What the F is a .bin file and how do I get one?

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I've been having trouble with my AVG anti-virus program. I uninstalled it and reinstalled it a few times and it finally worked again.

Now I'm getting a message that it can't update because it's missing a .bin file.

What the hell is it and can someone tell me how to get another FREE anti-virus package (read as, include how I bypass all the pay stuff and get to the FREE stuff?)

Mucho thanks!!!

[Doctor Z]

It's a file that tells you why you should get a Mac.

[Devo37]

i've been using Avira AntiVir (http://www.free-av.com/) for years and i've never been infected. there's a 'premium' version that you have to pay for, but the free version has done just fine for me.

[PapaBear]

I'm having the same problem, Petrina. I'm going to wait a day or two to see if it's something they are going to fix. Don't worry. It's not your computer. It's obviously a problem on AVG's end.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I'm having the same problem, Petrina. I'm going to wait a day or two to see if it's something they are going to fix. Don't worry. It's not your computer. It's obviously a problem on AVG's end.

Thanks Paul!!!! I thought it was something with my computer. Thanks for saving me some worries.

[Reynolds]

Do you actually have a virus problem, or a spyware problem? I never install any virus protection on my computer, I just never open any email attachments, and don't download any software from somewhere shady. Viruses are pretty easy to avoid as long as you pay attention to what you're downloading. Norton and some other antivirus programs are such hogs that slow your computer down, that they're almost a virus themselves. If you've noticed a slowdown in your computer, the best free spyware remover is malwarebytes.

Download it at www.malwarebytes.org.

Install it but don't run it yet.

Run MSCONFIG, and disable all startup programs and services.

Reboot.

Let malwarebytes do a full scan, and reboot again.

Run MSCONFIG, and enable all startup programs and services you need.

Reboot again finally

Personally I don't run any startup programs, they're a pain in the ass, if I want something to run, I'll start it.

You can also delete everything in your documents and settings / (username) / local settings / temp folder

this speeds things up a bit as well

If you absolutely think you need an antivirus program, look into NOD32

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

Do you actually have a virus problem, or a spyware problem? I never install any virus protection on my computer, I just never open any email attachments, and don't download any software from somewhere shady. Viruses are pretty easy to avoid as long as you pay attention to what you're downloading. Norton and some other antivirus programs are such hogs that slow your computer down, that they're almost a virus themselves. If you've noticed a slowdown in your computer, the best free spyware remover is malwarebytes.

Download it at www.malwarebytes.org.

Install it but don't run it yet.

Run MSCONFIG, and disable all startup programs and services.

Reboot.

Let malwarebytes do a full scan, and reboot again.

Run MSCONFIG, and enable all startup programs and services you need.

Reboot again finally

Personally I don't run any startup programs, they're a pain in the ass, if I want something to run, I'll start it.

You can also delete everything in your documents and settings / (username) / local settings / temp folder

this speeds things up a bit as well

If you absolutely think you need an antivirus program, look into NOD32

I have Spybot and I'm pretty happy with that. Thanks for the advice!!!!

[PapaBear]

Thanks Paul!!!! I thought it was something with my computer. Thanks for saving me some worries.
You did the same for me. I was relieved to see the thread title when I signed in!

[Reynolds]

I have Spybot and I'm pretty happy with that. Thanks for the advice!!!!

For the hell of it try running a scan with malwarebytes, it tends to pick up a lot more than some of the other ones

[Death Metal Moe]

I got the same shit. I reinstalled AVG over AVG and just did the repair option, got the same .bin warning.

This has happened to me in the past with AVG Free, give them a couple days and everything should be fine.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

Danke Moe!!!

[Death Metal Moe]

No problem.

[PapaBear]

I found this on another forum, for people who are super paranoid...

1) go to »www.grisoft.com/ww.download-update
2) make a directory on your desktop called AVG
3) download AVI: 270.6.4
4) download IAVI: / 1616
5) move the dowloaded files to the directory you made called AVG
6) launch AVG
7) select tools -> update from directory
8) select the directory called AVG where you put the downloads


BUT...

