Delete Avast Files on an Old Disk

General Topics
1

Hello,

I’m trying to clean up some old hard drives for discard and/or sale.

One of them has a copy of an Avast installation.

When I tried to run Eraser,

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/eraser.html

I could not overwrite the files, even though this is not the working copy. I have not used this installation since 3/12/08, when I set up and started using my new machine and installed a fresh copy on the new hard drive.

When I open a view of the disk using ZTree

http://www.ztree.com/

none of the files appears to have attributes (hidden, system, etc) that would preclude a file deletion, but access to them is denied. This is even the case when I go to the system tray and exit Avast. Do I need to go to Task Manager and find executables associated with Avast and shut them down there, too? If so, I’d appreciate a list of the names.

Thanks,

baumgrenze

2

Did you try the avast uninstall utility available on the avast website?

3

Did you have encryption enabled when you were using the drive?

4

You can create a Darik’s Boot and Nuke floppy or CD to do it.
http://dban.sourceforge.net/

5

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I downloaded the avast! uninstall utility (aswClear.exe) and ran it.

I encountered an error message:

The avast! self protection module is enabled. For this reason, the operation cannot be completed.

To complete the operation either run this program from Windows Safe Mode, or disable the avast! self protection (via Settings → Troubleshooting page).

I opened Avast! and right clicked to get to Settings, I chose Troubleshooting and checked the box next to Disable avast! self-defense module. I closed the menu and then I closed avast!

The same error showed up.

I have avast On-access Scanner disabled in the system tray and I have exited the VRDB generator there.

Do I need to reboot or carry out some other action to apply the settings?

Thanks,

John

6

When you say you closed the Program Settings window, did you click OK or just close the window (top right) ?

You shouldn’t have to close avast, having clicked OK you should then have run the aswclear.exe again.

If you didn’t do that try it that way.

If you did OK to close then you could try running aswclear.exe from safe mode as avast doesn’t start in safe mode.

7

If everything is failing, you can try to uninstall avast from Control Panel.
Boot in Safe Mode.
Use the uninstall tool in Safe Mode.
With Darik’s Boot and Nuke floppy or CD you won’t be worried… it will wipe all the disk and data…