Works wonderfully! Thanks!

It really works, thanks so much for sharing!!!

I’m glad it helped, thanks for commenting!!

I seem to have the same problem, “invalid ctf update file”, but i can’t locate the avg downloads folder like you’ve said above. maybe because i’m using windows vista? do you have an alternate solution for windows vista?

Hi Nick, I’ve had a look on my Vista PC, and the default search doesn’t find the files. But if you click advanced search, select C drive, and then click “Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files (might be slow)”, it finds the files in C:\ProgramData\avg8\update\download. Once you find them, just follow the steps in my post and that should sort it! If not let me know, and we’ll keep looking.

Thanks,

Arron

Thanks!

thanks a lot! It works for me to on Vista home premium:-)
The files (3) was placed in : C:\ProgramData\avg8\update\download

thanks that was a great fix!!

yes, thanks…you solved the problem for me, too…

You absolute star! Thanks for blogging the fix.

Thankyou! You wouldn’t believe how many times I have uninstalled and reinstalled, reverting to old versions, because of this!

thank you very much…it works!

Thanks it worked fine.I only had to rename(avginfowin.ctf)for it to work tho.

Help!!
Anyone out there who could possilbly give me a real basic step by step guide on how to get my avg8 working again. We are getting the same “invaild update control ctf file” popup.
We have tried the above suggestions but to no avail! We are on windows vista home premium. We are not very good with computers so the more basic the better!!
Thanks in advance.

Hi Daniel

Step by Step
1. Click ‘Start’
2. Click ‘Search’
The search window should now open.
3. On the right, click the ‘advanced search’ button.
4. Tick the “Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files (might be slow)” tick box.
5. In the ‘location’ drop down menu, select ‘local hard drives (C:)’
6. In the name field type ‘*.cft’ (without the quotes).
7. Click the search button.
8. When the seach is finished (it may take a while!), delete any files it finds.
9. To delete a file it found, right click the file, and choose ‘delete’.
10. Double click the AVG icon in the bottom right corner (by the time).
11. Click ‘update now’.

Hope this helps!!

Let me know,

Arron

How cool is that! Thanks Arron

Someone help, lease.
I followed the steps stated - only I found like… over 100 files/folders that in the result. does that mean I have to delete all of them?

great!!! thanks a lot Arron
AVG is Fine again

great!!! Thanks A lot Arron

thanks a lot mate, that helped

hey thanks! it worked! god bless you!

Worked like a charm…. but here’s the question. “Why that happened?” Maybe a virus? My virus database was out of date because of that… creeeeeepy

Thanks for your help Arron the step by step instructions, it worked very well.
Kind regards,
Daniel

This is way easer. Just run this AVG fix from another site. Save to desktop,open and run…….Don

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/oct08/del_avg_ctf.zip

Note: If page opens with “Sorry. 404 Page Not Found” just click the “GO” on address bar to open download……Don

ty very much it crack !

I see there are problems with the link. You may have to copy and paste the address. I apologize…..Don

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/oct08/del_avg_ctf.zip

That was easy-thank you very much.

i got a ctf file problem also, i m using window xp..i even cant find d file.so any 1 can help??thanks

i hav d same proble ctf file..i m using window xp..i even cant find d file.n i follow d step..but different.any1 can help.pls..and thanks

Excellent advice!! thank you so much! the .ctf files are hidden so You cant see them straight away (have to mark ’show hidden files and folders’ or sth like that, in Tools). I use XP as well. You shouldnt have any problem with finding them!

Many thanks - problemo solved!

I found the offending files as per your directory guide above.

My search system (Vista H Prem) failed to find the files on C: using the advanced search (find hidden etc files) feature.

Maybe it’s me but it is a worry.

Again, many thanks.

Hi Arron,

I failed to mention your name in my previous post.

Your comments and direction solved my problemo.

Well done…

Super thanks to Arron Johnson for the windows vista location of the misnamed files. You saved me a lot of headaches!

So quick, so simple, Thank you, had this trouble for a long time, now I know I can sort it again if required, THANK YOU

For the last couple of days my AVG 8 has been popping up saying

thanks! im confused by this problem for 2 days, and now its fixed.

thanks.. great work man.. i did not now what to do before i read this

Thanks for you help,I searched for *ctf and deleted the ones that related to AVG.Update now works Thanks again

Excellent - worked a treat - cheers

Thanks so much, helped a lot and reading responses to the questions! Problem’s fixed too.

thank’s alot for your solution

goog idea

good idea

*i think, I’m sorry before*

Works Brilliantly. Thanks.

Excellent advice. Fixed in seconds.

Thank you very much it did the job … now i can update haha

Great stuff; fixed my prob.

But what has caused this problem in the first place?

I got to this page through google and your suggestion helped. Thanks a million. Take care.

