Configuring AVG version 8:
This means setting it work to your preferences. The following settings are my own preference but you can alter them to suit yourself.

I do not like automatic scanning every time I switch on?  This daily activity is unnecessary and slows down the start-up process. I only scan my computer for viruses (manually) every two weeks or when odd things are happening. If you did not cancel the automatic scanning during your installation, you can now stop this activity by double clicking the AVG icon on the Desktop. Then on the top menu click Tools-->Advanced Settings. On the left hand panel, click the plus sign in the box labelled Schedules, then click Scheduled scan. Click the bottom box labelled Enable this task to remove the tick and click Apply. On the left hand panel click Program Update Schedule. Click the bottom box labelled Enable this task to remove the tick and click Apply.

Automatic updating: Most people do not like being interrupted by AVG's automatic update. Especially if they are on Dial-up. I like to update when it is convenient, not when AVG dictates. The new version does not let you change from automatic to manual  update, but there is a work around. On AVG's top menu, click Tools-->Advanced Settings. On the left hand panel, click the plus sign in the box labelled  Schedules, then click Virus database update schedule. Find Run at a specific time and change the time to say 03.00am. Un-tick all the square boxes except under Task settings where Enable this task must be ticked. Click Apply and OK.

Configuring the email scanner: these are my own preferred settings but feel free to use different settings.
On AVG's top menu click click Tools-->Advanced Settings. On the left hand panel, click the icon labelled Email scanner. On the next screen, temporarily place a tick in the box labelled Check outgoing e-mail. Un-tick the box below it labelled Certify e-mail. Now cancel the temporary tick in the box labelled Check outgoing e-mail.
Under the heading Check incoming e-mail un-tick the box labelled Certify mail. Ensure that the top box is ticked  so that incoming emails are checked.

Scanning for viruses: Scan for viruses (off-line) about every two weeks, and also whenever strange things are happening to your computer. To scan: double click the AVG icon on the Desktop, then, on the left, click Computer Scanner. The scan will take from 30 minutes to 90 minutes depending on how many files you have on your hard drive. If you have updated regularly, AVG should say your computer is clean. If you failed to update regularly, AVG will find the viruses that crept in because you did not update. If it finds Trojan because you did not update regularly then you may be in deep trouble. Trojans cause very nasty things to download behind the scenes and they can be extremely difficult to remove.

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IMPORTANT:  you will know when updates are available because the brightly coloured AVG icon in the Notification Area (bottom right of screen) will have changed to a black and grey icon almost covered by a red square containing a white exclamation mark.

AVG updates are available about every three days.

You must connect to the internet before you can update AVG. Go on-line and then double click the AVG icon on the Desktop and then click the Check for updates button (now on the left of the AVG window). When AVG finds the latest update, it will show a window containing the details of the update. Click the Update button.

Occasionally there may be more bits to download, if so, AVG will tell you. In which case, click the Search for Updates button again. Eventually you will be told that the update was successful. Close down AVG, and if you wish, disconnect from the internet. Sometimes you will be asked to restart the computer, this means that an improvement to the AVG program has been downloaded and a restart is necessary in order to install the improvement. Click the Start button click Turn Off Computer and then click Restart and wait for the computer to shut itself down and restart itself.

Viruses which have been repaired, quarantined or deleted are rendered harmless.
Your anti-virus program will also alert you to the presence of a worm or Trojan, in which case the Virus Alert notice may say 'Access to the file was denied' or unable to delete or quarantine. This may need expert attention because anti-virus programs are sometimes unable to destroy certain worms or trojans. Make a careful note of the name and other details of any virus/worm/trojan. Your computer technician will then be able to find it and destroy it