Fix “Invalid Update Control CTF File" Error in AVG 8.0

avg8-logo I use AVG 8.0 Free with Vista. AVG 8.0 normally checks and updates its virus definition automatically, but since the past couple of days it was not updating automatically. When I try to manually check for updates, I received this error message “Invalid Update Control CTF File”.

After doing some research, I found the solution to this problem on AVG forum. You need to remove the CTF temp files in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Avg8\update\download. There were two files in that folder – avginfoavi.ctf and avginfowin.ctf, deleting them solved the problem and I was able to update AVG 8.0 with latest virus definitions.

This post was published by on November 15, 2008

About the Author: Thilak Rao works as a Social Media Expert. He is one of the first professional bloggers from India, and he loves to write, travel and click photos. Follow him on Twitter @thilak

  • Umesh

    Thanks. It works. thanks for solving the problem.

  • http://www.seoresults.co.za/pages/seo-tips/ SEO Tips South Africa

    Is this problem unique to Vista? I run XP and AVG, haven’t noticed any issues recently.

  • http://informaticitalia.net/avg-come-fixare-lerrore-di-aggiornamento/ AVG: Come Fixare l’Errore di Aggiornamento

    [...] [Via] [...]

  • http://www.greatpriceshere.com Nicole Price

    As you know, I never did switch to Vista!

  • http://www.netage.co.za Marketing

    I now use ClamWin on my laptop, it’s just as effective as AVG, but uses less memory. Check it out and try it out. I’m still on Windows XP though, I doubt I’ll make the move to Vista. Just waiting for Windows 7 for a potential upgrade, but other than that, I’m still very happy with my XP.

  • Suressh Nair- India

    thanks for the tip, it work beautifully now… cheers

  • James

    1. It does happen of XP.
    2. It does work on XP.
    Thank you

  • Jon

    No it is not unique to Vista.

    My problem is that I have manually removed the CTF files. I have also downloaded a lil program (from an AVG Beta tester) that removes the CTF files.

    Neither of these have worked for me. Is there any other solution to this issue?

    I would really like to update my AVG

  • Jon

    I found the fix…

    There are 2 files that can be deleted as AVG will recreate them. If they become corrupted you will have to remove them manually.

    In Windows XP, go to:
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Avg8\update\download
    and delete
    avginfoavi.ctf and avginfowin.ctf

    In Windows Vista, go to:
    C:\ProgramData\avg8\update\download
    and delete these 2 same files.

    Re-run the update.
    Fixed.

  • Linda

    I’ running XP and have this problem but the fix didn’t work for me. Any other suggestions?

  • http://alloffmp3.org Marketing

    thanks for solving problem.

  • Maxx

    It does happen on XP to – I have XP SP2 and AVG8 worked fine for about month then it started puking this error. Removing the CTF files did not help at all. Removed and reinstalled it… Still does not solves the error – it must be somewhere in the registry.

  • http://www.tasty.com Mogar

    @Jon from November 23, 2008:
    Per your first post, “My problem is that I have manually removed the CTF files” which you state did not work. Next post you indicate “I’ve found the fix” which is deleting (removing) the same CTF files you stated you’d already removed. The “fix” you discovered was the point of the page you commented on. It’s terribly impolite of me to disrespect a fellow human I’ve not met – however noise like you put down w/ your two posts restating info already present is proof some shouldn’t be allowed to crawl to the keyboard. Same for me, throwing this here perhaps, eh…not contributing to the subject at hand. However maybe it’ll help you reconsider next time you share your wondrous insights w/ a world more intelligent than you. Cheers!

  • aslam

    im getting error :- Invalid update control CTF file
    my AVG version is 8.0.176

    im using windows-xp sp2

    pls help me out,

  • AleX

    Yup It’s works too for me.
    I’m using AVG 8 OS Vista Ultimate 64-bit on my laptop.
    Thanx!

  • Martin

    Cheers mate. Worked perfectly. Thanks.

  • sandy

    After following your easy instructions, the AVG update finally worked. Thanks to you!

