Avast uninstall tips

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I want to ensure all traces of Avast free are removed before doing a clean install and I’d really appreciate feedback regarding the following points.

  1. What do people here think about using Revo uninstaller as a first step?

  2. I read on this forum a while back that there’s an unofficial Cleanup tool that’s more effective than the official Avast removal tool. Has anyone used it and what do they think of it?

  3. Are there any locations where Avast files, folders, registry entries etc are particularly difficult to remove and may require manual deletion?

  4. Does anyone have any other tips or advice for removal.

Thanks.

2
  1. I would never recommend Revo to uninstall a security based application.

  • Download the latest version of avast, 7.0.1474 http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again (if you didn’t save your last download). Use that when you reinstall.

  • Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, aswClear.exe find it here and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for 5.x, 6.0.x and 7.0.x).

    1. Now uninstall avast! (using add remove programs, if you can’t do that start from the next step), reboot.- 2. run the avast! Uninstall Utility from safe mode, first for 6.x if previously installed and then for 7.0, once complete reboot into normal mode.- 3. install the latest version, reboot.
3

I found that unless I used aswclear in safe mode, then the outlook plugin would not be removed, as it was in use. I learned this from Lukas!

4

That has always been the default recommendation for using aswclear.exe, be that from the page where it is downloaded or in instructions for a clean reinstall. I even make that clarification on bold text.

5

Thanks for the replies. Has anyone used RejZoR’s unofficial cleanup tool and, if so, does it remove things that the official removal tool leaves behind?

6

Yes RejZoR’s removal tool is quite safe, he made the tool specifically for that reason so to remove the other stuff that the avast tool leaves behind.

7

Yes, it does. :slight_smile:

8

And where do I find Rejzor,s tool…is there a link to it??

Thanks

9

→ http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=103461.0

10

For best results should it be used in safe mode, like the official tool?

11

It doesn’t matter, as it only removes the leftovers. :wink:

12

I couldn’t get RejZoR’s tool to work in safe mode, but it seemed to work fine in normal mode. I used it after I’d used the official removal tool in safe mode (making sure I’d uninstalled every previous version of Avast I’d ever used from the drop down list) because RejZoR says his tool may not work unless the official tool has been used first.

13

Thanks for the link Asyn…(rejzors tool)

14

My tool works if official was used or not. And it has to run in normal mode because it accesses higher system rights which are not available in safe-mode. You still have to first uninstall avast! using Programs and Features option or by force removing it using aswClear. I don’t do brute force removals, aswClear will do that if something goes belly up with avast! uninstaller…

15

I think I misunderstood what this link said regarding using Programs and Features to uninstall (thought it referred to aswClear):

http://www.downloadcrew.co.uk/article/28081-avast_cleanup_tool

Can I make sure I’ve understood you properly? After uninstalling Avast using Programs and Features there’s no need to run aswClear AND your tool because yours will remove everything aswClear does plus more.

16

Correct, uninstall avast normally then run RejZoR’s tool.

17

You’re welcome.

18

Thanks. This is much more convenient than having to reboot in safe mode to use aswClear. Use RejZoR’s tool instead and everything can be done in normal mode. Well done RejZoR!