Avast WEBforum
Other => General Topics => Topic started by: YellowFox on December 23, 2013, 11:34:57 PM
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After updating the program I see in the patchnotes that there is something called Grimefighter. What is it talking about and will it be forcefully installed to my PC?
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does not anyone read the news http://blog.avast.com/?s=grimefighter
or FAQ section http://www.avast.com/en-eu/faq.php?q=grimefighter#searchForm
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does not anyone read the news
Well, I'm one of those who did. So I can tell, that (if anybody used the 'customer install') everybody is able to choose what he wants to install (tools of avast).
BTW: 2014.9.0.2011 runs perfectly.
HDW38
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How does one know in advance what it is proposed to do? How does one know after the event what has been done - is there a proper log?
I can see no indication that either is possible, and without that crucial information it is simply not feasible to determine whether "undesirable" changes have occurred in a short time - the registry is being affected, and other serious changes are possible.
Commonsense says that every proposed change is notified in detail in advance, with the option to accept it or not, and to set "ignore" flags as appropriate.
BWD
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Grimefighter info found here http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=142936.msg1036519#msg1036519
I did a Google search for "grimefighter" and found several hits.
here is one hit http://www.avast.com/grimefighter-intro
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I also did the search, and found nothing to answer my queries, hence the posting.
In the one link you give it says "does a good job at hiding all the complexities" - which is precisely my point. How do I see the essential information before and after the event? I will not use any automated system that does not provide full info and options.
Thanks,
BWD
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I also did the search, and found nothing to answer my queries, hence the posting.
In the one link you give it says "does a good job at hiding all the complexities" - which is precisely my point. How do I see the essential information before and after the event? I will not use any automated system that does not provide full info and options.
Thanks,
BWD
This isn't designed for the Geek but for the novice who needs help and a simple tool to tune up his computer.
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It would be far more sensible even in that case - which is not explained - to educate and train, not simply assume that the confusion that results from unexpected, not understood, and thus insoluble problems, faults and uncontrolled behaviour are to be tolerated as the price of acting as nanny. Not sensible.
But, you confirm that I need to uninstall this item, and to recommend that it never be used as it is quite unserviceable.
BWD
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I agree with this BWD guy. It sounds kind of ridiculous that they would keep us in the dark about what it's actually doing when you use it. Maybe that's fine for people who are computer illiterate, but I wouldn't want avatar!/GrimeFighter to be deleting things without me knowing about it. I mean, that's the kinda claim a fake anti-virus would make - that they will "clean up and speed up your PC no problem", then who knows what changes they'll actually make. It seems like it's setting computer illiterate people up to be more vulnerable to fraud.
I like avast! and recommend it to everyone, but I don't like being told to update my (non-avast!) software when I am content with it as it is, or having things going on behind my back.
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I like avast! and recommend it to everyone, but I don't like being told to update my (non-avast!) software when I am content with it as it is, or having things going on behind my back.
I didn't install either 'Software Updater' or Grimefighter,
I simply unchecked those options I don't want......... NO Problem. ;)
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You miss the point, evangelist. Danno has it right: "the kinda claim a fake anti-virus would make - that they will "clean up and speed up your PC no problem"".
Of course we can uninstall and not use. But even the novice should be told what is being done. This is not behaviour designed to inspire confidence and it reduces my likelihood of recommending Avast! because the attitude reflects policy (I see signs of this elsewhere). It is simply unacceptable to make a Registry change without logging the detail, never mind anything else. This is arrogance, belittles users, and shows no respect. The designers may think they are being helpful, but the converse is true. Or is it just lazy programming? Either way, transparency, honesty, complete detail, selectable, individually reversible changes plus reasons for the proposed change are the minimum I would expect for such a system. Seriously, they would gain greatly if they adopted this approach.
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You miss the point, evangelist. Danno has it right: "the kinda claim a fake anti-virus would make - that they will "clean up and speed up your PC no problem"".
Of course we can uninstall and not use. But even the novice should be told what is being done. This is not behaviour designed to inspire confidence and it reduces my likelihood of recommending Avast! because the attitude reflects policy (I see signs of this elsewhere). It is simply unacceptable to make a Registry change without logging the detail, never mind anything else. This is arrogance, belittles users, and shows no respect. The designers may think they are being helpful, but the converse is true. Or is it just lazy programming? Either way, transparency, honesty, complete detail, selectable, individually reversible changes plus reasons for the proposed change are the minimum I would expect for such a system. Seriously, they would gain greatly if they adopted this approach.
Actually, you need to buy before you can use. It is not a free product.
You also need to get in the habit of using the custom install and stop using default install.
