Avast free will not ininstall and upgrade will not install - please help

General Topics
1

I have no security at all, so any help would be appreciated.

I had Avast free but took up the offer of Internet Security, today. It hung on installation and Avast free is now corrupted. After reading through threads on this forum, I downloaded remove and new installation but they would not run - "not a win32 application.

I have tried running the Avast setup engine but it says " error reading product data. Setup cannot continue" .

So cannot remove Avast Free, cannot submit the licence to Avast Free, cannot run the new setup engine.

What do I do now?

I am running my laptop with absolutley NO security.

Thank you.

2

try this…

remove with this and reboot http://www.avast.com/en-eu/uninstall-utility
install again and reboot

did it work ?

3

Many thanks, but I tried that about 6 hours ago and that is when I received the “not a win32 application”.

Blood pressure is high and I have lost a day’s work so I would appreciate any more suggestions you may I have.

Thank you.

4

what AV did you use before you installed avast ?
was your computer delivered with a preinstalled AV ?

5

I was using Avast! Free - downloaded it myself some time ago and it was working fine up until I tried to upgrade.

6

and before you downloaded avast ?

7

Before Avast I was using AVG but uninstalled and used CCleaner to remove all files.

8

run AVG removal tool, reboot and try again http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/

9

Really? I ran the AVG removal tool at least 2 years ago. Avast Free was working fine until today.

Whilst waiting for your kind replies I have tried to rrun the Avast Setup engine, yet again, and agin received the “error reading product data. Setup cannot contine.” And " an error has occured. Last performed operation was spawning" Any idea what “spawning” is?

I am so fed up with this and wish I had not upgraded and wasted my money.

10
they would not run - "not a win32 application.
That sounds like the download you got is corrupt. You need to download the setup program again.
11

Thanks, but the setup engine I ran in the last hour was a new download. I keep rebooting and trying again to uninstall Avast!Free and the update setup.

Avast!Free is still in my toolbar with a Fix Now button that does not work.

I have absolutley no idea where to go from here.

12

OK i suggest you attach a OTL log so Essexboy can have a look…he may spot the problem

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0

13

See if the advice here will help you remove avast! and then re-install without your current problems.
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=94358.msg753862#msg753862

14

Thanks, I followed all the advice hours ago. Loaded the uninstall-utility and new install and then switched to Safe Mode - same error reports…

I will look at the OT log suggestion - what ever and OT log is! Sorry, I am sooo frustrated and hope that I am not coming across as abrupt and rude. I am out of my depth here.

Thanks - all suggestions welcome.

15

:slight_smile: Finally, I have fixed it!! Many thanks for your support.

I went into safe mode and tried the uninstall-utility and this time is worked.

Then I ran the setup engine … and it worked! Loaded my new licence and everything seems to be working fine. Fingers crossed all will be well. I have read some posts about Avast 7 hanging with new uploads, seen the fix and hope that I will not need it.

Once again, thank you for swiftly jumping to my assistance.

16

burnside, you’re welcome. Feel free to come back any time you need help or just to change experiences 8)