last stable version of avast 5? Using 4.8

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I inherited this PC with XP SP2 (please do not suggest upgrading to SP3, will never do that again).
The former owner gave up on avast due to myriad problems with upgrading to 5 months ago and bought a Mac.

This PC has Windows Firewall, Malwarebytes Free, SpywareBlaster, and CCleaner.

Is avast 4.8 still supported with virus updates? Last night, PC froze on Firefox and some virus tried to install and avast went ballistic, said it moved to chest, then I shut down, restarted in safemode, and ran a full scan and avast found 3 things that I moved to the chest but when scan was over, the chest had an error that said:

Initialization of Chest files

Action was completed with errors!

Error reports:
Program cannot use Chest client: (null)
—>Description: Virus chest server is not running. RPC communication failed.

Initialization of Chest files

Program will try to load all Chest files from the following server: (null)

Action was completed with errors!

I did an avast repair in add/remove, shut down, signed on and chest was now available but NO new things were in it that I moved there during that scan. Malwarebytes found nothing.

I’m uneducated about PC’s and just want to use this one for the rest of this year then dump it.
I keep getting a pop up to UPGRADE avast but after reading many issues with XP with avast 5 versions, I definitely don’t want to install version 6, so can someone please tell me what was the last most STABLE version of 5 and where can I download it?

Also, specific instructions on what to do after downloading newer version to desktop (I am not technical, please)?
Do I uninstall avast 4.8 before downloading 5? Is there some utility to uninstall it or should I just use add/remove programs?

Thanks for any help!

2

Version 4.8 send some files to Chest due to backup reasons.
Version 6 is fully supported by Windows XP, why don’t you try an installation from scratch?

It’s not a good idea to downgrade… Anyway…

  1. Uninstall avast from Control Panel first.
  2. Boot.
  3. Use Avast Uninstall for complete uninstallation.
  4. Boot.
  5. Stay off-line (not connected to Internet)
  6. Install again the old version: http://filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/
  7. Boot.
  8. Register avast (insert the registration key).
  9. Uncheck the programs updates (set to manual).
  10. Only then connect to Internet (go on-line).
  11. Check and post the results.
3

I do NOT want version 6! All my friends with XP had major issues with it and I am not technical enough to deal with this.

Can someone please post a link to the most stable version of 5?

Your instructions are too hard to understand, you say to uninstall TWICE, why? And what is “boot”…shut down/turn off and then restart the PC?

I am really sorry, but I am a worse amateur than the previous owner of this PC.

Thanks again for any further help.

4

Number 6 above… ::slight_smile:

It’s not two uninstallations but rather using two methods to assure the uninstallation: the first (normal uninstallation) needs to be followed by a boot. The the second, to remove any remains of it, using the uninstall tool: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-uninstall-utility.html, followed by a second boot.

5

Look here and choose the one you want ;):

http://www.oldapps.com/avast_antivirus.php

6

I WILL NOT install version 6!
WHY are you insisting on this?

Can someone else please help?

  1. Where is the uninstaller for 4.8?
  2. do I first remove 4.8 from add/remove programs, then also use the uninstaller utility after that?
  3. I just found a download for 5.1.889 through a link on avast forums.
    So where do I save the download to 5.1.889…to my desktop?
  4. Do I do all this in safe mode or just in normal mode?
  5. what does he mean by “boot?” Shut down the PC totally, then restart it?

Thanks if someone new will reply that won’t insist I install version 6, which I absolutely will not.

7

Calm down, take a deep breath, and read Tech’s instructions again. Everything is provided as you requested, including links to Avast! 5 :slight_smile:

Greetz, Red.

8

I’m 76 years old, a NOVICE pc user, have never done any of this before, and I still do not understand the instructions. And there is NO link to the 4.8 uninstaller. WHY can’t someone just answer my numbered questions in order?
I don’t know what “boot” means, I don’t know what “HDD” means, don’t know where to save these downloaded things, and am totally LOST.

I can see why my elderly friend gave up on this forum and on avast, which is designed for experienced users only and us older users are treated like we should know what you’re all talking about and we DON’T.

Last try…in what order do i do what to uninstall 4.8 and install 5.1.889? please SOMEONE with patience give instructions.

9

Well, I’d suggest getting a help from someone more comfortable with these simple instructions then.

10
  • Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, aswClear5.exe find it here and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for avast applications, including 4.8 ).
11

Is this link safe to download 5.1.889?
http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/tech/9090/

Thanks.