That practice holds true no matter who's or what program you install.
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Why do you persist? You still miss the point. But who would pay for this? (But why would I get a free go, then?) Default or not (and grant me some intelligence and discriminatory power), as I pointed out, if one tries it, on the basis described, uninstallation is the only sensible option. The company do themselves no favours.
That's the problem with evangelism, no argument or evidence is tolerable.
BWD
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So you have to purchase Grime Fighter? I'm not clear about whether it comes with certain versions of Avast!
My main concern with it would be whether I could approve each thing it did. I don't want something with just an idiot button, then it goes and does its thing, and I find out later that it deleted something I wanted to keep, just because I hadn't used it in a year.
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Incidentally, I did not pay for Grime Fighter (and have no intention of ever doing that), I did not get the option to install or not - it just appeared on an update. I cannot find any way to disable it let alone uninstall it. I checked "licensing information" to find that there are no licences associated with my account! This is, at best, puzzling.
So, it was unasked for; on startup I am getting (what are meant to be) worrying messages about "Grime" and "bloatware" (even though none are reported! - work that out) as well as other claims about speed, but with no further information or options - no settings of any kind. So, dear Mr Uber-evangelist, how does this square with your statements
"Actually, you need to buy before you can use. It is not a free product. You also need to get in the habit of using the custom install and stop using default install." ?
You also make there an unwarranted assumption: my lifetime habit is of *not* using 'default install' - whenever I get the option.
This is, to coin a phrase, scaremongering foistware of the worst kind, as Danno said. We are in no position to judge whether it is worth giving it the time of day let alone whether it is effective as claimed.
BWD
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I hope you now got all of that off your chest and your now feeling better. :)
I personally never see grimefighter. Apparently my system isn't compatible with some part of that program.
I also wouldn't use it since it's designed to help the person who knows very little about a computer and
wants a program that will do all the work without any input from the user.
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<sigh> Bizarre! </sigh>
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Unfortunately not bizarre hrdubwd, just very predictable!
I came looking for something on this topic, and it warranted registering. I have sworn by Avast as a 'protecting' system for a few years now after difficulties with other popular systems.
I should also say that out of 10, my computer experience (like the majority of global users) is around the 6 mark. I might be in my Autumn (Fall) years, but idiocy doesn't come with it. I am capable therefore of recognizing the increasing need for those who set these systems up, to 'value add' (note the novice terminology), various bits and pieces to show how adept they are. I suspect they care little how increasingly frustrated their loyal users become as a result.
I loved Avast. It looked after me well. Now it continually harasses me with advice that critical updates are necessary and there is the dreaded grime on my system. I knew that this had to be a non free 'service', but what I didn't know was how in the hell I now have to put up with this incessant technoharassment.
I was too busy trying to ensure that if I wanted Chrome I would decide for myself thanks, and must have left something somewhere else ticked on this cr..stuff.
What compounds the frustration is that those with perhaps greater techknowledge then come in and patronize. I and others need that like a skin rash.
Perhaps some advice on how to rid myself of the 'Updater' and the hell fire and brimstone warning of the 'Grimefighter' would be handy?
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How to Uninstall GrimeFighter from Avast?
http://techdows.com/2013/12/uninstall-avast-grimefighter.html
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I could not agree more to everything, esp. the patronizing.
Now I find that the Settings | Tools page is blank ... so I can do nothing now except uninstall. Tedious. I had long ago removed the update service (Secunia PSI is much better).
But if Grimefighter is a paid-service, why did it install and I have not been asked to pay?
In addition, I have had a long-running and entirely unsatisfactory discussion about scanning actions - I can see no evidence in the logs that it does what it claims - NOT one record ever of a skipped item, despite ticking that box in each case. Not exactly efficient or - dare I say? - truthful.
How to alienate people and lose business?
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Abruptum: Thanks! In hand ...
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All features including Software updater and Grimefighter can be unchecked during install via the custom install option or they can be removed at a later time via Programs and Features/Uninstall Programs and double click avast - then choose Change and untick any feature not wanted.
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Abruptum: thanks I'll tackle this promptly.
Craigb: thanks. Unfortunately the minefield installation process nowadays means that the uninitiated triumphantly detect and untick one box, and move merrily on!
It would be nice if one is given choice to add, but instead the 'choice' is to ensure that one carefully checks (unchecks!) that these 'helpful' little extra's have not slid under the radar.
hrdubwd: don't tell me your troubles,-I have troubles of my own! ;)
(....and if I can capture one part of the captcha without a microscope it will be a b miracle!)
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and if I can capture one part of the captcha without a microscope it will be a b miracle!)