Arron, thank you so much. I found the two CTF files, deleted them, and AVG is fixed. I’m feeling empowered!

Arron your a star, because of this post I had the problem resolved within a minute max…. Thanks for the information.

Works like a charm! Thumbs up!

Comment by Arron Johnson - October 27, 2008 on 7:09 pm

Hi Daniel

Step by Step
1. Click

Excellent advice. Fixed in seconds. I just followed the path you given. It is the first time to know that the program data in vista has a separate folder.

Outstanding!
She’s updating like gangbusters. Easy fix if you know how.

Worked like a charm. Thanks Arron!

Thank you

Thanks for the help Arron

(I’ve also discovered that the AVG update downloads are located (for Vista 32bit) under:
Local Disk(usually C:)>ProgramData>avg8>update >download
Make sure “show hidden files and folders” is selected under the view tab in Folder Options (which is located in Control panel classic view)
Perhaps a little quicker than searching, with the added bonus of being able to see/access all/most of your programs files/data in case of future hickups.)

than you so much!
it works!

AVG’s website has a small utility to do this
http://www.avg.com/filedir/util/deleteupdatefiles.exe

Brilliant - worked first time. Well done Arron

Perfect - worked for me. Thanks Arron

Cheers, sorted straight away once I knew where to look!

Hi Arron I have the problem with AVG ctf files followed step by step for vista machine but no filse were found don’t know what to do now. Please help. thank you

Cheers Arron.This fix worked for me too. Hx

Works great! Thanks!

Hey thanks. I was charged $40 from the computer fix it shop when they used your information to fix this problem! I found this out as i checked my history overview.

Thanks, brilliant - problem solved. So easy when you know how!!

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/oct08/del_avg_ctf.zip

It works! thx

Thanks alot, problem solved!

typed in the problem to Google - came up with your solution - thanks for sharing that information - Cheers!

Thanks so much i was going of my head trying to work it out,

Thanks for this, worked perfectly. No more security warnings now!

Thanks so much! I had to update a few times after I deleted the files, but now it works great!

I wonder why it does that though?

Thanks for this - good man.

worked like a charm - thanks

Thank you so much! Perfect solution!

thanks. today’s first time that ever happened. I also thought virus was closing my antivirus.

This was useful. I got it fixed for the second time in the last 3 months. I wonder what makes de ctf files go wrong

It happened to me, right after the monthly update from MS of Windows XP. AVG knows about the problem, it’s in their FAQs - they even have a download to use to do the deletes for you

Thanks. This worked with me too.

Thankyou so so much this has worked and AVG is now up and running again.Great!

Thx Don it helps me beter. Nice

I have vista and i can’t find the search option.
you suggest click start, then click search .. i can’y find it. help please. Thanks

Arron is cool!

I just searched for AVG 8 invalid CTF file -
And then !!!!!!

thanks very helpful indeed, not sure if this has been mentioned in the above posts but you can copy C:\ProgramData\avg8\update\download into the rune command, windows key & r and hit enter (vista fix) this will open windows explored with appropriate directory and from here you can delete.

please excuse the typo’s above, should of been “run” command and windows “explorer” - one of those days!
In vista you can also copy that line C:\Prog Data etc etc into the search bar at the bottom of your start menu bar and hit enter same effect. Once again thanks for the fix Aaron.

THANK YOU SO MUCH , IT REALLY DOES WORK…..

Thanks a bunch!

Thanks Alan Bennett, the above attempts failed to find the advanced search etc on vista but your link worked a treat, all updated now!

Thanks

Thanks Arron - new to this and when I saw the AVG error message felt panicky. I followed your instruction steps and can’t believe it! It worked! Many thanks Jan!!

Thanks Arron,cant imagine how you got there but its sure done the trick.

Aaron, you ARE a star! It worked first time, thanks a bundle

Thanks Arron, You solved my problem. I just rename the files and now update is working wonderfully.

didnt work for me

THANKS!

Tried a couple of other suggested solutions to this problem that didn’t come off, but this one sorted it. Thanks Arron.

Thank you!

Cheers for the help gained from some of these messages. An easier way I found to get the updates, is to seach for ‘avgin’, and that brings up the two ctf files to delete.

Easier way is to search using the ‘avgin’. The two ctf files come up, and delete

Brilliant, just reading it helped although the searches didn’t return anything and the file address on my computer is slightly different, the persistence of having to find those pesty .CFT files paid off

Hey thanks soo much it works i think the files are hidden and thats why you might not find it on the 1st search

i’ll have to add a thank you on my behalf as well… i have vista and you helped me fix this annoying thing. Yey for updating AVG!

Thank you so much, worked perfectly!

Thank you for letting people know…that was it…thanks…its people like you that make my day amazing.

