Newby: Avast Home how to install 4.x and more

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Am a home user, notebook only, standard on-line usage, never go to any sites that are potentially bad and use Mozilla 2.0.0.2; XP Home SP 2, current long time NAV user (NAV 2006 expires in 20 days).

I have never to my knowledge had a virus that corrupted my system.

System is slowwww, always has been probably due to NAV.
and have advice from tekki friends that Avast Home (free) is a great product.

Several questions… Some answers are on various sites, faq’s. etc.,
but I wish to see them in one place for my own assurance.

BTW, I downloaded Avast Home free and am almost ready to move to Avast.

So:
Must I uninstall NAV 2006 first or will Avast do that for me?
For install, do I disconnect any hardware or leave my configuration as it is?

At what location do I install Avast Home, that is–
Must I log in and install in safe mode?
Administrator level?
or can I merely install from where it is on my PC, at regular non administrator level?

Is it so that your free product will keep me virus free?
As well as can be expected?
With minimal effort on my part, except my keeping away from bad sites and not opening emails that seem suspicious?

Will Avast Free Home update regularly to keep me free?

Since I use XP Home SP2, email is via current version of Outlook Express (not OUTLOOK), and goes through my IP (where protection exists) and G-Mail and ALL email is redirected to OE 6.0, via my Columbia University alumni redirect program, thus, do I need extra email protection?

Use Winpatrol, Spyware Blaster, Ad Aware SE Personal, and clean my system regularly.
Will I need to keep this spyware?

Thanks in advance,
Robert

2

Hello Robert welcome to the avast Forum

Must I uninstall NAV 2006 first or will Avast do that for me?
Yes Robert it is most important that you completely remove NAV 2006 prior to Avast Installation. NAV is difficult to completely remove via Control Panel. It is for this reason that Symantec.com (NAV) have a Removal Tool on their web site: NAV Removal http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039
At what location do I install Avast Home
The Default install location of Avast is C:\Program Files\Alwil Software
Must I log in and install in safe mode?
No safe Mode installation is not necessary
Administrator level?
Administrative privileges are required
Will Avast Free Home update regularly to keep me free?
Yes Avast updates very regularly few time a day if required (Automatically)

The continued use on a regular basis of the spyware programs mentioned is also advised.
Robert there isn’t a mention of a firewall go you use one?

3

Thank you.


Robert there isn’t a mention of a firewall go you use one?

I use XP Home SP 2 Security Center Firewall, is that not sufficient?
Or do you suggest another, though XP suggests only one firewall.

Since I use XP Home SP2, email is via current version of Outlook Express (not OUTLOOK), and goes through my IP (where protection exists) and G-Mail and ALL email is redirected to OE 6.0, via my Columbia University alumni redirect program, thus, do I need extra email protection?

Extra email protection or am I OK as is?

Do you think there will be system speed improvement with Avast Home?

(Am anticipating also reformatting my HDD, to get rid of old registry items and other things that cause slowness.) Been about four years since a clean install of XP, other than my upgrade to SP2 from SP 1.

Thanks. Again,

Oh…Have I missed any questions: questions I ought to be asking?

Robert

4

I also forgot to ask:

Do I go off line, that is disconnect the cable connection from Internet to my PC when I install Avast Home Free?

Thanks
Robert

5
Do I go off line, that is disconnect the cable connection from Internet to my PC when I install Avast Home Free?

Its just a small safety issue Robert? I wouldn’t but I’m a thrill seeker If you have a good read of the excellent help File supplied and the Stickies attached at the top of the General and Pro Forum sections a lot of your questions may be answered.

Failing that Robert ask as many help questions as you need. The Crew here are a helpful, happy, very intelligent great bunch of people. all happy to help.

All the best

6

Thank you, seeking a firewall to use in lieu of XP Security center.

Almost ready to go ,

Thanks Robert

7

I see no reason for that… I mean, you can install it connected.
If you’re afraid to connect before having an antivirus installed, ok, disconnect and install.
It will work (the installation) the same, connected or not.

Firewall?
http://www.matousec.com/projects/windows-personal-firewall-analysis/leak-tests-results.php#firewalls-ratings

8

Well, am good to go.

Downloaded Comodo FW and NAV ininstall,
and will first unstall NAV, guess I’ll turn off XP Firewall if it is on separately,

turn off my anti spyware,

then install Comodo and then Avast, per instructions of one of other Avast forums.

Wish me luck.

Thanks to one and all.

Should I/ can I close this topic on this forum?

Robert

9

You don’t need to disable XP firewall in order to uninstall NAV.

Why? It should be here for future reference if anyone needs or have the same problem.

10

Thank you,

I discovered that I did not have to disable Windows XP firewall, that is, after I installed Comodo, as it turned off XP Firewall as part of Comodo’s own install.

I Installed Avast, (after Comodo) Avast all installed and now apparently working fine, and am tweaking Avast.

Trying to generate the first VRDB so I can have it, then will set that to generate when screen saver is on, and will manually generate VRDB.

(VRDB Generation takes lots of CPU)

Any idea about how long does VRDB generation take?

Seems to take forever or is it only the first time that takes so long?

Thanks for everything,
Robert

11

It’s not necessary, the 21 days period is more than enough.
VRDB is not a panacea… don’t panic.

Depends on how it is generated. Generally some hours.

Next time it compares the existing data on VRDB with the one on HDD.

12

Thank you,
excellent,

if VRDB only a takes long time the first time.

At this point it is more my cpu consumption than virus’s I am concerned about.

If Avast is as they say,
it is great!! Back to you in a few months… to report

Thank you again.
Robert

13

I have my VRDB generation set for when the screen-saver is running and I never use a screen-saver. I then as a part of my regular system maintenance click the Generate VRDB Now every other week (a little more frequently than the default 21 days).

This way I run it at a time that is convenient to me and go off and have a coffee or a break. There is no issue of using CPU cycles as it is the only thing being done.

14

Thank you,

Robert

15

Your welcome.