Grisoft AVG question.

Does the AVG "Control Center" have to be activated for the program to be running?
Reason, I had the control center unactivated and unchecked from 'msconfig' startup.
However while browsing the alert window poped up with a 30 second countdown stating that a possible infective script access,and/ or java script had access my Temporary Internet Files And did I want to leave them alone. Total of three in fact. I eneterd on "No" and proceeded to run the test to which it found the three and moved them to the vault. I then deleted them from vault and did a clean of my TIF, Ran test again and came up clean.
This is my first experience with a possible virus. yes, been very lucky.
But to the control center question. If it was not activated does this mean the AVG is still running in the background even though no system check shows it running?
And if so, when downloading upgrades that require antivirus to be turned off how would I do that. Thought the "Control Center" did that. Thanks for any help. A little confusing since this is the first hit I have received.
Thanks.
carson...

If the control center is not running it can't set up Resident Shield which guards against virus's. Click on Resident Shield and you should get a little blurb about it. Check the help file and it will tell you it should be activated.

I Thought the Control Center had to be activated but then how did it catch the possible infected TIF pages as they were loading?
Dont understand that. It looked like a bios setup page in red with a countdown timer of 30 seconds.
Thanks Jubal
carson...

edit>ps...With Control Center not activated, not running in startup and stating "not fully funtional", clicking on "Resident Shield" states 'This feature is currently in operation automatically protecting your computer against virus infection. No action is required on your part.'
This would seem to indicate it is working in the background. But if anyone has an explanation I would be most grateful to hear it.
How would you completly disable it when needed?
Thanks again.

^^^Anyone?

Hi Carson If you reboot you will note that AVG starts scanning while your computer is still in DOS. The control centre per se is not necessary unless you want to :Update your virus definitions (it can't do so automatically if CC is not active). It is needed if you want to run a manual scan. (AVG can then be used to scan individual drives such as A, C, D...)

carson, if AVG is running normally, you will see 'avgcc32' and 'avgserv9' in the end-task window (ctrl-alt-del). the first is the control center, the second is the web detect feature. Do you have the latter?

Thanks guys for the help.
What I dont quite understand is that "nothing" related is running. C|A|D or in msconfig. Only ticks are "Scanreg & Systray".
So how did AVG catch the possible virus and alert me while the page was loading to my TIF?
Do I have to open control center and uncheck everything to completly stop AVG?
Reason is a few driver, etc. updates require your AntiVirus to be disabled. I thought it was, by not being in startup and not showing in C|A|D. But then it did pop-up when virus detected. How?
This is way confusing.
Thanks again...carson...

I do not have the Control Center activated unless I'm updating my virus definitions. In my MSCONFIG I do not have the Avg_CC checked to run at startup. I do have Avgserv9.exe checked which does run in the background and check my mail, etc... and is listed in my ctrl-alt-del. Hope this helps you.

p.s.

I do not have anything in the task bar to indicate that AVG is running unless I activate the Control Center to update the virus definititions. After I do that I shut down the control center but the AVGserv9.exe is still running and is still checking my e-mail etc... and I no longer have any AVG icon in the task bar.

As long as your AVG icon is on the taskbar it's running. It runs in the background remember? The control panel is precisely that. It allows you to do manual controlling as opposed to an auto-pilot.
If you do a manual update of your AV you can exit Control Panel after the download and AVG is still there. There would be no point to turning off anti-virus software would there?
Your options in control panel are: Resident Shield. Update Manager. E-mail Scan and of course About AVG. The control panel is only for manual configuration.
If you disable or shut it down you still have AV protection, but you will not have access to the configuration utility.

Carson said:

Reason is a few driver, etc. updates require your AntiVirus to be disabled.

Are you sure that you are not thinking of the virus detection that is activated in your Bios? This feature prevents anything being written to your Master Boot Record (I think) and, yes that can be a problem when installing some items.

My AVG has never interferred with anything I've tried to do, and it is always on (Avgcc32 and Avgserv9)

Just a thought here. I don't know if you use Outlook, OE or Eudora, but if you do and you have the AVG plugin activated and your email software is running, maybe this could cause this behaviour. ?
I know that AVG is only activated when I receive or send email on my computer. Or when I right click on a downloaded file and click Scan with AVG.

Edit: What I'm saying is the email plugin is independent from the Control Center so if you have OE running and you receive an email it will activate the program....

Hi Carson I think the point you've been trying to make is that when you install a new driver or software you should disable your antivirus protection. This is true in most cases but an anti virus program usually will not effect the installation of drivers.
The point being, any anti virus software presumes that any new file from an outside source may be considered a virus. A drv file is not an executable file such as .exe, .bat or.com so it would not be considered a threat. For a virus to be affective it has to be executed.
When you reboot everything will return to normal, including AVG's control panel. With Norton's it was simply a matter of right clicking and choosing 'disable'. Under residence shield just click the disable function box. Then do your thing. Reboot check the box again to see that it is unchecked, and you are back to normal.

Just want to say a big Thank You to all that took the time to help out with the info. Think I have a much better undetstanding of AVG now.
Will tick the Avgserv9.exe in msconfig and leave Avg_CC unticked and give it a shot. And when say the GeForce driver update states to disable virus protection, go into resident shield and disable there.
Really appreciate your time guys.
carson...