A Guide to the Installation and use of AVG™ FREE Anti-Virus.

The program is available for free download from the Grisoft® website here.
Grisoft® also have a comprehensive FAQ’s Section here.
Further support for the AVG™ Anti-Virus Free Edition is available from the AVG™ Free Forums.

Installation Guide.

To download the program, simply click on the AVG™ Free Edition Anti-Virus (version 7.5 at the time of writing) Download Icon, that is visible.

For ease of installation, 'save' the download to the "Desktop".

Tip: Before commencing the installation, it is advisable to Read these Instructions FIRST, as the program installation window will occupy the full screen of the computer during the installation.

Once the download has finished, Right click the AVG™ Desktop Icon > Properties > Unblock > Ok.

To start the installation, Double Click the AVG™ Desktop Icon, and be greeted by the panel displayed in Figure 1.


Figure 1:



Click Next> to commence the installation as illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 2:


Please click Accept to agree to the License Agreement and allow the next step of the installation as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3:



Click Accept again to continue (Figure 4.)

Figure 4:


Figure 4 allows 'Options for the Type of Installation'...it is recommended to leave the default Standard Installation (Recommended) box checked and click on Next> to proceed to the next step, as detailed in Figure 5.

Figure 5:


Usually the Confirmation details are automatically completed; however, should this information not be present; fill in the boxes with the appropriate details; then, click Next> to reveal Figure 6.

Figure 6:


Simply click Finish to complete the installation then OK to close it, as seen in Figure 7.

Figure 7:



Setting up the Program.

Open the program by double clicking on the Desktop Icon that was placed on the desktop during installation, as shown in the example in Figure 8.

Figure 8:


Figure 9 opens with a confirmation that the AVG™ Free Edition Anti Virus Program has been successfully installed.

Figure 9:



Click Next >> to commence the set up process and program customisation.

The first phase of the program set up is to update the virus data base of the program; this is a relatively simple procedure; click the "Check for Updates" button as illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 10:



Figure 11 shows the Update source window.
Check the box that says Do not ask for the update source next time; this saves the user from having to request the program to search for the update source.
To start the on-line update, simply click the Internet Button, as shown.

Figure 11:


As soon as the on-line update is complete, a confirmation panel will appear similar to the illustration in Figure 12.

Figure 12:


Click the Update button to update the anti-virus database.
The screen shown in Figure 12 will immediately disappear; two other 'flash' screens will appear momentarily; then, the confirmation panel will appear as illustrated in Figure 13; it has a 30 second countdown before it too disappears; however, by clicking OK will automatically clear this screen.

Figure 13:



The program will now continue on to the next phase of the setup; Creating Rescue Disks.
This step of the set up phase is primarily for computers that have a Floppy Disc Drive; as this option allows the creation of the AVG™ Anti-virus Rescue Disks.
(Aproximately 8 Floppy Discs will be required if this option is used.)

To do this, click the Create Rescue Disk button (shown in Figure 14 and follow the on-screen prompts.
In the event that the computer does not have a Floppy Disc Drive, this section may be omitted.

Figure 14:



Tip: A new 'set' of Rescue Disks will have to be created after each anti-virus database update, or at least every month.

The next phase of the default installation included an E-mail Scanner, which is automatically configured, with a confirmation prompt illustrated in Figure 15.

Figure 15:




The next phase of the setup procedure is the First Run scan of the computer.
It is highly recommended to allow the scan to start, as requested in Figure 16

Figure 16:



Click on the Scan computer! Button to run the first system scan.

Please Note: The actual time required for the initial system scan will vary, depending on how many Hard Disc Drives are installed on the computer, so please be patient and allow the scan to complete.

Once completed, just close the information windows about the scan then click on the Next >> button.

Figure 17 shows the last phase of the set up is the Registration of AVG™ Free Edition.

Figure 17:


This step is optional, as the AVG™ Free Edition Anti Virus Program is FREE; to Register the program, click on the Register AVG Free Button and follow the on-screen prompts.
Registration may be omitted, simply by clicking on Next >>.
Either way, Figure 18 shows confirmation that the program has completed the set up phases and the computer is now protected against viral attacks.

Figure 18:




That completes the set up of AVG™ Free Edition Anti Virus Program.
All that remains now are the Configuration Settings for the program.

Configuration Settings.

The AVG™ Free Edition Anti Virus Program needs to be configured to scan a computer regularly.
Click on Continue (as illustrated in Figure 18 above) to start the program.
Click on the Scheduler button (on the Left of the Main Program Screen) to show Figure 19 with the AVG Test Centre Scheduler.

Figure 19:


Highlight the option Test plan in basic mode; then, click on the Edit Schedule button to reveal Figure 20.


Figure 20:



Selecting a Scan Schedule is entirely a personal choice, as the times are flexible, and may be selected, for any convenient time to suit the user.

Note: All times are shown in the 24H time format.

Once the preferred scan time is selected, tick the box Periodically start scheduled antivirus test and also the box If missed, start immediately when computer start-up.

Repeat these step for the Update in Basic Mode.

Tip: Choose the Update in Basic Mode for a time that is earlier than the Scheduled Scan Time that has been selected, to ensure that the virus database is updated BEFORE the requested scan starts.

(Activating these options will ensure that the computer is regularly scanned, and the virus database is updated daily.)

The AVG™Free Edition Anti Virus Program is now fully configured to automatically scan and update on a daily basis.

Important Information: During the installation of the AVG™ Free Edition Anti Virus Program, by default an additional 'scan option' was integrated in the shell of the Windows® XP Program.
To utilise this very handy feature, follow these steps; whenever any program is downloaded, Right Click on the downloaded program's Icon; then select the Scan with AVG Free option BEFORE opening the file to check for any unwanted virus/malware that might have attached itself to the file.
In the event that any virus or malware files are found, simply DELETE the file WITHOUT opening it, to protect the computer from infection.