Thanks for the tip on using Advanced Search. That did the trick.

why i my C:\ProgramData\avg8\update\download is empty..no ctf.file inside..help me..

Thanks very much, I followed your instructions and it worked. It was really helpful

Thank you very much have deleted files and now updating

thanks for downloading this comment .. basically that’s useful because couple days ago i was tied with my computer but when i used your program i did just by a few min .. thanks

many thanks! worked a treat

worked but \Application Data\ wasnt visible in all users so i had to type it in……

like everyone else, i say thank you 4 letting us know how to solve that one, happy christmas

Thanks Arron found the two offending files. Back to normal thanks again.Merry Xmas

Thanks Arron! You made things really simple for a computer novice!! Merry Christmas! xx

Thanks - what would we do without people like you to help - Have a nice Xmas.

Arron, Many thanks, you’re a star. I started to have problems on 15th Dec 2008. When I found the 2 files (just where you said they’d be)I noticed they had been modified 12 Dec 2008, just 3 days before. Who/What did that? I changed the last letter to underscore, and bingo, all was well. Thanks again, Trev

Cool works for me with win2 Vista, thanks!!!

It worked for me as well. Brilliant! Thanks very much!!

having the same problem with the CFT files, cant find them in the search, the program cant find them either, extremely annoying. please help im on windows XP

THANKS FOR THE INFO. SORTED OUT AVG NO PROBLEMS. I WOULD NEVER HAVE WORKED THAT OUT. CHEERS.

thanks for the help in worked fine by the way i dident no u had to put ctf by it self that y it would not work for me at first because i was putting ctf files lol

thank you so much worked like a charm! i ha to search hidden files to find it but at last i am done

OMG!! I have been plugging away trying to find thoses CTF files for days! I have been on the phone to the ‘IT guys’ and everything! I followed the http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/oct08/del_avg_ctf.ziplink

It was all done in secs!! LUV IT!!

thanks very much tahnks to you my security works ! your tips are cool man you must be a computer genuis!!!!!!!

Thank you bud.
Excellent, problem solved!!!
Just fix up you step by step post further up.
You typed:
6. In the name field type ‘*.cft’ (without the quotes).

It’s a spelling error. Should be *.ctf
Just for someof the dudes that are not very pc literate like myself, this would cause another obstacle.

Cheers my man.

Amazing Stuff - Followed your instructions and fixes the problem at 1st try. Thank Yoy

Thank a lot!!

This only happens if your internet connection cuts out or flickers when downloading the file. The best solution for this not to happen is to keep in a wireless hotspot whilst downloading it.

Oh, that explains why it doesn’t work even after I delete the files. I’m in the Middle East, and the internet here is still a problem (thanks to the tw@s who cut the cables in the Med). I’ll wait for a week or so till it’s fixed and see what happens.

TAnks for the information its really working

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks so much Aaron!

thanks for solving the problem …..

Many thanks Arron - I have been worried about the invalid ctf file message so did a google search and found your solution. I have Vista Home Premium and found the files from Windows Explorer search, deleted them and ran AVG update - all now working fine and took only seconds to do. Thanks again.

Man i think I am doomed. I have tried every step on here and nothing is doing it. I did all the searches, and it wouldn’t let me delete it. I did the fix url and it still came up with the error. I am ready to make the worlds largest frisbee.

Thanks for your help Arron, it worked very well.

great….thanks Arron…its working

Brilliant, thanks

Comment by Alan Bennett - November 3, 2008 on 4:37 pm

AVG’s website has a small utility to do this
http://www.avg.com/filedir/util/deleteupdatefiles.exe

Sweeeeettt!! thanks for that

you f**kin star , works a treat

I have this problem, but there are no files to delete. Actually, there are no files at all in the “download” folder, not CTF or BIN files. I know all about hidden files, so it’s not that. I should mention that this is a brand new install of AVG. I get the invalid CTF file error as it is trying to update during the install. Any ideas?

great instructions worked fine

Thanks a lot..it solved it really quick..works fine now..

Thank you for the advice. It worked perfectly. Cheers

Great, thanks a lot.

Thanks, I have spent hrs trying to update

Rafael, I had the same problem : after having tried everything, I finally found the answer on AVG site : http://freeforum.avg.com/read.php?13,164852,164852,backpage=,sv=#REPLY. This user explains how to get rid of Trojan that prevent to do correct AVG update.
And now all is fine for me

thankyou so much for this i’ve been sweating over this and getting very pi**ed off nearly took lump hammer to bass unit ta very much your a life saver

thank a lott

am 85 easily stressed, a few minutes following your instructions, brilliant result, after 1 week suffering

Aaron is a genius.

Dude guys…I have the same problem as Rafeal but i have already searched for torjans and non have showed up and ive already uninstalled and reinstalled and never got anything PLEASE HELP!

