I am currently using AVG Free. However, on the Grisoft website, there is a notice that they will not continue to support AVG Free for Win98SE after August 2008. So I am now looking for another free anti-virus program. I have seen some nice reviews, remarks about Avast, am willing to switch if I know that Avast will continue to support Win98SE with its free Avast Home Edition after a yearly re-registration. Thanks.
The avast policy is to keep all features that were compatible with Windows 95, 98 and Me available. Only new features are being just developed for newer Windows versions.
And ok, it will be free 8)
Welcome to avast. I’m an ex AVG user too 8)
I currently use AVG Free, and because of the support loss for 98 S.E in August 2008 I am therefore looking to use Avast free to replace my AVG program.
Is it wise to wait till nearer the time so that the beta version of Avast will be out in full non beta.
Secondly where is the best place to get the Avast free home edition.
Regards.
Well i’d say at www.avast.com 
Here you can download latest official version, newer ones will be automatically downloaded via updater when released. So no need to wait for this beta to finish. This is just a beta of a minor version update while major one is already final.
Most certainly no point in waiting, I jumped ship from AVG over three and a half years ago and haven’t looked back. 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. Disconnect from the internet, uninstall AVG, reboot, install avast!
Complete the avast! 4 Home Registration form and you will receive an email from register @ avast.com (without the spaces) with your registration key. Insert Registration Key - Video.
I’m another ex AVG user too.
You can download and install the last version as David said and if you want to test the latest beta (which is very stable), follow here: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=31426.msg261586#msg261586
The reason I want to go for Avast is because of it’s support for 98 S.E
Do you think that Avast will go down the same route as AVG and possibly give a date in the future when it will drop support for the older systems like 98 S.E for example?
I ask this not just because of AVG and their info re older systems, but because of the fact that most program vendors these days appear to be following microsoft like the tail following the dog with their lack of support going back to July 11th 2006 if my memory is correct.
Strange too how Spybot can offer support to Windows 95 and 98 etc whereby Adaware is dropping support for older systems by the end of 2007.
It has been said in the forums before that the intention is to continue support for win9X. However there are likely to be new functions that won’t work with win9x. This is not a limitation of avast but of the OS.
Like the Network Shield doesn’t work with older OSes, this shouldn’t be a problem as you should have a good firewall installed in any case.
Network Shield provider protects your computer from Internet worm attacks. It works similarly to a firewall, even though it does not fully substitutes it. The Network Shield does not require any user interaction.
It is probably because of limitations of the OS for new functionality which won’t work with them. You are going to find more and more of this even MS don’t support win9x.
I don’t think so. David has explained.
I use Zone Alarm, should this be ok for 98 S.E?
ZA used to support Windows 98. I’m not sure if the support will continue in the future.
As far I know, you can use ZA in Win 98.
Ex McAFee 4.0 ::), InoculateIT Personal Edition and AVG user, currently very happy with Avast 4.7 Home on 98SE & 95.
Re: Firewall? I still use Tiny Personal Firewall http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=tpfirewall because it’s so light on resources.
Which version did you download?
Tiny Personal Firewall 2.0.15A (1.4 MB)
Tiny Personal Firewall 2.0.9 (1.5 MB)
Good Question!
I haven’t actually downloaded it. I got 2.0.15 on a floppy disc (remember them?) years ago. I haven’t tried 2.0.9.
Hmmm… another lack of Windows 98 support… sooner or later… no ZA anymore.
Yeah, but surely one can still use the program even though the prog wont get updated itself.
Is that not how some folks go to old version.com, to utilise some older progs that will work with their respective operating system.
True. An old un-updated firewall is still effective.
I have reasonably fond memories of ZA 3.7 and 4.594 http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=zalarm
cheers
When you think about security, and not cosmetic, updates are necessary: new exploits, new problems… although, Windows 98 is a swiss cheese if you think this way.
Swiss cheese? you mean 98 should be ok?