Install AVG Free

I often recommend AVG Free to my clients with computers at home. I find the protection is on par with the most popular virus protection programs while not costing anything. I personally use and pay for Kaspersky AntiVirus as it is the best protection I am aware of (ESET Nod32 might be it’s equal) but people using McAfee or Norton products might as well give them up at next renewal unless they improve dramatically.

The first thing you want to do if already using an older version of AVG Free is uninstall it. This goes for any other Anti Virus program you might already have installed.

Click Start > Control Panel >

If Windows XP double click “Add / Remove Programs”

If Windows Vista double click “Programs and Features”

If Windows 7 you might also find “Programs and Features” or “Uninstall a Program” like in this picture:

Find your current anti virus program in the list, click on it and then click the uninstall or remove button at top (Windows XP on the right)

Most virus protection software will ask question during removal. You can just click next, remove and/or finish as you go. At the end it will ask to restart your computer. LET IT DO SO. You need to restart before installing the new version of AVG Free.

When your computer starts again go to brianhaines.com in your favorite web browser.

On the right side of my website there is a link for AVG Free. Click the link and wait as a new window or tab opens.

You have been taken to a page on CNET download.com. Pay close attention as advertisers here try to trick people into downloading something other than AVG Free. The correct option is the white text on green button that reads Download Now.

This next step looks different depending on the browser. You can  just run the file if that is the option as in is the case with Internet Explorer…

Older version of Internet Explorer might have an information bar near the top instead of the bottom. If so click the information bar for options and then click run.

or Save File in FireFox

Then you can double click the AVG Free file in the downloads window that is displayed.

Chrome will automatically save it and display it at the bottom left.

Just click the file to run the AVG Setup program.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 will have a User Account Control Screen that will appear. Click Yes.

Wait for AVG to display the installer and click Next on this screen (change the language if needed).

You must accept the following by clicking the Accept button.

Click on the dot for “Basic Protection”

Click on “Custom Install” and then click Next.

Click Next

Uncheck the two boxes on this next screen to avoid installing the toolbar and setting AVG to your default search.

After clicking NEXT wait for AVG to download the rest of the installer files.

Wait for the installer to install the downloaded features.

Then Finish.

AVG Free will open and automatically start installing updates. Windows might warn you that your AntiVirus protection is not up to date. This is normal.

Eventually you will see this and you know you are all set as your updates are complete.