In the past I had no problem recommending AVG Free 8.5, however I cannot recommend the version 9.0 because of apparant problems.
A couple of days ago I downloaded AVG Free 9.0, uninstalled v8.5, installed v9.0 and went thru the settings; most were left as default. This AM while on the internet, the AVG scan started, that is when the problems started. I attempted to go from Yahoo home page to Yahoo mail. I was unable to redirect and IE8 showed (Not Responding) but yet system tray internet connection showed as still being connected. I of course did the diagnose internet connection, it would not return a result so I ended both it and IE. I then attempted to open the user interface from the system tray, unable to do so. Attempted to stop process but it was not evan showing up in Applications. About the only thing I could do was restart the computer and do the uninstall upon load up.
Did not reinstall v8.5 because daughters computer while this was going on, was asking for a restart from AVG automatically downloading and installing v9.0.
It would appear for whatever reason while performing the scan, it takes control of the computer instead of in the past allowing you to set priority, unless there is a setting that needs to be changed.

Confirming that AVG Anti Virus Pro, Version 9, [ paid version] works extremely well on 2 x laptops running Vista Ultimate 64 - bit. Have also used it for years on XP Pro with never a glitch.
No complaints whatsoever here. I find it light, fast & user friendly always.

@JMH

As stated previously, I too had been using it with no problems, but only recently did 9.0 become available and it is with that version that problems then devolped.

The 9.0 version that is/(correction) was auto installed on the daughters computer had to also be removed. While the wife was attempting to attach a pic to an email to send, AVG caused IE8 to (Not Responding). It had to be closed and at that point I uninstalled AVG. All is back to normal.

Maybe the paid version is devolped further than the free. I am not going to buy it to find out.

Still using the other apps; spywareblaster, Spybot and malewarebytes; while I look for another free one to take it's place.

Originally Posted by cwl7454

@JMH

As stated previously, I too had been using it with no problems, but only recently did 9.0 become available and it is with that version that problems then devolped.

The 9.0 version that is/(correction) was auto installed on the daughters computer had to also be removed. While the wife was attempting to attach a pic to an email to send, AVG caused IE8 to (Not Responding). It had to be closed and at that point I uninstalled AVG. All is back to normal.

Maybe the paid version is devolped further than the free. I am not going to buy it to find out.

Still using the other apps; spywareblaster, Spybot and malewarebytes; while I look for another free one to take it's place.

It would behoove you to give MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) a try. It is free. I used AVG for years until MSE came out. I was totally surprised at the tiny, unobtrusive footprint made by MSE. It is top notch IMHO.

I have looked at the reviews for MSE from such likes as PCWorld and others. As any app some love it, some say so, so. Some say great for this but not so great for that. Am going to go thru the availible ones, one by one and give them a try. For now have installed Panda Cloud Antivirus to see how it fares.

That's the thing, up untill now, avg wasn't bad. But then like everthing they get into to big of a hurry to release without giving it a good beta. Same thing happened with Acronis, upgraded from 2009 to 2010 but had nothing but major problems from the get go. When you talked with technical they wanted you to jump thru hoops, forwards and backwards, to get it to work. Wasn't willing to do that so just uninstalled and went back to tried and true 2009.
Part of their biggest problem I think, is they have decided to enter into the security part of it like Norton. Updates and upgrades used to be simple with them, not so anymorre.