Reverting Back to 8.0.1497

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

After having installed 2014 yesterday and using it for a while, I simply don’t like it. I don’t like the GUI overall, lack of ad blocker, lack of real time monitor monitors (and I have no clue why everything was rolled up into three), don’t like that I cannot resize the main window, don’t like that I can’t see more than 2 scans in scan history without scrolling, don’t like that many options are hidden and that I have to guess which arrow to expand to find something, don’t like… well I simply don’t like a lot of things… Avast you make a fabulous product and I’m sure you’ll fix a lot of this eventually, but I digress…

For now, I plan on reverting back to 8.0.1497. Has anyone done this yet? Is it best to do an uninstall and then clean install, or can I just install the old version on top of the new one?

2

I would recommend you the first option. Use avast unistall utility for each version you have run on your pc so far and then make fresh instal of 8.0.1497

3

The window that displays the scan logs is resizeable (Statistics - Component Status - Scans have been executed), it shows all my scan logs in the recent avast 2014 time frame, no scrolling required.

If you are prepared to spend a little time in reconnaissance, just looking at the various areas in the UI, it isn’t that difficult to find where things are, certainly not much different had you gone from avast 7’s UI to avast 8, that was a similar issue.

4

Hi dprout69,

I uninstalled v.9 and went back to v.8, also. I didn’t like it either. Even after running the Avast Uninstaller and going through the registry and reinstalling, I kept getting hangups and I couldn’t get on the web through either one of my two browsers.

5

If you are basing your protection on a few minor issues I think you are not giving v2014 a fair chance.
With all of the new technologies I find it extremely difficult to “not” like v2014.
Yes, It took me a few hours to get use to the new GUI but since then I have found it quite easy
to navigate and use. IMHO v2014 is the best version avast has ever released. There are a few things/changes
I would have liked to see but overall I like this. It always takes a little time getting use to change but these
changes are for the better. :slight_smile:

6

I agree with Para-Noid. Avast 2014 should be given a fair chance and yes and always getting to know and use new version takes time and hour to use. Just need to play around with the new user interface and it’s settings and in no time it will make it easy for us to know where settings and other functions are at? It took me 2-3 hours to get to know it’s user interface lol :). As a security and threats point of view and the way I think is that malware always evolve into many new forms of malware so new security and functions should be made :slight_smile:

7

I’m glad I decided to wait then… sorry you had to bite the bullet. I may just leave it alone then simply because I know uninstalling anti virus can be hazardous to your sanity.

8

I gave it a fair chance and used it for a day before I posted this and even left it until now as I was going to do it this weekend. Simply put, I have no clue whatsoever why everyone is intent on forcing a windows 8 format down everyone’s throat. The majority do not like it. The PC consumer market has already shown that… the block tile interface failed on windows phone, fails on tablets and has failed on the desktop market, as shown by the sales, but everyone keeps trying to make their platforms into that same design even though a simple search on the internet proves that it is filled with people that hate it. Windows 8 is nothing but wasted real estate on every screen, scrolling to get to anything and very fisher price and childish in appearance. Look at your component status screen as a perfect example.

Like I said… you guys make a fantastic product. Been with you for years and this certainly is not going to drive me away. However, you can tell by the reaction on the boards that many people do not like windows 8 and do not like the windows 8 GUI with which you are choosing to use. Whether or not you decide to change it is ultimately up to you but are you trying to roll out a product that people love or a product that eh… they’ll just get used to it and deal with it?

9

Can i get a link to the older version? I’d love to revert back rather than just uninstall.
The new avast wont let me install absolutely anything. Even stuff it previously scanned as clean and had previously installed.
All installations hang until i disable avast for an hour. Well since the update.
I would love to revert but never saved the old download.

derp never mind found old version at filehippo

10

Have/did you change any of the default settings ?
This sounds more like the Hardened Mode has been enabled (off by default) and it may have been set to aggressive, this could have an adverse effect.

Why won’t it let you install anything, e.g. what errors or alerts are displayed ?

11

Hi joulesbeef,

If you installed v.9, then you must run the Avast uninstaller (avastclear.exe)
from safe mode first:

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

After you’ve run it, reboot and go to: http://www.oldapps.com/avast_antivirus.php
and scroll down a little and you’ll see Avast v. 8.0.1489. The one above it is 1497, which was pointed out to me, is actually v.9

Download, install and you’re set. I hope that helps.

12

I’ve got Avast Internet Security ( and I paid for it ). In one month my license is over.

I LIKE Version 8.0.1497. I have been using version 9 for two days… and I find it really ugly. Can’t be avast improved without changing everything of the place it was?.

Now I’m with v. 8.0.1497 again and really dont know what to do. I’d like to continue with Avast but if the future of Avast is like v.9 … :frowning:

Avast or another one ???

13

@ Comme ci comme ça
I have never chosen aesthetics over protection, do I like the avast 9 UI, not very much, the home screen that isn’t resizeable and is too damn big, the statistics screen is even bloody bigger and can’t be resized. I’m not too enamoured with the flat look and colours (free version too white/light (this was even worse in avast 8 free).

