Tried to update Comodo Internet Security from version 7 to 8 with a clean install but it won’t install - more specifically, the Cmdagent won’t start. The report generated lists Avast as incompatible software which I don’t understand because I uninstalled the free version some time ago, also using the official removal tool and Rejzor’s unofficial tool. Here’s an extract of the CIS report:
Components Error=“0x00000000” Status=“Failed”>-
Unfortunately there’s no file path shown so I can’t see where Avast is located and I’ve looked in the most likely locations and found nothing. I’ve run both Avast removal tools again but Comodo still won’t install and still shows Avast in the report. Unfortunately noone on the Comodo forums has been able to help, so any assistance here would be really appreciated.
You say you’ve checked everywhere for remaining Avast components. Are you sure of this? By default Windows hides a whole bunch of folders, in particular the Application Data folder in Documents & Settings > All Users. Maybe this or another one wasn’t properly deleted by the uninstall(s).
For WinXP so may be different for Win7/8 etc but the principal should be the same. If you haven’t done this already try clicking on the Folder Options tab > View tab and change the Hidden Files & Folders entry in the drop down list to display those previously hidden. Click Apply and OK and you should now see the Application Data folder which may still contain an Avast folder.
Look for other previously hidden Avast files/folders elsewhere too.
If not you could also try using the “MSConfig” command to see if any Avast related components are still running in Services or Startup.
Thanks for the reply. Yes, Hidden files shown. Appdata (Vista) was one of the first places I looked. Also checked msconfig beforehand. Ran autoruns just in case but couldn’t see anything there.
i’m running really short of ideas so as I said any help of any kind would be appreciated.
Have you tried running a search with explorer for Avast, I usually get about 10 or so entries listed as snx or something similar that can only be removed by taking ownership, and check C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository and C:\Windows\System32\drivers for entries starting with asw, there should be several of those also.
When searching regedit all you need to type in is Avast and then hit the find tab.
I know how to delete them as you need to take ownership of the keys but explaining it is harder than showing you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OwfLtmqEwk mute the horrible noise/music ;D
After removing the keys from control set 1 you’ll have to repeat the process in control set 2.
These Legacy keys are placed in the registry by the OS and will ultimately be removed/replaced by the OS.
I don’t know why that would prevent the Comodo Installation. Only if comodo is specifically looking for legacy keys - which they should know are owned by the OS.
I’ve still got an older win7 hp system here David where the avast ( and others, Panda - Bitdefender etc ) legacy keys are still in there from 2 years ago, doesn’t look like the system is ever going to remove them to me.
This is why I perform manual removals of software on all systems I monitor as the removal tools just don’t perform their jobs correctly
But these legacy keys shouldn’t get in the way - that has been discussed in the forums before - at least one reply by avast team (Vlk I believe) that they shouldn’t be an issue.
Of course if a program is looking in the legacy keys to confirm the presence of another AV, that might stop it from installing - but it doesn’t confirm the presence of another AV installation as is the case here.
I don’t think Comodo would be looking at the legacy keys, it was more likely like some of the other areas of system 32 I directed n02paranoid to search for remnants.
Permissions > advanced >owner > change owner to your username (it should be on administrators by default) and check box to replace owner on subcontainers and objects then click apply then OK
Click add and type in your username then check names to populate then click OK
Highlight your name in the list and give yourself full control.
Close all pages then right click delete object/entry
All assistance given appreciated and yes, Craig, the youtube video showed what to do quite adequately. Would have been better without the music as you say and with a spoken narrative rather than typed, but thanks again for helping out on this.
Unfortunately no improvement. Comodo Internet Security still wont install and still shows Avast Internet Security and Avast free as incompatible software , as shown in the extract of the report in my first post. Searching windows explorer and the registry for avast and asw shows nothing. No idea what to do now.
I’m out of ideas, the only thing I can think of is running the Avast and Comodo removal tool again - reboot and try installing a fresh downloaded copy of Comodo.
Comodo still won’t install, not even the firewall on its own.
Is it possible there are remnants of older versions of Avast that the current removal tool or Rezjor’s cleanup tool won’t remove? i think I started using Avast with version 5 through to 9.
