A few months back I had the AVG trial version on my computer. Later I installed the AVG free version, so I went to the control panel and uninstalled whatever version of AVG was listed in “add/remove programs.” I don’t remember which version actually got removed, but in the process it took out components of the other such that I can neither run it or uninstall it. Every time I try the latter I get an “uninstallation failed!” notice due to the absence of a language file, but I can’t get the language file back without being able to run AVG.
How can I go about clearing any trace of AVG from my computer so I can do a clean install of the free version? I’ve thought about deleting the files manually, but I’m not comfortable doing that without being more familiar with how to clean it out of the registry too. Also, some DLL files won’t let me delete them.
Have you tried simply installing the free version, without trying to uninstall it first? I don’t know specifically about AVG, but most software installs will handle this without a second thought.
Assuming Windows XP, I would suggest using system restore to go back to a point before you did the uninstallation, then try uninstalling it again. If that doesn’t work, you can always unrestore from your restoration.
Antivirus programs are almost impossible to uninstall. This is by design, and related to how intimately they intertwine themselve with the OS kernel.
My standing advice remains that if you want to uninstall an AV program and replace it with something else, is that you need to do a full “nuke and pave,” otherwise known as wipe the drive and start over with a clean installation of Windows.
Doesn’t matter if it’s going from Norton to AVG, or in this case, what amounts to a downgrade from a trial version to a free version of the same application. It will only end in tears and system instability to attempt removal. Assuming you’ve already got your data backed up, a nuke and pave often turns out to be faster than running this or that removal tool, and editing that registry keys to purge the remaining bits, and crossing your fingers.