Since Avast IS updated itself to 7.0.1456 my machine has not run properly. It is a Dell Vostro 3450 running Windows 7 Professional with SP1 and I use the paid-for Avast IS. After it had updated itself to 7.0.1456 I restarted but on the restart just got a black screen with the mouse arrow showing. By going into Task Manager and killing an Explorer process I was able to get Windows up (it varied, sometimes killing an already running one would do it, other times I had to kill one and start another). However I was unable to connect to the internet, albeit that I only tried that using MS IE and the internet access icon in the bottom pane that normally shows a number of bars depending on strength stuck doing so was just showing a blue dot.
I was unable to uninstall Avast normally but I was able to do so in Safe mode. I then used a link from one of the Avast forums to try to install an older version of IS but I guess the server it linked to already had the new version so I ended up with 7.0.1456 again. However it seemed OK so I updated the signatures and did a full scan. However, next morning I could not get the internet again and when I tried to restart it started to install a large Windows update (this was 07:00 UK time, 12th July) but got stuck doing so. That it had acquired this update shows that there must have been connection to the internet even though IE would not work and I had the blue circle and no bars for the Internet Access icon. In the end I had to cut the mains and drop the battery out to get it out of the failed Windows update. I then did a system restore to a date just before 7.0.1456 came onto my machine. However this version did not seem to work properly, the summary window said that it was not protecting my machine. I uninstalled the paid-for licence governed version and installed a free version of Avast 7.0.1426. However, for some reason this soon updated itself to 7.0.1456 and I was back to the problem with IE not working again. I have used Firefox in the past but I gather that there have been problems with that. Chrome did seem to work but I get the feeling that there may be other issues and do not feel confident in having Avast 7.0.1456 on my machine. It is not at present so I am relying on Windows Defender and firewall but want to put something more trustworthy on my machine. I have been very pleased with Avast before this episode, it is much better than McAfee that I had before that made my machine run at snail’s pace. Hence I would like to stick with it but my patience is wearing thin - I had no satisfactory answer to the ticket that I posted. It seems from this forum and others on the internet that this 7.0.1456 problem, in various guises, is pretty widespread and that there is a fundamental problem with 7.0.1456. I want to know if Avast have a fix lined up which will be available soon because I will move to alternative AV software very soon if I do not get reassurance that there is. Help!
What other security software do you currently have or did you have in the past on this machine including:
- Antivirus (AV)
- Firewall (FW)
- Trial versions of AV, FW and other security programs
- Other security software
- If they were in the past, how did you remove them (the vendor’s uninstaller’s tool or another way)?
Please go to Avast GUI > Settings > Programs > change to “Ask when an update is available” and you will see the program change from green to red when an update is available so it won’t change on you automatically in the future.
Avast is working on a fix for the current version and they do read this forum.
Since you did a system restore, but you have an incomplete Windows Update (WU), I would suggest that you complete the Windows Update first, then it will prompt you to reboot your machine. You are safe to keep the Windows 7 Firewall on. However I’d like to get Avast working for you. After the reboot from the WU, please uninstall and do a clean install of Avast. Do you have a copy of the previous version of AIS on your HDD? If you do, make sure you change the settings as I listed above first and it will not automatically update itself to the newer version.
- Save a copy of Avast and save it to your HDD:
Version 7.0.1456:
Avast Free AV: http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe
Avast Pro AV : http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup.exe
Avast Internet Security: http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_internet_security_setup.exe
Avast 7.0.1426:
Avast Free AV: http://www.oldapps.com/avast_antivirus.php?old_avast=7370
- Download the Avast Uninstall Utility http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility and save it to your HDD.
- Disconnect from the Internet at this time.
- Go into Safe Mode (hit F8 repeatedly) and run the Avast Uninstall Tool. Uninstall ALL previous versions and products of Avast you had on this machine and reboot in between each uninstall.
- Reboot.
- Install the newest version of Avast and reboot.
- Get Internet access and register your copy or add the license key for Free, Pro, or AIS online.
Free – http://www.avast.com/registration-free-antivirus.php - Update the Avast definitions.
Let us know how this works for you. Thank you.
At present, having completely uninstalled all versions of Avast (from the Windows Control Panel - Programs and Features), the only security software on the machine other than that within Windows is Trusteer Rapport. When I received the machine last July it had Trend Micro AV on it but I uninstalled that after I had put Avast on. I got Avast IS on a month’s free trial, then paid for 12 months and put the licence on.
Thank you for the advice, I will follow the steps you suggest, in particular disabling auto update, but will try to get the older free version working for now. After all the problems I have had with 7.0.1456 I have no confidence in it and will stick with the older version until Avast can provide a fixed new update.
andyw62 have you run the Trendmicro removal tool to eliminate remnants ? it’s an absoloute pig of a program to fully remove from the system as my system also came with trend on it but i just decided to reinstall windows from scratch.
You can find the tool here http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/ 35a in the list
Thanks for the tip on Trend Micro - it came with the laptop due to Dell’s insistence on putting unrequested software on machines they sell. It may be that there are some remnants of it and I will try what you suggest. However there had been no obvious problem from last July when I installed Avast and uninstalled TM. First sign of any trouble was when my machine downloaded Avast IS 7.0.1456. I now have 7.0.1426 running and everything seems to be OK, it updates the signatures alright and I just ignore the warning to update the program. Any news on a fix for 7.0.1456? The problems seem pretty widespread so surely they must be working on it.
Andy, new program update in two weeks, if everything goes fine.
Good news about the expected update. I have Avast Free 7.0.1426 running, seemingly ok and with the latest virus definitions etc, so will make do with that and the Windows 7 firewall until that becomes available.
Good to hear things are working for you (temporarily) now. 
Thank you.
Is there news of a new version of Avast to replace the problematic 7.0.1456? It was suggested one would be available by the end of July but that hasn’t happened. I am currently using a free 30 day trial version, even though I have 2 weeks left of my paid-for annual subscription. I only have 2 days left of the 30 but cannot find a way of registering it using my existing authorisation code. I am loathe to renew for another year when the still current version is useless to me as it makes my computer unusable.
There were two or three betas since then… New version is soon.