Captcha is only for the first three posts - it's used to help slow down the spammers.
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according to my anti crime fighting law enforcement friend, this is a clever marketing tool used to fight grime! Just say no, to grime and slime and all the stuff that you didn't know could go wrong, that has been clogging up and slowing everything down on your computer, that you are now aware of, now that there is a tool that can fix things you didn't know that you needed, to make your PC faster instead of slower because of the anti-everything running on Windows that created a need for this tool to fight the grime that these other tools by avast are cause to begin with.
Hope that clears things up :)
Avast is awesome but i am not sure which keeps me up at night most - the constant OS threats or the cure for them. I barely have time to actually do anything else with my computer, except try and protect it. its literally a full time job!
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I did a search for "what is grimefighter" and the first result on Google was this:
grimefighter
Web definitions
Grimefighters is a British television series on ITV which follows the life of people with particularly dirty jobs: including working in a sewer, being a binman and hygiene inspectors. The series predominantly focuses on cleaners working in the areas of Wolverhampton and Barking and Dagenham. ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimefighters
Sorry about my prior post - I went back to try and edit it, but it took me forever to try and get the captcha right, and finally I abandoned my attempts.
In a nutshell, the marketing page refers to this tool as alleviating the frustration with your PC, but I am more frustrated than ever. But the cute little japanese anime characters that avast has given to the little tool features made me laugh. And trying to post here has made me cry.
Thanks Windows, for making life so much more frustrating!
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Soo can someone give a download link for avast grimefighter license??? :-\
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Soo can someone give a download link for avast grimefighter license??? :-\
Grimefighter information is here http://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB120#idt_01
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I too did not have the option to custom install; GrimeFighter came in a push update to Avast.
As to having to pay for it: If you click as if you are going to do a scan (Avast UI > Tools > Grimefighter > Optimize My PC (yes, it's scary because you don't know if there's another confirmation layer or if the darn thing just starts)) it takes you to the UI's Store tab to buy a subscription before it will optimize. After you're subscribed clicking "Optimize My PC" may in fact begin actions without further confirmation.
Below is a paste of my 2014-02-08 submission to avast! Customer & Technical Support at "support.avast.com." I will post an update when they reply.
At this point I have already run the unistaller to remove the GrimeFighter component.
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Dear Avast!,
I checked FAQ and Forum and found no answer to my question: How can I see a detailed list of changes GrimeFighter proposes to make to my computer? For example, I would like a list of the registry items GrimeFighter proposes to alter, a list of start up entries it proposes to halt, or a list of SW it deems bloatware. It looks like a great product, but without this info I will not accept proposed changes that are bucketed by general listing like Reg Edit, File Clean up, Bloatware, etc. I am used to CCleaner, where there is a reg backup and a list of proposed changes. GrimeFighter's Start up and Bloatware features are the vectors of differentiation I am most interested in. This forum discusses but does not answer my concern: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143373.0. Undo last scan, as posed in "http://www.avast.com/en-eu/faq.php?article=AVKB117#artTitle," is insufficient and apparently only has a single level of roll back. "http://www.avast.com/en-eu/faq.php?article=AVKB120#idt_03" for "Can I have details on what changes avast! GrimeFighter made?" basically says 'no, you can't have details, but you can have a summary.' "http://www.avast.com/en-eu/faq.php?article=AVKB118#idt_05" goes on to say "The Karma allotment for each category are a numerical representation of how much Grime the minions found and had to remove from your system. For now, this is the extent to which avast! GrimeFighter goes into details about changes made during your scan. " That info is insufficient and after the fact. Again, startup and bloatware mgmt are worth my paying a subscription, but not operating in the blind. If you cannot give me pre-change visibility, please tell me how to turn off or uninstall GrimeFighter so that it stops slowing down my PC with scans I will never take advantage of.
Regards
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For some reason my version if Internet Security 2014 refuses to show Grimefighter, I've checked tools and store, nothing, I've checked with installer and it claims it's installed.
I did email support about this, but they appear to have just ignored my email.
Scrape that, guess it's because I've got Nvidia gfx card, or Win 8.1.
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does not anyone read the news http://blog.avast.com/?s=grimefighter
or FAQ section http://www.avast.com/en-eu/faq.php?q=grimefighter#searchForm
I do read the post but I did see what to do bout grime fighter and what to do bout it I used custom install and I don't have any more problems. hope this helps some body
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One of the reasons I switched several years ago to Avast from another popular "free" antivirus product was that my former antivirus product kept pushing JUNQUE on me through what _should_ have been simple program updates. Got so bad I had to switch to using custom installers rather than the program's native update. Then the custom installers started pushing gunk, too. And that was the end.
