Problems with Installation... Please consider reviewing.

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi,

Recently my mom purchased “Avast! Internet Security 5.0 (3 PC, 1 Year).”

Upon uninstalling our former firewall “ZoneAlarm” and rebooting our PC’s to install the full Internet Security we had a problem.

First problem:

  1. We couldn’t uninstall the free version of avast!
    Solution: We uninstalled in Safe Mode.

So then we ran the internet security setup… the download went smoothly, also requesting a reboot upon completion.

Upon reboot the OS failed to load up, so I clicked “Restore to last known good configuration”, which brought the Product to an inconsistent state.

So I uninstalled it again, rebooted, and this time cleaned out all “ZoneAlarm” and “avast!” files from the registry.

This time the product installed smoothly but with only one problem… well two if you count what happened on my PC.

On mom’s PC the Firewall would not initialize. (<— Very bad)
On my PC, the Scan buttons were missing. (<— Definitely Very bad)

I read your forums after that and I tried downloading and using the latest Uninstall utility… the results were the same.

I tried using the repair feature on both PC’s… Nothing.

I even ripped out the product on both PC’s and tried using the free version w/ license to upgrade, which resulted in a system crash.

Overall, even with as much as I approve of the reviews of your product, I have to give it a solid 0 for installation…

Here is some information about my PC.
OS: Windows XP sp3
HDD Size and Type: Western Digital Caviar Blue 320 GB PATA
CPU: Intel Celeron 2.53 Ghz
RAM: 1.25 GB

and the only products it’s had as far as Anti-Spyware/Virus/Malware are: Spybot, MBAM, avast!, and ZoneAlarm (Firewall).

Thanks, please review this issue… It’s very unlikely that we’ll keep a product that doesn’t work. >:(

2

Avast 5 on Windows XP ::slight_smile: >>> don’t get me wrong, this is not your fault, but the main web site and those behind it who keep including WinXP in the minimum requirements for Avast 5. Main argument being that people complaining like you are very few if compared to the masses running Avast 5 + XP (SP3 and never post here. the official conclusion is they got no problem ::slight_smile: My conclusion is that it might be very few posters complaining on the forums, but they all post about the same issues, same issues experienced with XP SP3 exclusively >>> system not booting, or modules not starting, especially the firewall. Guys how come those issues never happen on Vista/Seven ? Wouldn’t it be time to admit that there’s no 100% compatibility between Avast 5 and Windows XP (fully updated)? I know some regular posters here do run such a configuration with no problem. I don’t know what the parameters causing the failures in XP are for some others. But that’s definitely always XP, and always the same issues for months now.

3

He/She should try to get rid of all leftovers. Maybe with Ccleaner or is there a uninstall utility for ZA…??
I also would drop Spybot S&D first.
@OP: Did you use the latest build of avast? (5.0.507)
asyn

4

Well I refused to put a license key in again until all problems were solved, so no. I uninstalled the Avast! Internet Security 5.0.462 before the update came out. Right now I’m using avast! free because at least it doesn’t crash my system and it ranks well among free products… Seriously considering Norton right now though. >:(

5

Also in response to your request to remove Spybot S&D, I flatly refuse. Avast! isn’t good at finding or detecting keyloggers upon access, and that is one of spybot’s features. Also, I can’t find any other reliable registry protection that I don’t have to pay for.

6

Well, Spybot S&D causes compatibility issues w/ lots of AVs and other antimalware products out there. Frankly, the thing is pretty much broken, definitely as far as the TeaTimer thing goes.

7

:frowning: I’ll make a wager.

When I was an AVG Free fan, I never had a single problem running it with Spybot, until Vundo crashed the system. I don’t have that problem now with avast! free. The problem doesn’t seem to have anything to do with spybot, but with avast!'s encoding. >:(

As far as actual spyware detection goes… if avast! bucks up their game and makes their product good at finding and removing keyloggers without downing the protection of the other fields (Virus, Malware)… then i’ll drop spybot. Until then though, I’m keeping it.

8

Shrug; your fight. I have seen the TeaTimer thing conflict with some many security solutions from so many different vendors that I wouldn’t touch it with a 10ft pole. Good luck.

9

So, if you were AVG fan, i guess you had it on your system…
Did you remove it completely before installing avast…? :wink:
AVG Remover: http://www.avg.com/download-tools
asyn

10

+1 ;D

11

I had to get a new hard-drive… Does that answer the question adequately?

12

Yes…! ;D

13

I don’t see what’s to smile about? For so many good reviews and recommendations to get the full version of this product… it’s turning out to be as lame a suite as any that I have ever dared to use in the past.

So you all suggest I remove spybot? Hmm… i’ll even use Ccleaner after that, but then what? if it doesn’t install then that’ll only go to prove my point.

14

If you want to give avast another try, please be sure to use the latest build…
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=58539.0
asyn

Btw, it’s always up to you, what software you use on your system.
Nevertheless most of us are rather experienced users - saw many systems/problems/solutions.
But again, if you follow our advice or not is totally up to you… :wink:
asyn

15

Well it’s a bit too late… and I’ve looked at my fair share of systems and what not myself. I’ve sent a refund request email. I’ll most likely get Norton when I get more money.

This is my first and last time posting on the avast! WEBforum. Hello and Goodbye everybody.

16

Goodbye.