Has Avast considered adding option to roll back to previous release?

system · 2017-11-17T14:56:52.000Z

I realize that Avast does not make old versions available, and I am not referring to that.

What I am asking is related to when you install the latest update, and then find out that something does not work quite right on your PC, having a revert option would be great!

It would be handy to at least have the option to go back to the previous version, even if it was only for a week or a month. Like even Microsoft leaves a Windows.old folder after a feature upgrade on Windows. This make it possible to revert Windows to the previous version.

DavidR · 2017-11-17T17:38:21.000Z

I don’t believe that they have considered it, if they did then they chose not to. Mainly I assume that they don’t maintain old versions; it would also require that all of your previous installation and setting would have to be stored somewhere.

If you haven’t got a robust backup and recovery strategy, then you have a gap in your system protection.

There are many free image backup programs and they make an exact copy of your drive/partition, etc. in the event of any serious problem just drop back to your last backup image. I do a weekly full (some will also do incremental) drive/partition image backup and it is saved to a second hard disk (preferably to an external drive) and I save the last 6 backups.

If I experience any problem that is likely to take more than 30 minutes it is quicker to restore my last backup.

system · 2017-11-17T18:35:33.000Z

DavidR post:2:

I don’t believe that they have considered it, if they did then they chose not to. Mainly I assume that they don’t maintain old versions; it would also require that all of your previous installation and setting would have to be stored somewhere.

If you haven’t got a robust backup and recovery strategy, then you have a gap in your system protection.

There are many free image backup programs and they make an exact copy of your drive/partition, etc. in the event of any serious problem just drop back to your last backup image. I do a weekly full (some will also do incremental) drive/partition image backup and it is saved to a second hard disk (preferably to an external drive) and I save the last 6 backups.

If I experience any problem that is likely to take more than 30 minutes it is quicker to restore my last backup.

I understand. I use Macrium to do daily/weekly/monthly full images, so I am covered.

I was thinking about all those poor folks out there without a backup plan. Certainly that would be the majority of users, right? Every time that Avast updates, there are a flurry of complaints regarding various things that broke. That’s common with many security products. But other devs at least let you download an older version so you can uninstall and roll yourself back. How hard would it be to allow at least the most recent previous version of Avast to be available?

Seems a roll back option would offer peace of mind to the less technical users. Easy answer for tech support would be, roll back and wait for the next update with a fix! Win/win!!! ;D

DavidR · 2017-11-17T19:47:43.000Z

I have always advocated everyone having image backup of sorts. Unfortunately people tend not to think about it when the dark brown stuff hits the fan.

I have been using avast for almost 14 years now, and it has never been an option. Clearly avast must at some point considered it, but it certainly hasn’t come to fruition.

When avast also changed the Program Update setting to Automatic I felt that was going to be an issue. Previously it was set to Ask when an update was available, not I don’t even use that I have it set to Manual for the average user this may well be the best option, then hold back and monitor the forums.

I’m more than capable of looking after my systems, but of late, even I’m not updating immediately when a new program update and certainly not on all systems at once.

bob3160 · 2017-11-17T20:42:10.000Z

Image Backup - The easy way: https://youtu.be/y-2eawp0bB4

system · 2017-11-17T22:44:31.000Z

bob3160 post:5:

Image Backup - The easy way: https://youtu.be/y-2eawp0bB4

After using Windows 7 backup to image my PC for several years, I think Macrium Reflect Free is much more user friendly. I use both now, but actually would recommend Macrium, especially to first timers. https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

bob3160 · 2017-11-17T22:52:32.000Z

tinstaafl post:6:

bob3160 post:5:

Image Backup - The easy way: https://youtu.be/y-2eawp0bB4

After using Windows 7 backup to image my PC for several years, I think Macrium Reflect Free is much more user friendly. I use both now, but actually would recommend Macrium, especially to first timers. https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

To each their own. I personally can’t see why I should install something else when the function is already part of your Operating System.

system · 2017-11-17T22:56:48.000Z

DavidR post:4:

I have always advocated everyone having image backup of sorts. Unfortunately people tend not to think about it when the dark brown stuff hits the fan.

I have been using avast for almost 14 years now, and it has never been an option. Clearly avast must at some point considered it, but it certainly hasn’t come to fruition.

I have used Avast for many years myself, and it is usually what I install on friends or family PCs when asked to help. And Avast is what I usually recommend to any casual user who asks me about AV protection for their PC. 8)

I have more than one PC, and multiple VMs, so I do use a few other AV products as well. I haven’t spent much time on this forum, because I’ve actually rarely needed any help with Avast. Just pop in occasionally to lurk and catch up on current issues.

It’s just that I think this version issue is an area that could be easily improved by Avast. I’m all for making Avast a better product, and I would expect that the Avast team would be interested as well. ;D

But I’m not surprised at the resistance to progress from the “we always did it this way” crowd.

bob3160 · 2017-11-17T23:03:09.000Z

I personally don’t understand what your quoted reply has to do with the comment
“we always did it this way” crowd" ???

system · 2017-11-17T23:05:30.000Z

bob3160 post:7:

tinstaafl post:6:

bob3160 post:5:

Image Backup - The easy way: https://youtu.be/y-2eawp0bB4

After using Windows 7 backup to image my PC for several years, I think Macrium Reflect Free is much more user friendly. I use both now, but actually would recommend Macrium, especially to first timers. https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

To each their own. I personally can’t see why I should install something else when the function is already part of your Operating System.

Well for starters, with Windows built in imaging, you must manage your own image file retention manually. If not it will keep over writing the same file, so you need to move them to an archive folder if you want to keep more than one version. It’s great for power users like us, but again my original point of view about this post was making things easier for newbies.

A product like Macrium is set and forget, once you have set it up. All you have to do is check the logs occasionally. Oh, and make a recovery disk on CD/DVD or a thumb drive. Macrium will build a nice one from a wizard that automatically downloads and builds a Win PE version just for you!

bob3160 · 2017-11-17T23:13:28.000Z

tinstaafl post:10:

bob3160 post:7:

tinstaafl post:6:

bob3160 post:5:

Image Backup - The easy way: https://youtu.be/y-2eawp0bB4

After using Windows 7 backup to image my PC for several years, I think Macrium Reflect Free is much more user friendly. I use both now, but actually would recommend Macrium, especially to first timers. https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

To each their own. I personally can’t see why I should install something else when the function is already part of your Operating System.

Well for starters, with Windows built in imaging, you must manage your own image file retention manually. If not it will keep over writing the same file, so you need to move them to an archive folder if you want to keep more than one version. It’s great for power users like us, but again my original point of view about this post was making things easier for newbies.

A product like Macrium is set and forget, once you have set it up. All you have to do is check the logs occasionally. Oh, and make a recovery disk on CD/DVD or a thumb drive. Macrium will build a nice one from a wizard that automatically downloads and builds a Win PE version just for you!

Windows allows you to create a recovery disk. I save 5 images. Number 6 overrides the oldest.
As I said, different stokes for different folks.

Announcements