12

Of course it is safe.

13

What is an HDD? Doesn’t anyone read anything? I don’t know what an HDD is, for god’s sake…is it the desktop?
And i don’t have anyone more experienced to help me!!!

PLEASE. someone from avast help me! How can I contact one of the moderators that work for avast?

14

HDD - hard drive. Seriously (and please take this advice positively), with responses like this:

I don't know what "boot" means, I don't know what "HDD" means, don't know where to save these downloaded things, and am totally LOST.

I do not think that you should be the person installing and setting up security software on your computer. Get a more experienced Windows user to do it for you.

15

He said he has no one to help him.

My own father is 77 years old so I can understand this is complicated for the OP. I will follow this topic and do my best to help him, and I am sure you guys will do too :slight_smile:

Greetz, Red.

16

eastwick66,

Others who are moderators will jump in on this, but in the interest of trying to get you up and running, I’ll give a try at helping you through the process of getting rid of Avast 4.8 and moving to Avast 5.1.

Below is the link to the Avast uninstall utility software. It is named awclear5.exe, but it will also uninstall Avast 4.8

http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility

Download it to your desktop or anywhere else on your c:\ drive (hard drive or HDD).

Run it to uninstall Avast 4.8. When you are done, TurnOff your computer and reboot.

Go to this link for Avast 5.1, which is a good release of Avast that came out just before Avast 6.0.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/9090/

As the other poster said, FileHippo provides a safe download site and gives you the choice of which version of any particular piece of software you want to use. The above link is for Avast Free AntiVirus 5.1.889 IS NOT the newer Avast Free 6.0.1000.

Download it to your desktop or to your c:\ drive (hard drive or HDD) and click on it. It will run a setup program for 5.1. TurnOFF your computer, then Reboot your computer and you should be OK. Questions about the install process can be asked here.

17

Not a single person would answer my numbered questions and the condescending replies are impossible to understand. You absolutely refuse to clarify and this is so sad for a company to insult novice users who obviously could do this IF someone would just answer their questions. And this is a “help” forum?
I am not BRAIN DEAD and could easily do this if just one person would clarify. But no, just keep insulting me.

I have TWO options on this PC: to “log off” or “turn off computer” which I assume is “boot” but no one will clarify it.
I asked five times if I could download avast and uninstall apps and save to the desktop and no one will answer.

I was warned by others that this forum treats novices like imbeciles and you all seem to actually enjoy being condescending.

My grand daughter offered to help, but she can’t understand the instructions either and asked: “boot?, do they mean reboot after shutting down or logging off?”

Thanks for all your help!

18

Hi eastwick66 :slight_smile:

Just to clarify: Most of us helping here are Avast! users like yourself trying to help other Avast! users. A lot of us also help other Avast! users in their community, personally I help a lot of Seniors like you. It is definitely not our intention to insult anyone for whatever reason. My apologies if you felt that way.

To answer your questions :

  • Yes, can download Avast! and the uninstall tool and safe them to your desktop, and execute them from there.

  • Yes, you need to reboot. Meaning starting the pc again after shutting down.

Greetz, Red.

19
I have TWO options on this PC: to "log off" or "turn off computer" which I assume is "boot" but no one will clarify it.
If you choose "[b]turn off computer[/b]" you should then see options to "[b]Standby[/b]", "[b]turn off[/b]" or "[b]restart[/b]". You can choose [b]turn off[/b], which will power the unit down completely or [b]restart[/b] which will do a soft re-boot without powering completely down. I think [b]restart[/b] will work just fine.
I asked five times if I could download avast and uninstall apps and save to the desktop and no one will answer.
Yes, save them to the desktop so you can find them easier. Later when everything has been installed and is working fine you can delete the uninstall tool and or avast setup program to the recycle bin if you wish.
I was warned by others that this forum treats novices like imbeciles and you all seem to actually enjoy being condescending.
Slow down, some of us are actually trying to help.
20

Thanks to the last EASY explanations, I was able to EASILY download version 5.1.889 with no problem.

If only the high tech members would stop telling people to “get help” from someone more “experienced” instead of just clarifying their instructions as asked, that would be so helpful to novices like me.

This is a great forum but the high tech people should stop being so demeaning to novice PC users. We’re not stupid, just inexperienced.

Anyway, avast seems to be working fine. Thanks to the lesser experienced users who helped me.