But would I go back to 8.0, absolutely not, I probably spend a lot more time in the UI than most users, through helping out in the forums, taking screenshots of areas of the UI. Most users spend very little time overall in the UI as avast on default settings is fine for the average user, so not much need to go into the UI to tweak lots of settings.

14

@jpChris

The “Avast v. 8.0.1497” offered on the page you mentioned is not v. 8.0.1497.
Instead it’s the new version, too.

I wanted to go back to v. 8.0.1497 (on XP Home SP3), too, but I cannot find the setup of that version.

DeepScreen doesn’t work. In fact, it’s annoying me terribly.
Many exe’s are checked again and again, even after telling me they were ok.
But the major problem is, it keeps the taskplaner of XP from starting tasks that used to be working fine.

Please somebody tell me where to find the setup file for the previous Avast v. 8.0.1497.

15

@ madmax25,

You are correct. The version that was supposed to be 8.0.1497 IS version 9.

When I downloaded my copy I clicked on version 8.0.1489, not 1497.

Thank you for pointing out my error; I’ll change\edit my post if I can, and point it to 1489.

16

Meanwhile, I found the wanted v. 8.0.1497 here.
That one is, what it’s supposed to be.
At least, that version does what I want it to do.
Now the only problem is, it makes my computer slower than 2014.
Especially the context menu of everything takes ages to appear.
2014 is faster, but that doesn’t make any sense, if it doesn’t do what you want it to.

The speed of 2014, but the features of v8.0.1497, that would be the perfect version.

Btw. I found another bug in 2014.
In Firefox 24.0.1, on XP Home SP3, the icon for the Online Security feature cannot be moved to another position permanently.
To be more accurate, I can move it, but after closing and restarting FF, it’s almost in the upper right corner again, where I don’t like it to be. I prefer it to be next to the left edge of the adress bar.

I’m back on v8.0.1497, now, until the disappointing 2014 has been updated and fixed (hopefully soon!) and an improved version has been released.

17

But the major problem is, it keeps the taskplaner of XP from starting tasks that used to be working fine.

I’m on Windows XP. Yes! Workaround is to wait long enough at the windows logon prompt. Then autoruns and registry (…/Run) autoruns start normally.

THE MAJOR (sorry for cap) problem is that - if you did not wait on startup for avast and autoruns to start - windows won’t shutdown. “Saving settins” screen hangs forever.

Reverting.

18

I’m having the same problem on XP Home SP3, even after 10 minutes my firewall still hasn’t started, then Windows won’t shut down.

During login there’s a popup from Avast asking me to report a problem, but when I click on it a message flashes saying Outlook Express isn’t my default mail program.

19

@ wiwww
Sorry, that’s not my point.
I’m not talking about the startup or autorun.
I’m talking about the taskplaner!
I created tasks, supposed to be running some time during the day,
when the system has been booted long ago,
i.e. I’ve booted my system in the morning and these tasks are running in the afternoon.
Well, they should, but many of them fail.
So, it’s very unlikely something within the booting procedure is affected or causing this.
I, as well, created some tasks running after booting my system,
but I already added a sufficient delay to be sure the booting procedure is complete,
before any of these tasks would start.
Still these tasks fail.
They did not with the previous Avast version. Instead, they used to work great back then.

Let me add, I’m not using the Windows logon prompt, since I’m the only user of my system.
You talking about a workaround?
Isn’t it funny, if anything goes wrong, it’s “always” the user’s fault, “never” the one of the product!
What every user wants is a flawlessly working product, and not having to deal with whatever workarounds.
As soon as it comes to any “workarounds”, there’s something wrong with the product, not with the user or his system.

Avast up to v. 8.x.x was great, but v.2014 is not, sorry!
Well, the last one if v. 8.x.x wasn’t exactly fast, but at least it did work, except for the certificate issue with Thunderbird.

@ kluless
Many times, after updating to v.2014, my XP Home SP3 system didn’t shut down either.
Then, I was forced to shut it down “the hard way”, i.e. by pressing the power button for a few seconds.

Now, I will give it a chance for one more day.
If anything is failing again by then, I will definitely go back to v8.0.1497, until v.2014 will get to a true “final version” state.

EDIT:
I have to add one more thing.
Looks like the coders of Avast have forgotten netbook users, because the last installation window,
the one right after rebooting is too big for the 1024x600 screens.
Therefore, on these devices it’s hard to reach the button below to finish the installation.

20

Whilst this isn’t ideal, I had to do this on my Acer Aspire One, Win7 Starter (32bit) 10.1", 1024X600 screen.

I dragged the task bar over to the left side that gave more top to bottom space, then you can use the Tab key and watch out for the focus changing in the fields, having unchecked the chrome options. You should be able to see the two chrome boxes, tab until you see the focus change to that box 1. again should move into box 2. the next tab would take you to the first of the google (terms of use) box 3. then the second one (privacy policy) box 4. finally the tab would take you what is the unseen Continue button (5.) now you should be able to click the Enter key.

That should complete the process. A pain in the rear yes but at least you should be able to complete the process.