I notice in the system requirements for Avast free that support for Win98SE will not continue after 2009. Will I be able to continue getting the virus definitions for Avast Home free 4.8 after 2009, (continuing to apply for the annual license) without updating to newer versions of the program itself? I am still continuing to use Win98SE very successfully (with a private programmer supplying updates, patches, hotfixes up to Feb/09 + further with annual updates). Avast Home has been superb for a non-techie, non computer generation type, like me, love to continue using it!! If I can continue using Avast 4.8, what a relief!! Thanks, Ken.
Nothing has been confirmed beyond the end of 2009, so no one other than Alwil can answer that.
The only reason I am asking is because that line about Win98SE/ME seems quite specific on the system requirements page. Will someone from Alwil perhaps reply to my question? (I am off to sleep will check back in the morning) Thanks again, Ken.
I guess you’re referring to this line from that page:
Note: The operating systems Windows 95/98/Me/NT4 will be supported until the end of 2009.
If you take that at face value - and no reason why you shouldn’t I guess - it would be reasonable to assume that sometime after 2009 support will cease.
Bottom Line. I just want to know whether the premise of my original message might, in fact, be acceptable, so that I might continue using Win98SE which is very much my comfort level. If not, then I have to look at installing Win 2k Professional SP4, which many feel is Microsoft’s top OS or XP Pro SP3 or switch completely to a Mac (no registry in a Mac so very little chance of virus or spyware) which I have been experimenting with, I think that Mac is very much the future!!. Thanks, Ken.
Seeing as how Win 2k Professional SP4 is slightly after Win98SE then it might work but XP is in the wane and Vista is current and Windows 7 is just over the horizon I guess that if you have the money and the applications work on the Mac then Apple may have another customer.
By the way, avast! works on a Mac.
Hi,
Support for the current version of Avast may continue until late 2010 but when it stops so will the updates.
I have W98SE and I have installed Xubuntu dual boot because Linux is virtually infection free.
I use a few PortableApps for Windows via Wine as per the image below.
http://g.imagehost.org/t/0573/PortableApps.jpg
Else, it takes about 3 minutes to boot into W98SE.
My regards
PS I use the Avast program for Debian Linux in Xubuntu to protect me from Windows infections and there has been no announcement that its support will cease. I also use the Xubuntu firewall which many would regard as overkill.
.
avast! 4.8 will probably continue alongside avast! 5 for about 12 months after 5 is released. It could be as early as July 2010 or it could be January 2011! I think there’ll be plenty of warning whatever the end date is.
So Vladimyr, just to sum up, what you are saying is that even if 4.8 has support even to Jan. 2011, after that date no virus definitions will be available for Avast Home 4.8, that it will become non-functional? Will support for Win 2K Pro SP4, which is like XP Pro SP3, continue after Jan. 2011, which might be my preferable alternative? If that is the case, that gives me plenty of time to either install Win 2K Pro or Win XP Pro or switch to a Mac. I notice that Avast for the Mac requires a minimum system spec of Tiger 10.4. I currently have an iMac G3/400 with Panther 10.3.9, which rules out Avast. ClamXav has a free version for Panther, which might become the Mac choice. Thanks, Ken.
This is all speculation as I have seen nothing official specifically stating that from Alwil software, so if any respondent has seen that I would welcome the reference.
There have been the usual rumours/suggestion that Virus Signature updates may continue on version 4.8 beyond the end of 2009. But, I haven’t seen anything official on that, so I don’t believe it wise to make decisions based on speculation.
Hi David R,
This is what igor said on 2nd May 2009
“avast! 5.0 wasn’t released yet - and when it is, it will be avast! Home/Professional first; the update for server and network editions will come later. So, my personal guess is that the 4.x support will be prolonged and won’t stop at January 2010. But it’s just my opinion, no promises/guarantees.”
I take vital decisions based upon on the best information available so I already have Xubuntu and the guy who’s asking the questions has already tinkered with MAC.
So you recommend action and we agree with you. On the one hand where, in this thread, was it recommended that a decision be deferred? On the other hand, for those who opt for a second Operating System - that may not actually be needed until late 2010. However, on the third hand the world may end on 31st December or even today (except that it’s already tomorrow in Australia).
