James, I also used to use that free version of AVG sometime back and got sick & tired of the continuous/intrusive upgrade popups......I then went to MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) which I was happy with the unobtrusive and good work it did in the background.
 
Now I use Webroot's SecureAnywhere Antivirus program which uses a tiny amount of disk space, scans very quickly, handles unknown malware well, and also includes a firewall......fairly cheap too (around $30 per year). I've had it for about 2+ years now and can highly recommend it.
 
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2470312,00.asp

I use MSE now called Defender, Malwarebytes Free. There also ClamShellWin portable, dozens of online scanning sites.
AVs miss a lot of malware that is picked up by Malwarebytes.
 
Usually you don't have to worry much if you have good web habits. No porn, freeware sites with a lot of popups. It's pretty hard to get a virus these days.
 

I tend to stick to the same 8 or 10 sites these days unless I'm really searching for something. I had Malwarebytes on my old machine but I found it too got really intrusive. Windows Defender seems pretty low-key and useful.

Mesh
James, I also used to use that free version of AVG sometime back and got sick & tired of the continuous/intrusive upgrade popups......I then went to MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) which I was happy with the unobtrusive and good work it did in the background.
 
Now I use Webroot's SecureAnywhere Antivirus program which uses a tiny amount of disk space, scans very quickly, handles unknown malware well, and also includes a firewall......fairly cheap too (around $30 per year). I've had it for about 2+ years now and can highly recommend it.
 
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2470312,00.asp

Thanks mesh, I'll have a look at that.

I use the built in Windows Defender and Malwarebytes (paid version).  I haven't had any problems in years (knock on wood).
 
Windows Defender is less intrusive and CPU hungry like many of the other Antivirus programs.  It does not affect or interfere with Sonar.

jamesg1213

Jim Roseberry
Do you have a backup image file of the OS (prior to this issue)?
If so, I'd reload from that backup image file...
 
Did you install any type of automated backup software?
That can cause issues.
Mac Drive (more so in the past) could cause odd issues.
 
 

No backup image file, no automated backup software. Machine was a new build with W10 installed as of last November.
 
I'll try ejecting the USB stick. I'll also try uninstalling AVG, which has been giving me an upgrade pop-up (too regularly for my liking), which sometimes 'sticks' and can't be closed.

Just add 0.0.0.0 campaign.avg.com to your HOSTS file and the popups will stop....
 
Regards,
Dan

I had a very similar issue in windows 10 - mine came up after I installed itunes.  The Start Menu would cause a crash and would not open, and unless there was an icon for a program the computer became unable to open it.  After browsing the wondows forums for some time, I found that it was a very common error with no immediate resolution.  As my signature suggests, I went back to a clean install of windows 7.  Sorry you are having trouble.

 Windows Defender and Malwarebytes paid same as firebird and I have no problems .

thedukewestern
I had a very similar issue in windows 10 - mine came up after I installed itunes.  The Start Menu would cause a crash and would not open, and unless there was an icon for a program the computer became unable to open it.  After browsing the wondows forums for some time, I found that it was a very common error with no immediate resolution.  As my signature suggests, I went back to a clean install of windows 7.  Sorry you are having trouble.

The problem disappeared after I uninstalled AVG.