Clean uninstall of avast 4 after avast 5 install

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hy,
I made an upgrade from avast 4 to avast 5.

First, I didn’t uninstall avast 4 and install avast 5: it worked and deleted avast 4 folder.

But in ZoneAlarm, avast 4 (with path to folder deleted avast 4) was still asking an internet access.
I uninstalled every versions with windows uninstaller first and with avast uninstaller.
I clean the unused registry keys with regcleaner.
Then I made a clean install of avast 5.
It seems to work.

But in both cases, avast 4 ask an internet access to ZoneAlarm:

Program Files/Alwil Softaware/Avast4/ashServ.exe
Program Files/Alwil Softaware/Avast4/Setup/Avast.setup
Program Files/Alwil Softaware/Avast4/ashMailSv.exe
Program Files/Alwil Softaware/Avast4/ashDisp.exe
Program Files/Alwil Softaware/Avast4/ashAvast.exe

How can I uninstall completely avast 4 ??? ???

2

avast 5 does indeed remove all of the avast4 folder (as you mention), etc. so if you haven’t got an avast4 folder on your system the files can’t exist (have you confirmed) ?
If so and the avast4 folder doesn’t exist then I don’t know what ZA has its permission knickers in a twist about.

Delete all the entries for those old 4.8 entries in the ZA program control area of the firewall.

I don’t know if there might be registry entries remaining, but without associated files I don’t see how they can ask for an internet connection.

Personally I don’t think this should be necessary but it will confirm:
Download the latest version of avast http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again. Use that when you reinstall. Ensure that you scroll down and select the avast direct download link for the English version and not Cnet as that is for an on-line installation (not what you want to do).
Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, find it here ensure you get the version4 one, aswClear.exe and save it to your HDD.

  • run the avast! Uninstall Utility from safe mode, once complete reboot into normal mode.- this may give option for other avast versions, ensure that you choose avast4 or you may remove avast5, once complete reboot.
3

Thanks DavidR,

I did it before.

That’s what is amazing: avast 4 folder is deleted and the ZA program control ask for internet access.
If I delete every entries concerning avast 4, keeping only avast 5 entries, after reboot avast 4 entries are back… Even after deleting of ZA tmp files in file explorer…

Any other suggestions ?

4

I can’t understand why this is happening, if you confirm there is no avast4 folder (so the files ZA is reporting don’t exist) and if you have run the aswclear.exe from safe mode (important) that should also have ensured that there are no old avast4 registry entries. So I really don’t know where this might be coming from.

I really don’t have a clue about Zone Alarm any longer as I gave up on it many years ago when the free version was relatively good and not bloated. Now ZA free I feel doesn’t offer great protection and has become bloated. I mean ashDisp.exe doesn’t connect at all and neither should ashAvast.exe or ashServ.exe (as far as I’m aware) so what ZA is playing at here is beyond me.

If ZA is reporting these are trying to connect (which I highly doubt) then they would also have to be running in the task manager, I bet they aren’t ?

You could try reinstalling ZA, personally I would be looking for a better firewall, check out these firewall tests, not testing everything about a firewall just protecting against unauthorised outbound connections/leak tests (circumventing the firewall).

See http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php.

Many forum users are using these:

  • PC Tools Firewall seems to have the least user headaches as it doesn’t seem to be constantly asking the user questions about this and that.
  • Online Armor for the most parts fine but it has caused some users grief after avast program updates and that is something you have to watch out for.
  • Outpost Firewall 2009 free, a cut down version of the Outpost Firewall Pro version, which should still provide good protection, http://free.agnitum.com/. Download, http://www.filehippo.com/download_outpost_firewall/
5

With Avast5, the older Sygate Firewall that I’m using shows four files that have requested access.

AvastUI.exe
AvastSvc.exe

The above two are always shown as active in the firewall interface.

ashRunDll.exe
avast.setup

I believe that these two are only used during installs and/or program updates. I have ashRunDll.exe set to ask and haven’t had a request since the first time(I don’t remember the circumstances). Avast5 is running fine, with VPS pop-up notifications showing, etc.