End of support for Windows XP/Vista

[DavidR]

@Harlequin post:100

@schmidthouse Thank you for your kind reply.

I would stay on ver4.8 if other versions are too heavy for my pc but the latest virus signature (fingerprint) file I get is out of date (March 2017). Can I somehow manually install a more recent signature file?

Alternatively, I could run a later version of Avast purely as a disk scanner and on-demand file scanner by disabling the interactive shield. I know this isn’t the best way to protect a pc but it may be all I can do. If I did this then which version of Avast would be advisable bearing in mind I don’t need the full set of bells and whistles - just a plain anti-virus?

Thanks for any information.

Thanks for any help.

Unfortunately the short answer is that you can’t. No longer is it only avast version 4.x that is unsupported but also the virus definitions that are unsupported.

See https://www.avast.com/download-update which shows you what virus definition updates are still available and what program versions they are for.

So there are virus definitions for Avast versions 5 to 8, if you can get one of those versions installed (probably version 8 would be better) then it should work.

[bob3160]

The oldest I still have available is v10.3.2225.1172

[igor0]

I would kinda disagree with the assumption that older versions use less resources - on contrary, I’d say the opposite is true (and even more so for the ancient 4.x). New versions bring more and more optimizations to slow down common operations as little as possible.
OK, I admit the user interface grew quite heavy over the time, and there may be some features that cause additional load - but the “core” (i.e. the scanning service with the real-time shields) should be fastest in the latest version of the program.

[schmidthouse]

Thanks igor for the input, appreciated.
With all due respect igor, I don’t know the tech specs or in-depth analysis of the Avast software, I can only tell you what I see and feel are the resources used when a version is installed and for my systems the fact is accurate…the newer versions DO USE more resources. Maybe it’s mostly the GUI, I don’t know for sure, I can only account for my experience on my specific OS’s.
As far as I’m aware, The Behavior Shield, for example, was not included in the earlier version nor was the Anti Ransom or Anti Exploit just to mention a couple of security improvements… These techniques all use extra resources that were not part of the old version stated v. 4.8

I might add that this resource use only become very obvious when using OS’s with limited RAM> I don’t notice any change on my ENVY with 16 GB of RAM

[schmidthouse]

@Harlequin post:100

@schmidthouse post:99

I would advise that the new/er versions of Avast require significantly more resources to function as the software has added greatly improve security techniques and components that simply were not part of earlier (4.80) versions

In addition, if you decide to proceed, use the “Custom” install option (not defautl) so you can choose what component to Check (install) and what you want to Uncheck (not use).
More components more resources required to funciton

@schmidthouse Thank you for your kind reply.

I would stay on ver4.8 if other versions are too heavy for my pc but the latest virus signature (fingerprint) file I get is out of date (March 2017). Can I somehow manually install a more recent signature file?

Alternatively, I could run a later version of Avast purely as a disk scanner and on-demand file scanner by disabling the interactive shield. I know this isn’t the best way to protect a pc but it may be all I can do. If I did this then which version of Avast would be advisable bearing in mind I don’t need the full set of bells and whistles - just a plain anti-virus?

Thanks for any information.

Thanks for any help.

You’re welcome

[INGBEAN]

@MartinZ post:59

We will create specific offline installer for Win XP/Vista, but that won’t be really promoted. I might publish it here on the forum but definitely won’t be presented on www.avast.com…

Hello MartinZ!

Now Avast has released V18.8.2356 (which is last version for XP).
I prefer to install Avast on OFFLINE PC’s (without internet connection).
After successful installation and stable running, I re-connect PC to internet.

My question: is a specific off-line installer for XP/Vista already available?
Or can you give us an estimated release date?

Best regards from Austria!
INGBEAN

[bob3160]

Why not download the installer from here and save it on a USB.
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=223244.msg1483594#msg1483594

[INGBEAN]

Offline installation is since V17.4 officially no longer supported on Vista and XP because new CEF (only one bundled in offline installer because of size) is not supported there and the online installer will download the correct CEF version.

