AVG 8 Free update failure

[Dragon]

AVG 8 Free fails to update with message about failing to contact the update
server.
Update server given as in Tools/Advanced is
http://guru.avg.com/softw/80free/update/

Connection is via router and cable.
Never a problem with AVG Free 7.5 which I've gone back to for now.

Suggestions please.

Henry

 

[Dragon]

AVG 8 Free fails to update with message about failing to contact the

I get a Forbidden when trying to access that url direct. That means it
expects an ID from AVG 8 in order to update. If you can't connect via
AVG's update routine, it's probably not providing the correct ID.

The following speculative solution is based on the assumption that the
problem is not a bug in AVG but arises from your system's configuration in
some way. If you still have AVG 7.5 on your machine, ie, inactivated, not
uninstalled, it's possible that the update routine sends the AVG 7.5 ID -
depends on how the path to the ID is written and/or what registry keys are
used. Try uninstalling both AVG 7.5 and 8 (I assume you have the install
files available), then reinstall AVG 8 and try again. You may have to do a
through registry clean, I don't know how well AVG's uninstall works.

If the above works, let us know.

For the record :-
Downloaded installation file.
AVG 8 Free claimed to remove 7 when installed so I let it.
Updates gave message
"The connection with the update server has failed"
Found update files, downloaded to disc and updated from them.

Tried a repair from the installation file but no change.
Uninstalled AVG 8 Free via its utility.

Installed AVG 7.5 Free from magazine CD.
Updated several times to get to latest state.

Asked here for help and Kurt responded

Following Kurt's suggestion, uninstalled AVG 7.5 free via its utility.
Re-installed AVG 8 Free from previously download file.
Update problem persists.

Help!!

Henry

 

[Woody]

Is your firewall blocking the update server? The only system I have seen the
problem on is on dial-up which I kinda expect since it is not connected. I
have helped install several times and they all removed 7 fine and installed.
It sounds like you may have something blocking it...

 

[Dragon]

Is your firewall blocking the update server?

Sounds logical so no surprises I looked at that
Connection is cable broadband via router
Problem persists with or without a firewall on and with or without Spybot
resident on.
Have a query on the AVG free forum waiting for a reply.

Henry

 

[jen]

Sounds logical so no surprises I looked at that
Connection is cable broadband via router
Problem persists with or without a firewall on and with or without
Spybot resident on.
Have a query on the AVG free forum waiting for a reply.

Try running the AVGUPD.EXE file from the AVG8 program folder.
Try this update server:
guru1.grisoft.cz
See the firewall info here:
AVG 8.0 Free Edition FAQ » Update:
http://free.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1243#faq_1243

-jen

 

[Dragon]

Dragon wrote:
[snipped tale of woe and my speculations]

Following Kurt's suggestion, uninstalled AVG 7.5 free via its utility.
Re-installed AVG 8 Free from previously download file.
Update problem persists.

Help!!

Henry

Thanks for the added info, now I know my speculation is wrong.

Sorry, I can't think of anything else it might be. Wish you better luck on
AVG's forum.

On recommendation from the forum, uninstalled Ashampoo firewall and updates
now work.
Presume a conflict somewhere as setting rules in Ashampoo firewall or even
switching it off did not help.

Thanks to all who made suggestions

Henry

 

[Dave Cohen]

Dragon wrote:
[snipped tale of woe and my speculations]

Following Kurt's suggestion, uninstalled AVG 7.5 free via its utility.
Re-installed AVG 8 Free from previously download file.
Update problem persists.

Help!!

Henry

Thanks for the added info, now I know my speculation is wrong.

Sorry, I can't think of anything else it might be. Wish you better luck on
AVG's forum.

On recommendation from the forum, uninstalled Ashampoo firewall and updates
now work.
Presume a conflict somewhere as setting rules in Ashampoo firewall or even
switching it off did not help.

Thanks to all who made suggestions

Henry

I installed over avg 7 yesterday in a test partition. It updated this
morning with no problem except there isn't any notification it's doing
so. I'm using Zone Alarm, no problem. ZA asks permission if it needs to,
as far as I know it won't block unless a site has been previously
blacklisted. I'll test for a few more days and if all ok I'll update my
working partition.
Dave Cohen

 

[Dragon]

I installed over avg 7 yesterday in a test partition. It updated this
morning with no problem except there isn't any notification it's doing so.
I'm using Zone Alarm, no problem. ZA asks permission if it needs to, as
far as I know it won't block unless a site has been previously
blacklisted. I'll test for a few more days and if all ok I'll update my
working partition.
Dave Cohen

I initially installed over 7.5.
The Ashampoo free firewall did not ask permission for anything to do with
AVG
Following advice from the AVG forum I manually added rules to give all the
executables in the AVG folder full permission but still the update failed.
Same situation with the firewall switched off.
Only uninstalling it cleared the problem.
Now using XP firewall (and a router) having found out how to get XP to allow
access to my little network.

Henry

 

[staylor]

Is your firewall blocking the update server? The only system I have seen the
problem on is on dial-up which I kinda expect since it is not connected. I
have helped install several times and they all removed 7 fine and installed.
It sounds like you may have something blocking it...

