>>>>>>>>>>>Maybe I'm a bit slow on this but are AVG now bullying us into buying, rather than FREE. Lately all my updates have failed, I go to their site, there's no free edition offered, a link for free users' updates that goes round in a loop, etc. Any recommendations?
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>Here is a link in Australia that appears to have that which you seek.
>>>>>>>>>>http://www.avg.com.au/index.cfm?section=avg&action=avg_anti_virus_free_edition
>>>>>>>>>>Scroll down a bit to find the download.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Thanks Grady. It's very similar to the AVG site proper, and an attempt to download free 8 resulted in the same "cannot find ... " message as I get when the daily update starts - that's my point.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I went to http://www.avg.com/download-trial and found the free version on that page. I downloaded it without a problem. If I download it again, I might be able to email it to you or we could do a file transfer in messenger.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Thanks Grady. I've downloaded it. But I'm still getting the "CANNOT ACCESS THE SERVER" message.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>And now I'm getting a failure to update Windows Defender.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I checked through my ZoneAlarm firewall last night and made sure all these sites were allowed.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I don't know. It's as if my puter's suddenly become obstinate and is refusing to change. I'm fearful of web access now cos all my protection is out of date.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Any ideas anyone?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Sounds to me like your machine is infected with something. Some of these spyware/mailware apps put things in your HOSTS file to keep you from downloading the more popular anti-virus softwares....so I would take a look at your HOSTS file and make sure nothing is in it...
>>>>>
>>>>>Where would I find this HOSTS file, btw?
>>>>
>>>>C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc
>>>>the file doesn't have an extension, but you can edit it with any text editor....
>>>
>>>Nah, I've searched the whole disk, inc C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc and it doesn't seem to be there - hidden files too.
>>
>>Might take a look at this:
>>http://forums.spybot.info/showthread.php?t=13977
>
>Thanks. I went there and downloaded the file to successfully create the hosts file. But I don't see how that helps.
>
>BTW, when I check for windows updates, via Windows defender, i get 0x80190194 error "The program can't check for ... updates".
>
>WTF!

It really sounds like your machine is infected with something.....the hackers now include things that will prevent you from getting updates for the more popular anti-virus and anti-spyware software packages....this is often times doen with the HOSTS file. I've even seen things that cause the anti-virus software to download a bogus definiation file from the hackers server instead of getting the real one from the anti-virus software's site.... anyway it sounds like this might be your problem.
Personally - if I were you - I would consider getting my data off that machine and just doing a clean install of the OS and start over....but if you want to give it another shot, try this one:
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/SUPERAntiSpyware_Free_Edition/1142662646/1