AVG PC Tune Up Warning!

[rwharold]

This posting is intended to provide a warning to MBAM/MBAE users about the disastrous experience that I had after downloading and using these 2 programs: AVG Anti Virus and AVG PC Tune Up. While I am NOT a computer expert, I "think" that just using the AVG Anti Virus program, by itself, is "probably" OK. But, using the AVG PC Tune Up program caused such disastrous problems with my computer, that I had to resort to restoring an Image Backup that I had created on my external portable Seagate disc drive to put my computer back to its NORMAL operating condition before the installation of these 2 AVG programs. I currently use Norton Security, MBAM, MBAE, and Hit Man Pro. It is not my intention to offend any loyal AVG Anti Virus users. It is "probably" OK to use, I just recommend NOT to use the AVG PC Tune Up program!!! Perhaps my experience was a "fluke". But, I go by the old saying: "Once bitten, twice shy"! After this extremely bad experience, personally I will not use ANY of AVG's products. 

[daledoc1]

Hello:

 

Thank you for the warning.

 

Your experience is consistent with recommendations by many computer experts to AVOID using such cleanup/optimizer/tweaker programs.

 

They can cause more harm than good:

 

Do I need a Windows Registry Cleaner?

Why Using a Registry Cleaner Won't Speed Up Your PC or Fix Crashes

Are registry cleaners necessary?

Microsoft does not support use of Registry Cleaners in Windows

 

 

Thanks again,

 

P.S. As your post doesn't relate directly to problems with either MBAM or MBAE, the forum staff may move it to the "PC Help" or another suitable forum section.  No worries, though.

[Aura]

"PC Booster/Tune Up" programs are part of the worst programs you can install on a system. When it comes to messing up your system (Windows), these are as worst as malware. They are completely worthless and useless to use. The worst is that they'll often take action on your system without you knowing, nor authorizing it, which could lead to your system being altered in a way you don't want it to be or even worst, a "broke" system. Every feature they provide, you can either do it natively under Windows, do it via another standalone executable (which is way easier and safer to use) or they aren't providing something you need. Here's a few examples:

• Cleaning temporary files: TFC (standalone executable), CCleaner (installed), Cleanmgr.exe (in-built);
• Managing start-up entries: Autoruns (standalone executable), CCleaner (installed), Task Manager and Registry (in-built);
• Driver Updater: Not needed, all you need is to go on your manufacturer website so you'll be sure to get the right, official, working drivers for your computer or hardware;
• Registry Cleaner/Defragger: Completely useless and also dangerous;
• Disk Defragging: Disk Defrag (in-built), O&O Disk Defrag (installed), Defraggler (installed);
• Powerful uninstaller: Not needed, only needed when you have to make sure a program is completely uninstalled. Revo Uninstaller have a portable version you can use;
• "Enhanced" Task Manager: Procexp (standalone executable), Process Hacker (portable or installed);
• "Active security": Any Antivirus and Antimalware can beat that, easily. These programs aren't made to replace Antivirus or Antimalware products and shouldn't be seen as such;
• Repair Hard Drive issues: Simple chkdsk /r command under Windows (in-built);

Having such program installing on your system will just bloat it down and you have more chances to have issues by using them than without. These products are advertised as a program that can solve all your issues, remove every malware, speed up your computer performance over 100%, etc. The truth is that there's not a single program that can do that. First of all, these programs aren't made to remove virus and malware, leave this in the hands of Antivirus and Antimalware, period. Secondly, there's so many kind of issues under Windows that there's not a single program that can address them all. If you think that BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) issues can be solved by opening a program and clicking on a "Fix" button, then I'm sorry to tell you but, you're wrong. Also, you cannot boost the performance of a hardware over it's hardware capabilities. Of course you can overclock some components, like your CPU, RAM and GPU, but these aren't done via these programs, but via your BIOS interface. I could recommend you a program for every feature these programs advertise, and also tell you exactly in detail why most of them are completely useless, such as Registry cleaner (dangerous to use), and driver updater (dangerous to use, and also completely useless, it'll not improve your system performance). In the end, buying such programs is the exact same as being scammed (because this is what it is, a pure scam) and using one of these programs will result you in having a system less performant than prior to using it.

