Users who recently updated their AVG to the latest Virus Definitions, could find themselves in real trouble when rebooting their PC.
Apparently, the latest definition automatically quarantines and deletes the file user32.dll, a Windows system library needed to successfully start your computer. As a result, the computer will display an option list, with choices of boot-up (safe mode, safe mode with networking options, …). A screenshot can be found below.
AVG's Missing user32.dll Effect
The problem only spread to 5 European countries: the Netherlands, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Although some users in Belgium are effected too, for using Dutch software. It only seems to effect Windows XP SP2 users.
AVG’s Support Pages: “In case you are not able to run your Windows XP operating system after AVG 8.0 virus definition update, it may be caused by a false positive on a specific “user32.dll” system file. The file was moved to the AVG Virus Vault and deleted. Therefore it is not possible to start Windows. ”
The result: hundreds of thousands of computers world wide won’t start, because of that missing file. There’s a fix, of course, but it’s quite technical and won’t be sufficient for your average facebook-myspace-youtube-generation. They’ll have to call their ICT guy, and pay royally for a screw-up some other company made.
The fix tool can be found on AVG’s Support pages. Dutch people can find an answer here (or mirror’d).
Could you charge Grisoft (owner of the AVG virusscan) for this, given the fact that most people use AVG’s free virus scanner? Will their EULA cover this sufficiently?
