cant upgrade free AV 6 -> 7

General Topics
1

when i try to upgrade from free antivirus 6 to free antivirus 7, i get this error message

Error reading product data from C:\program files\alwil software\avast 5\setup\

when i try to repair the current installation with windows’ add/remove program dialog, i get the same error message.

what is the solution? what can be done?

2

Probably best to do a clean install of the latest version to remove the old settings of avast6 and any earlier version:

  • Download the latest version of avast, 7.0.1426 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

ah. i love it when software works. and yes, avast seven installed and runs smoothly. thanks for the quick fix to an otherwise anxious problem.

4

No problem, glad I could help.

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