After uninstalling AVG Free 9.0 and installing Avast Free 6 on Vista I get this pop-up:
Microsoft needs more information about this software
“Sending these files can help Microsoft improve the effectiveness of Windows Defender.”
It wants my permission to send these file to Microsoft:
(one pop-up for each file)
awsRdr.sys
aswTdi.sys
aswSnx.sys
aswFsBlk.sys
aswWebRepIE.dll
AvastSvc.exe
ashShell.dll
avastUI.exe
Windows Defender definition version 1.69.443.0 created on 11/2/2009
See:
Topic: Windows defender issues with Avast
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=72350.0
Go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then Forum Profile Information then select your country in Please select your country: then update your Signature: with information like my signature as this helps the helpers offer pertinent advice.
I have gotten the same message from WD and just sent along the information. 
see my post here
As usual you are late for the party :
I don’t believe so in this case.
See my post on the link on my post above which provides more information about how to handle the problem then I believe was previously posted.
Besides it is the important people that always arrive late to parties. ;D ;D
Having 8 messages pop-up about Avast components looks unprofessional.
I have never seen another anti-virus do that.
Did this issue come to note while in beta?
It would be nice if “Avast Free” would suppress the Windows Defender automatically.
It should either disable Windows Defender or ask you if you want to disable it.
Yeah, so you need to go complain to MS and or disable/uninstall Windows Defender (as it’s redundant at best even with Avast Free). It’s been solved in latest WD definitions so this thread is pointless.
You need to update to the latest Windows Defender definitions:
Latest definition version: 1.99.176.0
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/Definitions/ADL.aspx
Choose the correct 32-bit or 64-bit definitions.
My guess would also be having Windows Update turned on and set to Automatic, or keeping up with Windows Update/having Windows Defender set to Auto-Update, would have kept Windows Defender up to date, and eliminated this problem.
Jack
Sorry but that does not Auto-Update Windows Defender definitions soon enough. 
good to know i’m not alone