Don't really worry about it. It will probably be automatically fixed by Monday. I recommend waiting.

[chili]

It's a file that tells you why you should get a Mac.

Well, I think you're partially correct. If you don't know what the fuck you're doing a Mac is right up your alley. Believe it or not, a .bin is found on PC and Macs.

But a .bin is "Disk image created from a CD using CDRWin; stores data copied from a CD or DVD; can be mounted by the computer and recognized as a physical disc; similar to the standard .ISO disc image format.

If a BIN file will not open, it may be opened by some disk utilities by changing the extension from ".bin" to ".iso."

[rob126]

From the AVG Free Forum :

"Currently the update for AVG Free v8 is corrupted... you will have to wait for AVG Technologies to address the issue with the update.

Reporting the issue again by other users here will not do any good until it is resolved.

The updates that your AVG currently have will still provide the protection it is setup to detect. In other words, just getting this update will not make your AVG Free ineffective and as soon as AVG Tech resolves the issue you will be able to update to the current virus definitions at that time.

So in short... please do not post to report the issue, its already known. Also please be patient until AVG Technologies can address the issue."

[BinaryBimbo]

The best, and highest rated, free AV program is Avast.

It is better than any Norton, or McAfee, and uses a lot less resources.

Get it at http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html.
You have to register a name and town, (no address), every 14 months; other than that it is absolutely free, and auto updating, etc.

To answer the original question. A .bin file is a binary file.

[Bob Impact]

Sarah is having the same issue now.

[Death Metal Moe]

I think it's an XP problem because I'm not having it on my Vista run laptop.

[MisterSmith]

The best, and highest rated, free AV program is Avast.

It is better than any Norton, or McAfee, and uses a lot less resources.

Get it at http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html.
You have to register a name and town, (no address), every 14 months; other than that it is absolutely free, and auto updating, etc.

To answer the original question. A .bin file is a binary file.

I think Avast is great, and the pre-boot scan is sweet.

If I am working on a computer with viruses I will often load Avast just to take advantage of the pre-boot scan. As long as the infection isn't uber-sneaky it usually does the trick.

[hunnerbun]

I think it's an XP problem because I'm not having it on my Vista run laptop.

I think so too Moe, my Vista run laptop is fine too. But the problem I am having is slow boot up. I happened a couple of months ago after one of the million fricken updates. We have scanned it every way possible and still can't figure out what the hell the problem is. Its really annoying, to the point that I don't even shut it down now, I just put it into the hibernate state, unless I absolutely have to reboot.

[KnoxHarrington]

The best, and highest rated, free AV program is Avast.

It is better than any Norton, or McAfee, and uses a lot less resources.

Get it at http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html.
You have to register a name and town, (no address), every 14 months; other than that it is absolutely free, and auto updating, etc.

To answer the original question. A .bin file is a binary file.

The only problem I have with Avast is that occasionally that freaky robutt voice pops up saying "Virus database has been updated", scaring me sometimes.

[oldladyfacepuncher]

I laugh at you people and your viruses :devil2:

http://www.ubuntu.com/themes/ubuntu07/images/ubuntulogo.png

[Bob Impact]

I think it's an XP problem because I'm not having it on my Vista run laptop.

Now that you mention in my Vista machine doesn't have the problem.

[Death Metal Moe]

On another note, I am setting up an old computer for someone today. I just isntalled XP Media Edition and when I got it to the main screen I installed AVG Free on it.

For some reason it's not giving the .bin file warning, it just updated itself like it always should.

Maybe they fixed the problem in their installer file already but have to work out the problem for those of us with it already installed?

Weird.

[Death Metal Moe]

I think so too Moe, my Vista run laptop is fine too. But the problem I am having is slow boot up. I happened a couple of months ago after one of the million fricken updates. We have scanned it every way possible and still can't figure out what the hell the problem is. Its really annoying, to the point that I don't even shut it down now, I just put it into the hibernate state, unless I absolutely have to reboot.

hmmm, that is weird. My laptop's boot isn't as quick as I'd like but it's acceptable.