Relevant articles if you want to read more about PC Boosters/Optimizers and why they are useless:

• How to Optimize and Tune-Up Your PC Without Paying an Eletronics Store - HowToGeek
• 10 Types of System Tools and Optimization Programs You Don't Need on Windows - HowToGeek
• PC Cleaning Apps are a Scam: Here's Why (and How to Speed Up Your PC) - HowToGeek

[Techminator]

On 31/08/2015 at 8:43 PM, Aura said:

"PC Booster/Tune Up" programs are part of the worst programs you can install on a system. When it comes to messing up your system (Windows), these are as worst as malware. They are completely worthless and useless to use. The worst is that they'll often take action on your system without you knowing, nor authorizing it, which could lead to your system being altered in a way you don't want it to be or even worst, a "broke" system. Every feature they provide, you can either do it natively under Windows, do it via another standalone executable (which is way easier and safer to use) or they aren't providing something you need. Here's a few examples:

• Cleaning temporary files: TFC (standalone executable), CCleaner (installed), Cleanmgr.exe (in-built);
• Managing start-up entries: Autoruns (standalone executable), CCleaner (installed), Task Manager and Registry (in-built);
• Driver Updater: Not needed, all you need is to go on your manufacturer website so you'll be sure to get the right, official, working drivers for your computer or hardware;
• Registry Cleaner/Defragger: Completely useless and also dangerous;
• Disk Defragging: Disk Defrag (in-built), O&O Disk Defrag (installed), Defraggler (installed);
• Powerful uninstaller: Not needed, only needed when you have to make sure a program is completely uninstalled. Revo Uninstaller have a portable version you can use;
• "Enhanced" Task Manager: Procexp (standalone executable), Process Hacker (portable or installed);
• "Active security": Any Antivirus and Antimalware can beat that, easily. These programs aren't made to replace Antivirus or Antimalware products and shouldn't be seen as such;
• Repair Hard Drive issues: Simple chkdsk /r command under Windows (in-built);

Having such program installing on your system will just bloat it down and you have more chances to have issues by using them than without. These products are advertised as a program that can solve all your issues, remove every malware, speed up your computer performance over 100%, etc. The truth is that there's not a single program that can do that. First of all, these programs aren't made to remove virus and malware, leave this in the hands of Antivirus and Antimalware, period. Secondly, there's so many kind of issues under Windows that there's not a single program that can address them all. If you think that BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) issues can be solved by opening a program and clicking on a "Fix" button, then I'm sorry to tell you but, you're wrong. Also, you cannot boost the performance of a hardware over it's hardware capabilities. Of course you can overclock some components, like your CPU, RAM and GPU, but these aren't done via these programs, but via your BIOS interface. I could recommend you a program for every feature these programs advertise, and also tell you exactly in detail why most of them are completely useless, such as Registry cleaner (dangerous to use), and driver updater (dangerous to use, and also completely useless, it'll not improve your system performance). In the end, buying such programs is the exact same as being scammed (because this is what it is, a pure scam) and using one of these programs will result you in having a system less performant than prior to using it.

Relevant articles if you want to read more about PC Boosters/Optimizers and why they are useless:

• How to Optimize and Tune-Up Your PC Without Paying an Eletronics Store - HowToGeek
• 10 Types of System Tools and Optimization Programs You Don't Need on Windows - HowToGeek
• PC Cleaning Apps are a Scam: Here's Why (and How to Speed Up Your PC) - HowToGeek

What about "Program Deactivator" from AVG PC Tuneup? I'm just interested in that utility and other utitilies are not necessary as you suggest. Do you know of any alternative programs for Program Deactivator?

[Aura]

What's the use of that feature?