Having the same problem... LOOKS like AVG Free 8 is a bust. I
download the updates from the AVG siteand tried to upload directly
from my harddrive... NO luck... the update function will not work...
but I'm sure its not a firewall problem. Since there is no support
for the free version... we will just have to wait for a fix or go
somewhere else for virus protection.
STEVE

 

[Dragon]

Having the same problem... LOOKS like AVG Free 8 is a bust. I

download the updates from the AVG siteand tried to upload directly
from my harddrive... NO luck... the update function will not work...
but I'm sure its not a firewall problem. Since there is no support
for the free version... we will just have to wait for a fix or go
somewhere else for virus protection.
STEVE

Looks like you may have missed my solution.
Repeated below.
The forum mentioned is at http://freeforum.avg.com/
You have to register to be able to post.
.........
On recommendation from the forum, uninstalled Ashampoo firewall and updates
now work.
I initially installed over 7.5.
The Ashampoo free firewall did not ask permission for anything to do with
AVG
Following advice from the AVG forum I manually added rules to give all the
executables in the AVG folder full permission but still the update failed.
Same situation with the firewall switched off.
Only uninstalling it cleared the problem.
Now using XP firewall (and a router) having found out how to get XP to allow
access to my little network.
...........

Henry

 

[Bagwash]

Many thanks for this - saved me a *further* half day frustration and mucho
coffee!

 

[Bagwash]

Ashampoo say they're working on it ...

 

[Dragon]

Hi, I have the same problem, ive just downloaded the new AGV free
update 8.0 onto my XP.

The problem is that everytime I turn my computer on, my computer tells
me that "my connection with update server/manager has failed.

So I have to update manually each time I turn on my computer, even if
its just five minutes later.

What can I do to rectify this ?

My problem was a bit different.
I could not update at all, not even manually.
I just the message you have quoted.
Got my solution via the AVG forum.
http://freeforum.avg.com/
Look in AVG 8 Free Edition - Installation Issues
You will have to register to post.
If you post make sure you read the sticky "BEFORE YOU POST HERE README" ,
then provide ALL the information requested.
Failure gets you a sharp reply but no answer until you do comply.

My problem turned out to be an incompatibility between AVG and Ashampoo
firewall.
I dumped the firewall and now just use XP's firewall.

Cheers

Henry

 

[Bagwash]

My problem was a bit different.
I could not update at all, not even manually.
I just the message you have quoted.
Got my solution via the AVG forum.
http://freeforum.avg.com/
Look in AVG 8 Free Edition - Installation Issues
You will have to register to post.
If you post make sure you read the sticky "BEFORE YOU POST HERE README" ,
then provide ALL the information requested.
Failure gets you a sharp reply but no answer until you do comply.

My problem turned out to be an incompatibility between AVG and Ashampoo
firewall.
I dumped the firewall and now just use XP's firewall.

Cheers

Henry

Ashampoo acknowledged the problem (at the end of May) and claim to working
on a new version - but can't give a time scale.

 

[David Wells]

Same problem here . Tried half a dozen times last night finally gave
up removed avg 8 free and installed Avast

 

[Charliec]

I had this too and looked at the avg faq and it mentioned dns, so i
changed the dns server in the router from the isp one to my own input
one (open dns servers) and hey presto all 3 of my pcs now update fine.
The avg server must be blocked by my isp or something like that, her
are the servers i used.........

Primary DNS 208.67.222.222
Secondary DNS 208.67.220.220

Hope this works for you to.

Where do you make this change? Tools/Update/Proxy? If so, under
"Manual" or "Auto"? I'm new to AVG and have been having some update
failures.

Thanks
Charliec
******************************************************
Charliec

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

[another forum subscriber wrote:]

- As I couldn't change this in the avg advance settings (perhaps
because this is a free version), I put in my local
<windows-directory>/system32/drivers/etc/host file the followng
entry: 64.74.243.12 guru.avg.com # 64.74.243.12 is the free.avg.com
address

I attempted to edit the host but am having a hard time. When I click
on hosts, I was not sure what to open it with and selected Notepad. I
tried to put the "64.74.243.12 guru.avg.com # 64.74.243.12 is the
free.avg.com address" command in and save it, however, it will not
allow me to save. Thanks for any help in advance.

It is likely you are using some anti-malware software that changed the
file's attribute to "Read Only." ^1

You will have to disable that software, and in Explorer, right-click and
choose Properties, and remove the Read Only attribute. Then you can edit
it.

1. It's really pointless, as it is quite simple for the malware to
remove that attribute and fsck up your file.

 

[Ray.Milne]

I followed your procedure as I was having the same avg 8 update error
(server connection failed). Changing the win32 Host file worked like a
charm. Thanks.

(I joined the forum simply to share my appreciation)

Could you list the changes you made to the Host file again please.

I'm having the same problem.

Thanks.

Ray.

 

[Ray.Milne]

It's right up there in the thread. <g>

Poster "lbon" says add this line:

64.74.243.12 guru.avg.com # 64.74.243.12 is the free.avg.com address

Many thanks.

Ray.