My regards
Mike, you have put it into perspective. I, we, just want someone from Alwil to give a definitive response. The problem for me as a Win98SE user is that the only free alternative remaining is ClamWin. I hesitate to ever return to Norton because of the bloat, the way it slows the performance of my computer, so I am just trying to plan as a non-techie, not of the computer generation, in case a change is inevitable, can’t take a chance on virus exposure if I continue to use a Microsoft OS. I am prepping Win 2k Pro SP4 + Win XP Pro SP3 just in case. The Mac alternative is easy because viruses are, so far, not a problem. It is a shame if we cannot continue using Avast, which has been so reliable, effective, intensive in coping with the ever growing virus crisis. Avast is simply, IMO, the finest anti virus program available. Just continuing to offer definition updates seems, in my non-technical opinion, to be a reasonable stance. Thanks, Ken.
Yes that is Igor’s ‘personal’ view which as he qualified "But it’s just my opinion, no promises/guarantees.
So any likely support extension for avast 4.8 & win9x/ME going beyond the end of this year would I guess have to be made in the next few months.
Hi Ken,
(1) There is little chance that you will get a quick answer as to when W98SE will cease.
(2) It is costly and difficult to continue support for W98SE and only for the benefit of us few.
(3) Microsoft gave up on us years ago.
(4) It would be churlish to criticise ClamWin since it is free but Avast is hugely more effective.
(5) My advice would be; implement at least a temporary alternative to W98SE by 31/10/09.
(6) Never mind all the technicalities - just see the wood for the trees.
Hi David,
I am inclined to consider what igor says very seriously. I am usually equally in favour of treating all your thoughts just as seriously, except that you have just made a guess after stating guesses are useless?
My regards to all
That doesn’t change the facts, my guess is that at some point a decision will have to be made, that is however, an inevitable fact, the only guess is when the decision will be made.
So until it does then what we know for a fact is really what has to be used for forward planning.
Hi,
The decision has been officially announced but the effective date has not been announced.
Forward Planning is in any event a process rather than a fact (except in and of itself).
My regards
avast! is a great product for XP and beyond. Win 9x/ME/NT/2000 shall be unsupported eventually. My advice to those of us who still love 9x/ME is – BEFORE the support ends – to get the old BitDefender Version 10 FREE. During the install, choose the COMPLETE option. A 9x/ME user shall have a very good on access, P2P and email scanner. Many are of the opinion that 9x/ME/NT/2000 are going to be replaced soon with (at least) XP, Vista or Win 7. Not so! Win NT/2000 servers are all over in businesses in Texas, and people – including The Houston Police Department, US ARMY recruiting posts, etc. – are tired of upgrading to yet ANOTHER MS OS which FAILS to work! This should be clear from the number of support boards on the net and the number of posts on these boards.
Dave
Hi Dave, Mike. I went to get the Bit Defender Free Version 10 but it kept taking me a link for the trial version of some similar software. But the following link, after searching Google took me to an actual link for the version you are talking about, on the site File Hippo: http:http://www.filehippo.com/download_bitdefender/, I hope it takes you there. This same situation took place with Super AntiSpyware Free, but if I continue to use the legacy version I am using, I will, so they say, always be able to get the spyware definitions, so far it’s working.
I suspect that Avast will probably continue supporting Win 2K because it runs programs akin to XP. So if I continue to use a Microsoft OS, I will either try Bit Defender Free 10 or Clam Win, or just begin again with either Win 2K Pro SP4 or Win XP Pro SP3, then continue using Avast or just completely change to a Mac, which is increasingly becoming more intriguing. Then no more virus worries, also the most stable OS I have ever seen, rarely if ever crashes, much more innovative than any Microsoft OS. Thanks, Ken.
pixturesk,
Please forgive me for stateing what you probally already know,but the BitDefender free is on demand only,
and instals more process’s than most real time AV’s.
I would at least look into online scans,and maybe DrWeb Cureit.
Thanks normishmael. I now have both Bit Defender + Clam Win, will seriously check them out, but no panic, want to hear the official announcement from Alwil, then take it from there. Thanks.