Operating system is Win XP.
Avast has suddenly become so aggressive that I can’t install any new programs. I hit the exe file and Avast goes into some kind of mode that uses most of my CPU and the icon in systray just spins forever. Any installations now have to be done in safe mode without avast running.
Any ideas? :-\
Uninstall avast! 8 via add/remove. Download this tool http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility. Follow that instructions.
And then what - reinstall it? Won’t that put me in the same position?
any other security programs installed?
Yeah, private firewall - but that would present a popup and ask what I want to do. It’s the Avast program that seemingly is examining - something - but to a point of ridiculousness. It’s like, I tell the program to NOT update my software - but, every boot up it’s right back to looking for updates.
There is a rule of thumb that should be followed: If it ain’t broke - DON’T FIX IT!
Avast was just fine the way it was, but no - somebody always has to change things.
the software updater can be removed…
ad remove programs > avast > uninstall > change > remove the modules you do not want
OK … I can look into that. But can we find a solution to the fact that I can’t install any new programs without Avast tying everything up forever and having to go to safe mode where it isn’t running?
Can you give me a screenshot of that?
A screen shot of what? There is nothing to see in a screen shot. Like now I tried to upgrade Google Earth again, and it didn’t happen. Avast’s icon kept going around and around, my CPU usage was way up … and - no upgrade. If I go to safe mode and install it, it will work.
I just stopped avast from loading. Bootup was faster, and I installed google earth update with no problem - all other security programs loaded, which shows Avast is the problem. Reset avast to load, rebooted, and now I can’t get on the internet. I have had it with people who continually “upgrade” programs when it works fine just the way it is. If it ain’t broke - G’ DAMN IT - DON’T FIX IT.
Uninstall avast 8 again and try downloading avast 7 from OLDVERSION.COM or OLDAPPS.COM.
Some people are having some issues with version 8 with win xp.
Did have an issue with blue screening this was due to hard drive failing!
VERSION 8 IS RUNNING OK ON MY SYSTEM.
Try a run of malware bytes free to check for spyware
I works OK on my laptop, but I don’t really use it … right now I defeated Avast loading to my desktop and I was able to get back online with no problems. I’m going to uninstall it and go back to the earlier version. I don’t know what’s wrong, I just wish people would stop “improving things” when they are fine the way they are 
Well, after the war to win all wars - version 7 is finally back in. So far - so good. Now let’s see if I can run my malware programs too - and see if they can all play nice together … ugh.
At the end of the day Avast 7 will still protect you as the shields are good only if you keep the virus definitions updated. Still on version 7 on the older computers that i have.
If you clear your rules in your firewall and reboot, then when asked, allow avast access through your firewall
and your problems will be solved.
It works in avast!7 only because your firewall rule allows avast!7 internet access.
Everything seems back to normal with version 7 … I’m not updating or changing anything until this problem is resolved. I like avast, especially that it seems no one else “sees” the potential “web page problems” that pop up from time to time. Someone I know was malware attacked and all their email addresses were stolen. Then emails were sent to all the addresses in her list, and although I wasn’t sure, I clicked the link. Avast said “I wouldn’t go there if I were you” LOL. The others in the list got no such warning from their AV programs.
Maybe I’m getting old and cranky, but I do believe that there is a point where programs are good the way they are. It’s like, I like the old interface, why change it, there was no reason to change it. If it ain’t broke - don’t “fix it.”
I use private firewall … and Avast is recognized. The problem seems to be with Avast8 and XP. I mistakenly upgraded to what I thought was newer version 7.X than I had, and wound up with version 8 again. Within 15 minutes there was a blue screen crash, and I removed version 8 and replaced it with version 7 again. No more problems. Version 8 has issues it seems with XP … they need to be resolved because I refuse to get rid of XP.