I get the error message, that Avast Free 2014 can’t be installed on “server editions” even though I’m actually running Windows 7 Ultimate.
I had installed a different free virus scanned before, which I removed in favor of Avast.
Maybe, some time after installing Windows 7, I installed some software, that might make Avast think this is a server - but I don’t know what that might be. However I am getting Windows Server 2008 updates through Windows Update.
Does anyone have an idea of what I have to uninstall to revert to “private workstation status”. I do not need to serve anything on this machine - It’s for my private use only.
try reverting to a previous restore point, preferably one made before U selected Server 2008 updates. U’ll probably need to do a ton of update on the OS if it has been very long at all since U started getting those updates, so another option might be to browse through the registry (i know, lots of fun, especially if U accidentally fat-finger something) looking for the strings “2008” and “server.” good luck!
Thanks a lot for your quick reply! I’m sorry, that I wasn’t able to reply more quickly.
I finally had time to follow your advice and to revert to a previous restore point. Oddly however, there was no restore point set before those Server 2008 updates began (Or maybe there was, but it was for some reason auto-deleted afterwards.)
I checked the details of the updates on the microsoft website though, and I found out that they aren’t really Server 2008 specific - they are only available for Server 2008 as well as Windows 7. So I guess part of my Windows has an identity crisis and that’s why it lists them as Server 2008 updates in the update protocol.
What system property does the avast installer scan for, that makes it think my system was a server?
When I launch ‘winver’ I still see ‘Windows 7 Ultimate […] Service Pack 1’. Running ‘ver’ from command line gives me ‘6.1.7601’, which is also equivalent to Win7 SP1 (s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ver_(command)#Version_list)
Running ‘wmic os get Caption,CSDVersion /value’ replies in unison with the others:
Caption=Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate
CSDVersion=Service Pack 1
This is really giving me a headache - reinstalling the whole system would be very time consuming in this case, so any help would really be appreciated!
Hey Para-Noid!
I did do that… However - as I said - the available system restore points don’t go back that far. (I successfully restored the oldest restore point in safe mode, but the avast installer still throws the same error)
The only way I can think of that you would be getting Windows Updates for Windows Server 2008 is if your machine has been configured to dual boot either Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008.
That is different than Windows Updates that “apply” to both versions. Often, they apply to all currently supported versions.
That said, you might want to look into Fred Langa’s article on how to do a non-destructive re-install of Windows 7.
The only way I can think of that you would be getting Windows Updates for Windows Server 2008 is if your machine has been configured to dual boot either Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008.
Hm... No, I don't have that setup. I only dual boot ( well actually tripple boot ;-) ) Windows 7, Windows XP, and Ubuntu 12.04.
That said, you might want to look into Fred Langa's article on how to do a non-destructive re-install of Windows 7.
Thanks - that sounds interesting! I didn't know that you could actually even preserve the installed programs. I won't risk this right now, because I'm afraid something might go wrong during installation and reinstalling all my video editing programs and codecs would take ages...
For now I found a free antivirus that still installs under my deranged Windows. It’s not as good as avast by far, but it’ll have to do for now.
