised, it tends to vary from person to person. In that case you can ignore the AVG remover step, and just find the AVG folders in those directories I showed you and delete them. You'll have to bring up the Task Manager though if there's still processes of AVG running so you can close them.

 

[Tsuyu]

Dürn it.

All folders are gone, the program is uninstalled yet Security Center still detects AVG.

What the heck?

 

[Gikoku]

Odd, my only guess is that the program is still listed in the list of installed programs when it actually no longer isn't (happened to me when I deleted all of its folders). Try going to My Computer > Add or Remove Programs, then uninstall AVG again, should say there was an error and then asks you if you just want to delete it from the list. Hope that helps.

 

[Skotekal]

Yeah, this happened to me a long time ago. I think I used AVG Remover or something like that.

 

[Albion Knight]

Most AV will let you turn them off or go into a gamer mode while you play games.

 

[Dark Drakan]

I go with MalwareBytes myself. It does everything I need it to do and stays out of the way the rest of the time.

Great little program that I also use.

Most AV will let you turn them off or go into a gamer mode while you play games.

Yeah I believe even AVG has a gamer mode on it somewhere.