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Guys, I'm in a fix. Since my flirtation with AVG, I can no longer open any of my Winword, XL, or Powerpoint files. I have done two system restores to before the AVG date and no joy. Furthermore, I can't even log on to the Microsoft Update page. It fails because of some Active X control thing (not security related, I tried that and it wasn't it)

I even installed a new version of Home Office that I'd bought for my wife's system and that didn't fix it.

Only other things I did was to have deleted Symantec and also, when installing AVG, it said my version of Roxbio was old and had a known bug and had to be updated, so it went online to get the latest version. Also, files in Symantec quarantine were deleted.

I can now not open any MS office files except, thankfully, image files. But this is bad, because I do some work at home and NEED those files. What could be wrong and what can I do?!

Sounds like a buggered OS Ascout. If it were mine, I would scan the OS with Spybot Search and Destroy followed by Ad-Aware SE to get rid of any possible bots or Trojans.

Before you move on, try loading www.openoffice.org and see if that will open your files, then try the following steps. You can save them at this point.

After the above steps are done, I would use several programs to clean up the registry such as Registry Mechanic and Reg Vac. Next try a diagnostic program to determine if the Hard Drive is faulty, then try defragging the hard drive and that didn't show you what's wrong or solve it, I would burn or transfer all the important files, format the Hard Drive and reinstall the OS.

That stinks I know, but the alternative if the reinstall doesn't fix it is more serious.

I scanned with AdAware and got rid of tracking thingys...still no joy...

Downloaded OpenOffice and that opened Powerpoints and Word Docs. But Windows Office stuff still doesn't. What's up with that? If I copy those files to disc and send to someone, will they be safe and can they open with Windows Office?

Most Office files I have duplicated on my system at work, so it's not hypercritical if I lose stuff here in a format.

What IS critical is my image library. I may take steps to burn everything to disc (again, I have most stuff burned anyway, but new stuff gets added all the time). Am I correct in thinking my image folders are probably "safe" when transferred to another computer? I think whatever happened JUST happened with this AVG experiment and the problem lies in my registry or OS somewhere, not a HD failure all of a sudden or some image file I just downloaded. Most are my own images or from sources I can be reasonably sure about (boring old military stuff, not those other kinds of images....)

Hey Boss. I have been a user of AVG for the last 3 years and never had a problem. You may want to post your problems on this site: www.newbies.ws

They are a great bunch of people and have a lot of experience with AVG, Spybot, Adaware and the like. Tell them I sent you!

Success!

Would you believe, after two hours with MS on the line, unsuccessfully trying to resolve the issue (my recent purchase of MS Office got me some free time.... ) the simple expedient after the call of uninstalling Norton Anti-virus again solved everything? It all works now!

So, now, I have to get an AV program...again. And I'm gonna' be VERY picky and careful about this....(and have to be...I'm really low on space now!)

Hi Ascout, sorry if i missed summat you posted earlier about yer problems with AVG but if you were running Norton alongside AVG there i would say lies your trouble i would bet that the two were bangin heads with eachother. If you have rid of that damn awful thing Norton i'd try AVG again and i suspect you won't have any more issues.


Jel

Hiya Jel,
He should be able to run 2 AV's together.
Think the problem you're describing occurs when you run 2 software firewalls together;
They will nearly always recognise each other as a potential threat.
This doesn't apply to hardware firewalls, or running a software firewall with a hardware firewall.

Roger on that yep didny think, guess i just saw Norton mentioned and from previous experience of how it wants to take over your computer i put 2+2 together and came out with 22

Jel, kinda like two red sqwirrels in the same oak tree...