Hey! i had this problem for ages!!! thanx guys, unfortunetely Aron’s system didn’t work on my laptop but the links did so thanx for your help

Thanks Arron! It really works for me! I’m using the Vista Home edition. Woohoo!

Many thanks that did the trick .Avg should supply this infomation .

Many thanks that worked for me.Why did’nt AVG let people know?

yah tq very much
it realy help me

Thanks Arron - worked for me with Vista Home Premium. Looks like the fix is still helping people 3 months after your post. Nice work. Plus you get the first Google match when typing the error in, which made it so much quicker to find your solution!!

Excellent results. solved my problem. Thank buddy . . .

Worked like a charm. Thank you.

My AVG update manager works fine now.
Thank you

Upd man. works fine now.
Thank you

Don, your link worked in 30 seconds…awesome

thanks man

Good man yourself!

thankyou so much! Its kept flashing up for the last couple of days and i couldnt find anyway of making it work…come on here and your tip has my ‘puter smiling back at me within seconds. Thankyou!

It did NOT work for me. The 2 files are indeed under C:\ProgramData\avg8\update\download. I tried both, renaming and deleting them, then I click update, and it downloads again those files, and fails again! Any ideas? I am on Vista

Thanks!

update of my previous post: since this fix was not working, i kept googling solutions and experimenting on my own. For some strange reason, all of a sudden it worked. MAYBE is that i was doing the update from INSIDE the avg, before, and was not working, and now i did it from the task bar just next to the clock (right click - update now). Just to let you know, in case someone else comes up with my same problem. Many thanks for the blog

PS: I think it would be more convenient for you and for the readers of the forum if you ask to not post you just a thanks but leave it implicit, cause:
1) You have a big homework to do now, just by keep reading “thanks” for hours!
2) For your blog readers, it is impossible to find someone else that had their same problem and found a solution (finding a needle in a haystack amongst just “thanks”)
Anyways, thanks!

Great Fix *3 cheers*

Don, your second link worked great! I am not that savy when it comes to this but it worked great! Thanks Aaron for the post and thanks Don for the link!

thanks for the help in deleting these files we can now update. such a relief to have someone like you to advise us. you’re a star ***

I have had the same problem for the last few days. Thanks for the info alls well now. Aaron well done mate you’ve saved me alot of trouble.

Thanks everything seems to be working

thank you baby i love u so much i wish i can c u so i can make u happy

Top man, used your info, all good again. My laptop breaths in the web

thanks Arron, ctf file problem sorted,great.

Thanks for the tip! Didn’t find the files at first, but then tried the Advanced option of including hidden files in the search. Found them, deleted them, started updating again like it should.

I have looked at all the comments and have opened up the link but i only have BIN files coming up and no CTF files. I am on windows vista, also i cant find the folder options and there is no search link on start menu can anyone help me please.

I am running XP. I have located the folder the CTF files are to be in. But i do not have any files in that folder…Any suggestions?

great!..
Thanks buddy!

My download file is also completely empty, but I keep getting this error message. Does anyone have a solution for this?

I deleted the .ctf files, but I still have the same problem… help!

So this is the problem. I don’t have any ctf files(i have a lot of bin files), but still got this message(invalid update control cft file). So plesae hrlp if you know hat is the problem

I deleted the temporary file using advanced setting..
I searced the update folder…
i used the search machine…
nothing seems to work!! help!!

Unfortunately, despite trying all the suggestions regarding deleting/renaming the CTF files, I was still unable to update AVG. However, after reading another forum, I downloaded Malwarebyte’s Anti-Malware programme and did a full scan. This brought up 1 infection, which I then removed. After doing this, AVG updated with no problem.

Might be worth a try if all other options fail.

[…] video will show you how to fix that. All you need to do is find those CTF files and rename them or IT PRO: Blogs: Arron Johnson: AVG 8 Invalid Update Control CTF File When you are trying to update AVG antivirus version 8.0.x you might see similar to the following […]

Tks, delete all files and run Update correclty.

ssssssssssssssss

I also have the same problem and did delete the .ctf files and it was fine for a couple days of updating. Then it went back to error. So I deleted it, cleaned all files off my comp, rebooted and then reinstalled AVG 8.0. Again it was fine for two days and now it’s back to error. Why does it go back to error when it goes to update again after I’ve removed the .ctf files? Is there a way to have this fixed completely?

Hi, I have the same problem on my windows vista computer, i have tried looking for the folders mentioned to fix the problem but so far have been unable to locate them, i have also done a search for the folders and they just dont seem to exist on my computer, is windows vista that different to XP? any further help or suggestions would be most appreciated. Thank you.

I have tried everything and I still can’t get AVG to update. I’ve deleted the ctf files and reinstalled AVG. Anyone have a recommendation for a different anti-virus? Thanks.

nice article