INGBEAN

[system]

I clicked on update 2 days ago, and I lost my internet connection (I still run Vista Business). I’ve tried disabling all of the protection, and still cannot get IPv4 to go to Internet. (In safe mode, I can connect, but not in normal boot). Suggestions? I did run Tweaking.com Windows repair today, first in safe mode, then again in normal boot. I still can’t get on line. What now?

[chris...]

hi,
will the installer of the latest compatible version remain available for download on avast servers when the program will evolve for other OSes?
Until now, the old versions (especially the paid versions) are very difficult to find if they are not registered when they are released.

ps:Before anyone tells me to do so now , I would like to point out that it is simply to anticipate future requests from other members. As far as I’m concerned, it’s already done.

[Asyn]

@chris.. post:110

hi, will the installer of the latest compatible version remain available for download on avast servers when the program will evolve for other OSes?
Until now, the old versions (especially the paid versions) are very difficult to find if they are not registered when they are released.

Well, Martin said (Reply #59) he might provide them here, let’s see…

[chris...]

Thank you, I missed the message, sorry.

[Asyn]

You’re welcome.

[bob3160]

I’ve uploaded them to my Google Drive

https://screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1543158362755-78468.png

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FBSqtZn29_SUrD-Borp8YY9x5cVEgeRq

[MartinZ]

Yes we will create specific link of full offline installer of lastest version for XP/Vista and publish it here on forum.

[INGBEAN]

@MartinZ post:115

Yes we will create specific link of full offline installer of lastest version for XP/Vista and publish it here on forum.

Thanks for your confirmation.

INGBEAN

[DavidR]

@MartinZ post:115

Yes we will create specific link of full offline installer of lastest version for XP/Vista and publish it here on forum.

Can someone investigate problems that I have experienced CPU Spikes by AvastSvc.exe on updates after 18.5.2342.

So much so I have had to reinstall so for me having access to the latest version of avast isn’t great if it isn’t bullet proof and have to roll back/reinstall an earlier build, 18.5.2342.

@DavidR

It was running in my XP and win10 systems and whilst it didn’t use any CPU activity, AvastSvc.exe was in my case (winXP system) using a lot of CPU. This only seemed to appear after the 18.6 version and someone posted that they believe it was associated to the behaviour shield. If this is the case then the behaviour shield would be under the control of the main avast service, AvastSvc.exe and that was what

I’m not having this issue on my win10 system, unsecapp.exe is running but I’m not experiencing cpu spikes by AvastSvc.exe.

This is why I went back to avast version 18.5.2342, no unsecapp.exe running and so fare no cpu spikes by AvastSvc.exe.

[avastuser4118]

@DavidR post:117

So much so I have had to reinstall so for me having access to the latest version of avast isn’t great if it isn’t bullet proof and have to roll back/reinstall an earlier build, 18.5.2342.

@DavidR

It was running in my XP and win10 systems and whilst it didn’t use any CPU activity, AvastSvc.exe was in my case (winXP system) using a lot of CPU. This only seemed to appear after the 18.6 version and someone posted that they believe it was associated to the behaviour shield. If this is the case then the behaviour shield would be under the control of the main avast service, AvastSvc.exe and that was what

I’m not having this issue on my win10 system, unsecapp.exe is running but I’m not experiencing cpu spikes by AvastSvc.exe.

This is why I went back to avast version 18.5.2342, no unsecapp.exe running and so fare no cpu spikes by AvastSvc.exe.

I confirm every word, David wrote, for I rolled back like David (concerning my xp system) and have no probs anymore.

[TheOwner]

In January 2020 ends support for Win7 by Microsoft. Avast also stops support it in 2020?

[bob3160]

@TheOwner post:119

In January 2020 ends support for Win7 by Microsoft. Avast also stops support it in 2020?

Start a new topic. This has nothing to do with XP or Vista.