Avast installer is stuck updating and using up CPU resources

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

For the past week, the Avast installer has been stuck on an update and I can’t kill the process. Here’s what I’ve tried:

  1. Uninstall: can’t while the installer is running
  2. Task manager: nope, nada, shows 26% CPU usage for the installer
  3. Restart computer: nope. Still there after a restart, high CPU usage
  4. Restore point from before the issue: Can’t restore because avast is running! Ouch.
  5. Open Avast to try settings: nope, can’t while the installer is running
  6. Delete the installer exe file. Nope, don’t have permission.
    Please help me out here. My old computer is performing like thick molasses with such a high burden on the CPU.
2

does this work?

Using the Uninstall Utility for Avast Antivirus
https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Uninstall-Antivirus-Utility

3

Yes, the uninstaller in safe mode worked. Thanks!