  • Matthew

    im using Windows XP and for some reason my two CTF files for avg 8.0 are not there, and i have tried showing all my hidden files and folders but there still not there and i really need to update my avg 8.0.I need help to fix this problem

  • http://onlinebitsandpieces.blogspot.com Frenchy

    I second to Mogan. I initially got confused with Jon’s comments. My guess is that, at first, he did not really manually remove the ctf files (even if he said he did) and he just used the “lil program” to auto remove the files. Later when he finally tried the manual removal, then he thought he “found the fix”. LOL

  • David

    No I have Vista and run XP on my laptop and this happened to me on both versions of windows

  • David

    @Jon 23 November, 2008 I want to say an extra thank you to for the following “In Windows Vista, go to:
    C:\ProgramData\avg8\update\download
    and delete these 2 same files.”

    If you hadn’t have given me that information I would have struggled or maybe not done this at all, cheers mate. Some people might find it obvious but you saved me a lot of time and frustration as all I had to do was copy and paste that into search which took me straight to the file, thanks again.

  • Miki

    I dont have a avg8 folder in application data!!!:( What do i do

  • Miki

    Can somebody please help me!!!

  • http://nonsequitur1979.blogspot.com Nonsequitur

    Thank you, this suggestion worked like a charm!

  • kaushal

    thank you, this suggestion really works….!!

  • Rurika

    thanks, this is right and i fix the problem now

  • Dominic

    Thanks, fixed it with your info.

  • Trena

    I just wanted to say thank you very much to Jon…It worked

  • Gautam

    If you are having trouble seeing the folder ‘Program Data’, you have to change your viewing preferences to show ‘all hidden files and folders’ then you’ll be able to see it.
    From there onwards its the same procedure that has been posted.

  • newbee

    WOW…. it works.. thanx

  • rogenar

    it works, thanks , i got an idea thank alot..

  • Pam

    Thanks dude………it worked!!!

    :)

  • http://yahoo.com yumsky

    hi! i would like to ask some help with my problem. i already go to setting and locate the 2 files to be deleted but as ive search it didnt show. i have followed the instruction indicate but didnt work. what should i do? i am using windows vista.pls help me…..

  • http://www.avg.com Muhammad Shahid

    Thanks,
    control CTF invaild update muy problem salve.

  • dianne

    thank you for the into on removing AVG ctf files. Your site was the most user friendly for advice on this issue. AVG is now updating

  • rajesh

    thanks dear,, it working

  • g0al

    Thanks, it worked for me ( Windows XP)

  • anasha

    Thanks…this really worked….God bless…

  • Doel

    great, it works. thanks

  • Jane

    Many thanks. Copied and pasted the target in, found the files and deleted them and am now up to date again with avg.

  • cheryl

    I’m using Windows Vista and for some reason the two CTF files for avg 8.0 are not there nor do i see the update folder, and i have tried showing all my hidden files and folders but there still not there.Because i cannot fix this problem my AVG is saying that i am NOT protected! i really need to update my avg 8.0! Can anyone help?! Please and thank you!

  • Nikita

    Hi guys! I’m running Vista and I’m getting this error, but I can’t find those files on my laptop. I even searched for a .ctf file, and nothing came up. What should I do?

  • Dennis Cin

    Thanks a lot, it fix the ctf problems,, it was so irritating yesterday as I could not update AVG – you guys are just GREAT ! Thanks again.

  • cnaBiLL

    Thanks a lot…!!!

  • debita

    wow! it works! perhaps avg might want to add this important bit of info to their “help” files?

    thank you!!!

  • Rich

    Thank you very much!

  • Abhisehk

    Remove the CTF temp files in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Avg8\update\download. There were two files in that folder – avginfoavi.ctf and avginfowin.ctf, deleting them solved the problem and I was able to update AVG 8.0 with latest virus definitions.

  • Sputnik

    hey i dont see any ctf files it doesnt work there were no ctf files and i still have the problem so i used a ctf file deleter thing called del_avg_ctf but it says no ctf files found what should i do

  • berry

    I can’t find any of these files.

  • http://www.greatpriceshere.com/ Nicole Price

    As you know, I never did switch to Vista!