Now it seems that Avast is following a similar path into the weeds... I CANNOT any longer TRUST it just to install what "appears" to be a simple update/bugfix w/o loading a boatload of JUNQUE that I NEITHER NEED NOR WANT. And w/o TELLING ME IN ADVANCE that it is about to do so.
Don't suggest I go read the forums... who the HEX has time to wade through all of THAT! Besides, I always do read the official release notes BEFORE I allow Avast to update itself. But there was NOTHING there about Grimefighter. First I knew of it was when my spouse asked me tonight what to do with the dialog box it popped up unexpectedly. A radical change like Grimefighter should be DOCUMENTED IN PLAIN LANGUAGE in the release notes, not shoved into some FAQ hidden away on some obscure user forum!
And I agree COMPLETELY with other postings here... the Grimefighter dialog looks JUST LIKE the kind of thing I've repeatedly told my spouse to watch out for, namely malware popups that want to "optimize your PC".
So... From now on, it's custom installers ONLY. And... if it gets much worse, I'm off to find yet _another_ antivirus solution.
So sad... just plain sad.
P.S. Even though Avast is "free", I have chosen to PAY for the Pro version, because I liked versions 6 & 7 quite a bit, and I wanted to support Avast's future development. But look what I got for my money. And if things get much worse, Avast will likely LOSE me as a paying customer. Just sayin.
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Hear! Hear!
Well said on all counts. Do the "developers" ever take any notice of users' views, really? MacAfee went that way for me, and ZoneAlarm, years ago.
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Just installed GrimeFighter.
It seems not working on WIN7 installed on MAC via BootCamp, while restart it shows up "Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported.etc." and stops.
Any solutions?
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One of the reasons I switched several years ago to Avast from another popular "free" antivirus product was that my former antivirus product kept pushing JUNQUE on me through what _should_ have been simple program updates. Got so bad I had to switch to using custom installers rather than the program's native update. Then the custom installers started pushing gunk, too. And that was the end.
Now it seems that Avast is following a similar path into the weeds... I CANNOT any longer TRUST it just to install what "appears" to be a simple update/bugfix w/o loading a boatload of JUNQUE that I NEITHER NEED NOR WANT. And w/o TELLING ME IN ADVANCE that it is about to do so.
Don't suggest I go read the forums... who the HEX has time to wade through all of THAT! Besides, I always do read the official release notes BEFORE I allow Avast to update itself. But there was NOTHING there about Grimefighter. First I knew of it was when my spouse asked me tonight what to do with the dialog box it popped up unexpectedly. A radical change like Grimefighter should be DOCUMENTED IN PLAIN LANGUAGE in the release notes, not shoved into some FAQ hidden away on some obscure user forum!
And I agree COMPLETELY with other postings here... the Grimefighter dialog looks JUST LIKE the kind of thing I've repeatedly told my spouse to watch out for, namely malware popups that want to "optimize your PC".
So... From now on, it's custom installers ONLY. And... if it gets much worse, I'm off to find yet _another_ antivirus solution.
So sad... just plain sad.
P.S. Even though Avast is "free", I have chosen to PAY for the Pro version, because I liked versions 6 & 7 quite a bit, and I wanted to support Avast's future development. But look what I got for my money. And if things get much worse, Avast will likely LOSE me as a paying customer. Just sayin.
Spot on EsterD!!!
The shills on this forum are overbearing, it's sad to see what avast is turning into... :P
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Good housecleaning, that's the way to do it, swept under the carpet...where no one will see. :-X
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So... From now on, it's custom installers ONLY
That's a bit of advice that you should follow regardless of the program you're installing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcli31NiPa8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcli31NiPa8)
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So... From now on, it's custom installers ONLY
That's a bit of advice that you should follow regardless of the program you're installing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcli31NiPa8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcli31NiPa8)
You are wrong buddy, it wasn't an install it was an update & the same thing happened to me, no longer a happy camper. >:(
EsterD wrote: "Now it seems that Avast is following a similar path into the weeds... I CANNOT any longer TRUST it just to install what "appears" to be a simple update/bugfix w/o loading a boatload of JUNQUE that I NEITHER NEED NOR WANT. And w/o TELLING ME IN ADVANCE that it is about to do so."
This grimefighter was installed silently during a program UPDATE... there was no option not to install it. In my book that is a sneaky tactic & with that trust flies out the window.
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I know you aren't a happy camper. (Having something installed that you don't want is never good.)
It doesn't change or invalidate the statement I made. :)
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Hello? ??? It wasn't an install it was an update. Your kind advice doesn't pertain to an update.
