Avast setting causing Virtual XP Mode to stop

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I run Free Avast v17.4.3482.0 on a Windows 7 Pro laptop. I have Virtual XP installed to allow me to run a program that will only run in XP.

Today I launched Virtual XP and after the progress bar reached 1/3 way the interface disappeared. I won’t bore you will all the steps I took trying to resolve this problem but after uninstalling Virtual XP and reinstalling it still failed to make it run I eventually discovered it is being stopped by Avast.

Settings - Troubleshooting - Enable hardware-assisted virtualization is the cause. This option needs to be unchecked and the PC rebooted. I can then run Virtual XP.

I’m quite annoyed because no message was displayed by Avast. If there had been one with an option to allow the process it would have saved a huge amount of my time.

Anyone from Avast care to comment on this?

2

You can’t run that version because it doesn’t exist, not even in beta.

About the disabling of the hardware virtualization, that is already know and posted in other threads.

3

How about Program Version 17.4.2294.

Please direct me to the other threads. I did a search but failed to find anything.

Thanks.

4

Perhaps you should learn how to search ;D

But seriously, this webboards search option isn’t exactly good.
Try it like this next time > http://bfy.tw/CPaG

5

:slight_smile: I changed the words in the search and found a lengthy topic dating back a couple of years. I doubt I’ll convince Avast to change the program especially on the free version.

Thanks!

6

It has nothing to do with the free version.
All versions have it.

And I don’t think avast will do something about since XP is already dropped by MS and partially by avast also.

7

I have a programmable universal remote control (Philips Pronto) that cost a hell of a lot of money (think hundreds) and after Philips dropped support the software will only run in a 32-bit XP environment. Hence my need for Virtual XP to run.

8

You could get a old system, put XP on it and use that.
Only 1 monitor, kb and mouse needed if you use a kvm switch.

9

Yes, I could do all that or alternatively just disable the option in Avast. ;D

I should also say that up to 3 months ago Virtual XP was running fine and had been for a few years. This is a recent change but fortunately I can disable the option. I don’t understand its purpose anyway. Perhaps just to annoy people. It succeeded.

10

Slightly off-topic, but you might want to consider switching to using VMware Player or VirtualBox instead which are still supported and have loads of better features. Microsoft’s Virtual PC hasn’t been updated in years and is not supported on newer versions of Windows host, so something to think about going forward.

11

GFM,

Thanks for the info. When my laptop eventually dies and I have to move to Windows 10 I will certainly move to VMWare. My requirements are very simple and only involve the Pronto software. Having spent 4-5 hours yesterday investigating the problem I’m just relieved at this stage that Virtual XP is working again. It was a stressful afternoon.

12

If the weather at your place was about the same as at my place, you should have been outside and away from the system ;D

13

I live in north Cheshire. It was cloudy all day. :frowning: But the sun is out now! ;D