What brand is it? I'd bet the company you got it from automatically downloaded something stupid in their "Suite" or whatever these assholes pack into their laptops.

Do the old msconfig trick and see what starts up when you boot, uncheck shit you don't need. This may help. If you don't know what I'm talking about then don't mess with it.

OH wait, it's Vista. Does that still work?

[hunnerbun]

hmmm, that is weird. My laptop's boot isn't as quick as I'd like but it's acceptable.

What brand is it? I'd bet the company you got it from automatically downloaded something stupid in their "Suite" or whatever these assholes pack into their laptops.

Do the old msconfig trick and see what starts up when you boot, uncheck shit you don't need. This may help. If you don't know what I'm talking about then don't mess with it.

OH wait, it's Vista. Does that still work?

Its HP and it seems like every second day I get some HP update window popping up...enough already.
My b/f is a gamer and is very comp savvy and I do believe we did the msconfig route and nothing seemed to help.
The comp is only a year old but at 6 weeks i had a motherboard failure and had to sent it back to be repaired. Since then everything was fine until last month sometime.

[Death Metal Moe]

That's odd. I have the HP Pavillion dv9500 and couldn't be happier.

If your guy already knows how to alter the boot and it didn't help I'm out of options.

I'd say call their tech support if you wouldn't just get a DEEBLE DABBLE who was gonna read you a flow chart for 2 hours.

Sounds like your way is the best bet.

Just curious, how long is "a long boot" in your case. Mine can sometime take up to 2 minutes if it's scanning for windows updates and HP updates at the same time as an AVG update.

[BinaryBimbo]

The only problem I have with Avast is that occasionally that freaky robutt voice pops up saying "Virus database has been updated", scaring me sometimes.

Hehe - that is kind of odd.

I swear by that for AV and <a href="http://www.lavasoft.com">AdAware</a> for malware; both free.

[hunnerbun]

Just curious, how long is "a long boot" in your case. Mine can sometime take up to 2 minutes if it's scanning for windows updates and HP updates at the same time as an AVG update.

I just shut down and restarted to find out how long it actually takes to boot up and it was about 4 minutes. That's unusually long, it was originally taking about 2 minutes
After the blue welcome screen everything goes black with just the cursor and it stays like that for almost 3 minutes.
Mine is a DV9000.

[Death Metal Moe]

I just shut down and restarted to find out how long it actually takes to boot up and it was about 4 minutes. That's unusually long, it was originally taking about 2 minutes
After the blue welcome screen everything goes black with just the cursor and it stays like that for almost 3 minutes.
Mine is a DV9000.

Yea, that is unusual. If mine is doing something I at least see the desktop screen as it's doing shit.

I don't know, a computer is like a car. They come off the same assembly line but one could be a dud, as yours was with the motherboard failure, and another could work for 30 years.

Just kinda sucks.

[Death Metal Moe]

And they already fixed it.

Force it to update if you have it set to a certian time everyday.

We're all good again.

[Dirtybird12]

The best, and highest rated, free AV program is Avast.

It is better than any Norton, or McAfee, and uses a lot less resources.

Get it at http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html.
You have to register a name and town, (no address), every 14 months; other than that it is absolutely free, and auto updating, etc.

To answer the original question. A .bin file is a binary file.

I agree. Ive been having the same problems with AVG. Tried Avast and its pretty dang snazzy.

[PapaBear]

The problem went away for me sometime early this morning. I'm not getting the warning anymore.

[Alice S. Fuzzybutt]

I got the warning again this afternoon. Anyone else? I guess I won't see if it's been fixed until I get home from work.

[Death Metal Moe]

I have it at work and home too, XP and Vista.

It says there are updates but won't connect to the server.

Give them a few hours again, all will be revealed

[PapaBear]

I got the warning again this afternoon. Anyone else? I guess I won't see if it's been fixed until I get home from work.
I did too. For some reason, my firewall required me to allow it, even though it was already set that way. I set it to allow it, and it updated fine.