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If you update via the application or allow it to update on its own, Grime Fighter gets installed whether you wanted it or not, you don't get a choice, which is a complete crock of crap. Why is Avast! installing stuff unrelated to a simple application update? It's as bad as an application installing Google Chrome, Google Toolbar, Ask.com Toolbar or any other extraneous garbage that we didn't bargain for, without our knowledge or consent. If we download and install, we're presented with a choice to opt out of the extra garbage, but with an update via the application (whether manual or automatic) that choice has been taken away from us. What a crock!
In this case, our only choice is to go to Add/Remove Programs (Programs and Features in Vista/7), opt to Change the installation, uncheck Grime Fighter, click Continue, and get rid of it.
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I'm certainly not questioning anyone elses experience, however I run Avast Premier (latest version) on my xpSP3 and to date have not seen GrimeFighter popup or Installed unexpectedly or Unsolicited.
I can tell you for certain, it would only happen once.
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@ kd5,
There are quite a few people that happen to like Chrome and the Goggle Toolbar in IE.
I changed to Chrome long before avast! recommended it and made it available when installing avast!.
I personally would have preferred that the user needed to check that box but, I'm also not paying the
bills at Avast.
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Good for the people who actually want the extraneous stuff that gets installed if they're not paying attention. More often than not however, my customers don't know how that stuff gets on their computers and don't want it or use it anyway. Why would anyone want Google Toolbar with IE 7/8 on XP when the browser has it's own search box that you can set up with whatever search engine you want to use, as well as it's own popup blocker? Seems like a redundant reduction in available real estate to me.
As far as Google Chrome goes, I'm partial to Firefox, not interested in Chrome. Very few of my customers use it either.
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Good for the people who actually want the extraneous stuff that gets installed if they're not paying attention. More often than not however, my customers don't know how that stuff gets on their computers and don't want it or use it anyway. Why would anyone want Google Toolbar with IE 7/8 on XP when the browser has it's own search box that you can set up with whatever search engine you want to use, as well as it's own popup blocker? Seems like a redundant reduction in available real estate to me.
As far as Google Chrome goes, I'm partial to Firefox, not interested in Chrome. Very few of my customers use it either.
Any one still using XP should at least use a more secure browser than IE 8.
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I use Firefox.
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Don't care about all the pointless bickering here, don't care when/why it was installed on my PC (though I get why others do), I just don't understand why it won't show exactly what is going to be removed if you run the thing, who in their right mind would use this?! You've gotta be kidding me...
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Don't care about all the pointless bickering here, don't care when/why it was installed on my PC (though I get why others do), I just don't understand why it won't show exactly what is going to be removed if you run the thing, who in their right mind would use this?! You've gotta be kidding me...
It does show what will be removed. It may not explain what the items are. You'll need to do your own research.
Here's a video and at the end, it does list what it's found before you decided what to fix.
http://youtu.be/XZ8hmQgXY2M (http://youtu.be/XZ8hmQgXY2M)
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I downloaded GRIME FIGHTER months ago and it was not easy. I did not have any improvement after I downloaded. Few days ago, the avast antivirus, request to update the system and I did.
From that point, grime fighter disappeared and now is not even available in the options of avast.
I contacted the assistance and they said to downloaded again the base version, which I tryied and got in to a loop, with no rsults.
Maybe they needed my 29 euros for a drink....
never again...
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I downloaded GRIME FIGHTER months ago and it was not easy. I did not have any improvement after I downloaded. Few days ago, the avast antivirus, request to update the system and I did.
From that point, grime fighter disappeared and now is not even available in the options of avast.
I contacted the assistance and they said to downloaded again the base version, which I tryied and got in to a loop, with no rsults.
Maybe they needed my 29 euros for a drink....
never again...
Make sure it was removed from your system and then download and re-install if you're still interested in using it.
If not, maybe you can get a refund.
Download it from: http://www.avast.com/en-us/grimefighter (http://www.avast.com/en-us/grimefighter)
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I paid for the grime fighter used it once and now although the programme tells me that I have a valid submision it doesn't run. :'( What should I do? Please help.
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I paid for the grime fighter used it once and now although the programme tells me that I have a valid submision it doesn't run. :'( What should I do? Please help.
See: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=161854.msg1160748#msg1160748
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Thanks!
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You're welcome.
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I used Avast without problems for some time, but stupid enough I accepted an update and paid for it. Now I have no computer at all. After clicking on Grimefighter I couldn't use the scanner, said no connection which was wrong. After restarting the computer window7 starts up but after a few seconds the screen fills up with colored stripes and every thing is locked. I really regret not having read all the negatives about Grimefighter before.
Anyone having a similar problem?