Here is the direct link from AVG on exactly how to upgrade your AVG. As Owbist says do not remove your current version. direct from the FAQ page on AVG "To install AVG 8.0 Free Edition over the current AVG 7.5 Free Edition please proceed as follows: * Download the latest AVG 8.0 Free Edition installation file from our website. * When you are prompted, please do not open this file directly from the Internet, but click the "Save" button and choose a location, where the installation file should be stored (we recommend saving the file to the Desktop). * Reboot your computer. * Close all running applications, locate the downloaded AVG 8.0 Free Edition installation file (it has a four color square icon and its name starts with AVG_...) and launch the installation. * Follow the installation wizard to install the new AVG 8.0 Free Edition(previous version of AVG will be automatically removed during the installation process). * If a restart is required after the initial configuration, please reboot your computer to finish the installation" Here is a link that might be useful: AVG directions on how to upgrade to AVG8

That sounds like Virut virus lets hope not though..... Unfortunately, the virus infects every .exe and .scr (actually an executable) file on your system, and when you scan with a virus scanner, it will normally delete it as uncleanable. Eventually you end up loosing more and more files. The only viable alternative is to format the system. You will need to backup your important files before a format and reinstall, but you can not backup any .exe or .scr files, because they are infected. Good luck...

Dennis, thanks for a well laid out list of problems. It does help those who feel they can see some or all of your problems. AVG is by far the most popular free anti virus and I doubt that is your issue. I would not remove that one. Spyware Doctor I know nothing about. If you have the original CD or the download stored on your computer you could remove it entirely using the Add/Remove and see if that helps at all. Superantispyware and or Malwarebytes could be alternatives to trying Spybot Search & Destroy. If you use Spybot S&D be sure it is in fact that program and not a sound alike rogue program. Have you ran any cleaners at all? Not registry cleaners but the Disk cleanup in the Accessories/System Tools folder of XP. Try that and a defrag, it will help modestly. Do you have Google or Yahoo toolbars and are they allowed to run in the background? The Google Toolbar has either 3 or 4 entries in your Startup and using your resources. Click Start click Run type msconfig click OK click the Startup tab Now check each of these items and decide if they do in fact need to run. Google each entry before deciding to stop one because if you stop the wrong ones the computer may not start again. If you stop any you need to reboot. During the reboot you will get a dire warning, do not be alarmed, place a check mark not to see it again and continue the booting.

The attached link will take you to a recent PCmag.com competitive evaluation of AV products. PCmag (formerly PC Magazine) and in particular the author of this study are well known and have long-held reputations for being unbiased. Neil Rubenking's expertise has been recognized for 25 years or more. Flip through the article, you'll see they rate both free and for-sale systems. The Microsoft product gets consistently mediocre ratings in most comparison testing and evals. This author, as many others you'll find, suggests there are better choices. If you'd rather have a comprehensive security suite, here's another recent article Rubenking wrote. Note that the prices shown are probably MSRP, most of these can be purchased for substantially less money than what's shown. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2369749,00.asp Here is a link that might be useful: Anti virus ratings