I have read many persons posts, but none have been quite the same as mine. With many tips, but no further explanations for the questions I have.
I have a DELL Ispiron with Vista Home Basic 32bit and I use Internet Explorer. I am able to download absolutely nothing from the internet. I have a feeling it has something to do with the incorrect installation of AVG. A week ago, I wanted to try a different sercurity program, while keeping AVG. I downloaded Online Armour from cnet.com and after a couple of days uninstalled because I didnt like it. I figured I would just update AVG 8 to AVG 9, so I went to AVG Free - Download installation files & documentation, I think I should have downloaded the recommended installation, but instead I selected "intallation files" and selected one of those options. Now it list in my program files AVG 8 and AVG 9. In my programs, selected Windows Start>Programs, it list AVG 8.5. Now I read somewhere, a person with practically the same problem, that I could uninstall and then reinstall AVG and the problem could possibly be fixed. Also if problem persisted to try uninstalling AVG while in Safe Mode. I could do neither. Under program files AVG 8, selected Windows Start>Computer>Hard drive(C)>Program Files>AVG>AVG 8>setup, has a setup option. But when selected reads, setup window:Installation failed. Then selected Details reads, setup window:Installer initialization failed due to following error:
Error: @AvgErrorCode_0x0253 %FILE% = "C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8"
@AvgErrorCode_0x0020
Under program files AVG 9, selected Windows Start>Computer>Hard drive(C)>Program Files>AVG>AVG 9, has no setup option, I assume I did not install the correct file, my mistake. Under my programs, selected Windows Start>All Programs>AVG Free 8.5>Unistall AVG Free, it list AVG 8.5 and when I try to uninstall the the same error occurs. I dont know if this is the reasoning for my issue but this is when the problem started. However I would still like to know how to remove AVG as well as the initial "fix." If this possible, should I delete the AVG program files one by one, just by right clicking on them and deleting?
I also tried to run a System Restore thinking it would go back to a previous date before I changed anything, but the earliest date I could choose from was not soon enough. It did nothing except remove some updates and a toolbar that had been installed. Also, I am unable to install updates, I assume its because they use the internet to do so, idk...I hope I was able to make some sense and I thank you for any suggestions, tips, etc..you are able to give me?

P.S. When I try to download something, everything seems successful but then the selected item is nowhere to be found anywhere.

I attempted to turn off audio by selecting Sound, selected Windows Start>Contorl Panel>Sound, I then clicked on the Speakers and Headphones options and then at the bottom of the window chose to change the device usage from use this device(enable) to use this device(disable). I now have no sound at all and I do not know how to turn it back on. Because when I select Sound now, there is no Speakers and Headphone option, only Digital Output Device (SPDIF Out)/Sigmatel High Definition Audio CODEC: Working. Now it seems I have another problem to be fixed. As for the Video, you mentioned to turn off A/V. I do not know how to turn off Video. I assume I did this incorrectly.
I do not know if I did this in the right order or if there was even an order to do it in. But I mentioned prior that I could not uninstall any AVG in Safe Mode, for I do not think it was installed correctly. But I turned off Windows Firewall (that is the only firewall I have,) restarted, went in Safe Mode, attempted to uninstall AVG, same error appears. So I opend windows normally attempted to turn off Audio, I have no audio now...I deleted all AVG 9 files, selected Windows Start>Computer>Hard Drive (C)>Program Files>AVG>AVG 9, by right clicking everything under AVG 9 and moved it to Recycling Bin and then proceeded to empty it. However I am not able to do the same for AVG 8.
I also do not understand, I thought I was unable to install anything, but when I ran System Restore, it removed my Adobe update, so I had to update it again, I was able to download and install Adobe. I have not found any other programs that I am able to download.
So as of now, I have no sound, no installation ability, and my firewall is turned off, any suggestions from this point?? Thank you

P.S. So I just did a Sysytem Restore to my computer back to the way it was before I tried to turn off audio, I have sound now. If you could assist me in how to turn off A/V. And whats the reasoning for doing so. Thank you for your suggestions.

I cannot even use AVG at all, I cannot open it because I assume when I attempted to download AVG 9, it was the wrong file and I assume something with incorrect installation of AVG 9 messed up the AVG 8 I already had. Therefore it wasnt installed correctly so I am unable to uninstall AVG 8. When I click on it in my programs it does nothing and when I click on the uninstall file it reads the error code I mentioned earlier. Its the same as when I try to remove AVG 8 by going to Programs and Features and uninstalling it, its the same action. As far as System Restore, the earliest date is not prior to when this mess started. And I do not know how to manually suggest a date of my convinience. Maybe I should possibly try to get some support from an AVG forum. Thank you.

That is not what I see, it asks to choose recommended restore point or choose from a list of other dates. I choose list of dates, but they are all from today and thats it. I read under windows help and support that I could manually create one, but the explanation that it gives, is not what happens when i follow what it says to do. It says to select System Protection and write in the description and then create, but there is no where to do so under selecting System Protection.