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I'm using AVG free 8.0.138 and it's going for 4 1/2 hours and counting.

It seems like it's getting stuck on c:Windows\\_default.pif file.

My HD is a 500GB with almost 400GB free.

Any ideas?

If you open task manager and there is a process named _default.pif, the computer is infected with a virus, kill the process and delete the file manually.

See link http://screencast.com/t/zzj2iLR7C for _default file.

That shortcut was the only one I found. Could not find \"target\".

Actually come to think of it, given the nature of how antivirus programs update the screen, its probably halting on the next file it opens instead of _default.pif. Try using a different virus scanner (and do a disk check first).

I used \"error checking\" in C: properties and it said it couldn't finish. Is there a DOS command for disk checking?

What virus scanner do you suggest. On-line or something I download?

Unless I'm mistaken ... AVG has forums where you can discuss things like this and get lots of help.

Nope, not mistaken. Go here: http://freeforum.avg.com/ Go there and look around. Maybe even join the forum (joining is free) and you can get even more help. I see there is a section specific to AVG 8.0 Free scanning issues.

TechPro, Thanks for the link. I'm not sure I got much info except to know I got plenty of others in my boat.

thewolfe wrote:I used "error checking" in C: properties and it said it couldn't finish. Is there a DOS command for disk checking?

What virus scanner do you suggest. On-line or something I download?

chkdsk c: /r

Odds are it will reply that it can not lock the drive and would you like to schedule a disk check on the next reboot, hit Y then enter and reboot.

>>
www.free-av.com
antivir freeware is as good as avg, plus installs/uninstalls quite easily and generally has a low impact on the system.

Thanks Krom.

Could also try I think its http://www.winclam.com/

Mine has been taking longer since I moved up to version 8 also.

It's running now, at 700,000+ files scanned in 3 1/2 hrs so far.

I just wrote it up to the spyware being integrated in this version. Before I always ran that separate.

It does finish the scan, and seems to be effective at catching threats, so I just schedule it when I'm not likely to be playing D3.

*edit* I've been browsing the forum TechPro posted and LOTS of people are experiencing ridiculously long scan times, some as long as 24 hrs.

One guy said his has been stuck on one file for 12 hrs. Might be time to move on to another AV.

I finally got logged into AVG forum so I posted my situation and if I don't get any help, I'll move on.

Thanks for the posts.

What about changing the extension on the \"_default.pif\" file that AVG is getting stuck on?

DEFAULT.PIF should not be manually executed from anywhere inside Windows. The _DEFAULT.PIF file is used automatically for MS-DOS applications that do not have a PIF. If changes are made to _DEFAULT.PIF, they are used when MS-DOS applications without PIFs are started under Windows.

====================================================
And I found this:

My automatic scan stops on _default.pif. The time keeps incrementing but it does not appear that any further files are being scanned. ZA has to be forcibly shut down. Any ideas?
Operating System: Windows XP Pro
Software Version: 7.0
Product Name: ZoneAlarm (Free)

thewolfe wrote:Product Name: ZoneAlarm (Free)

Huh? I thought you said it was AVG that was locking up.

It is. I just thought it was a coincidence that the same file was messing up ZoneAlarm also.

I made a \"exception\" to the \"_default.pif\" file in AVG and it ran without hanging up.

That will do for now.

it might have been an errant file lock, did you try rebooting and running a scan?

I've tried for a few days. But it's working now.