hi cockneyrebel, it sounds like you may have automatic scanning set and also have checkmark in shut down computer after scan completes, you can remove checkmark from shutdown after scan completes,
about automatic updating, i have it on a win 2000 pro with sp3 installed and at 9:00 am EVERYDAY i hear system alert chime(ding!!) if this is happening to you and nothing on screen its possible that its updating in backround
avg 8.0 that one is the security suite, that one you buy to use but the avg free antivirus and free antispyware are free FOREVER. so it sounds to me that you may have accidentally downloaded the free trial of security suite instead of avg free antivirus and spyware. or may have clicked UPGRADE to 8.0 now, being that avg is free, you may see advertisements or a once a month popup for avg 8.0 or security suite (has a round voult door as its picture)
heres were to go to get the free one,
www.free.grisoft.com then click download (this may take some time depending on your connection, the server that it downlaods from is not in USA or canada,
for the antispyware, on left side menu there should be a link to the free antispyware. good luck and hope this helps, if still having problems, email or pm me
_________________
<<"norton" antivirus