Old machine and old operator need help.

[Paper Roses]

A month ago, a friend installed AVG for me. It was the paid version which I had planned to convert to free at the end of the 30 days.
Yesterday, I tried to uninstall AVG and install the free version. It would not work.
I decided to uninstall AVG by way of Revo. It is gone from that list now. Went to check in 'Ad or Remove' programs. Avg is still listed but with no #'s such as size. I clicked on it, there is no information shown.

I tried to do a system restore on several different dates and it will no longer restore. AVG still shows in my list of programs and there is an Icon on my desktop that reads:
AVG_
avct_
stb_
All_
2012_
1796-
cm10
exe

Thinking AVG was gone, I tried to install it again. Now I have 2 listed in Add & remove" with the same -no information.

The small icon in the tray has a yellow triangle with a nice big ! within it.

I am also getting error messages. Don't know where to turn or what other info you might need to help.
Running Windows XP, SP3 with plenty of Ram available.

Any ideas what I did and how to bail out? As you can see, I'm No good at this. Any help is appreciated.
PR

[HopeHoops]

1. Minor detail, but did you check the system requirements on AVG before downloading it?

The 32/64 bit thing is important, but it might be that you downloaded a Vista/Win7 only version.

Just a thought.

[Paper Roses]

2. I didn't think to check that out. This machine is 32 bit, I think.

I did not notice an option on the AVG site for XP, W7 or vista.
Formerly, I downloaded this program from MajorGeeks, this time MG took me right to AVG. I believe I must have done something wrong there. Why won't System Restore work, any idea?

[HopeHoops]

3. System Restore is an entirely different monster.

The 32/64 bit thing is a major problem if you download the 64 bit system to a 32 bit system, but usually not the other way around (sometimes, just usually not). XP is supposed to make an image before installing things but it doesn't always do it. If you have a D: partition, that's probably a factory image. You should be able to restore from that (F8 on boot to get to the menu). Before you do, boot into Safe Mode and copy EVERYTHING you care about onto an external drive (or thumb drives).

You can check if it is 32/64 bit by using the System folder in the Control Panel. It's almost certainly a 32 bit.

[canetoad]

4. These days, more and more security type programs

Last edited Thu Jan 12, 2012, 04:34 PM - Edit history (1)

Cannot be deleted in the same way you would delete another ordinary program.

They often install system services - components that start up when you boot your computer; often these can't be disabled and prevent you from completely deleting the program.

Go here and download the AVG removal tool http://www.avg.com/ww-en/utilities
From your comments above, you should probably chose the very FIRST item on the download list.

edit to specify download item