(1) I have decided to download avast to my Dell laptop first (in case something goes wrong, I want to protect my desktop until I see.) BUT, avast says the free version is only for your home desktop? What about a home laptop? Surely they mean both. Do they?
(2) Is there anywhere on avast’s site that gives me directions on download, installation, and how to manage avast? One I could print out? Any pictures of the interface or controls? (As much as I hate Norton, the booklet was helpful as are all the things on the screen that explain what to do or what is going on.)
(3) What order do I do this in? Do I get rid of Norton first, then download avast? Or do I download avast while I am still protected by Norton, then uninstall Norton, and install avast from the download? And do I register before I download avast, or after?
These seem like picky questions, but they are important to me.
The usage is the issue not the system e.g. Home non-commercial/business use would cover a laptop provided that it wasn’t used for commercial/business use.
It isn’t complex and you should be able to live with the default installation and settings until you learn more. Also see http://www.avast.com/eng/faq-avast-4-home-professional.html although this is more to do if you experience problems.
Then browse the avast help file that will give you an idea of what settings are available to modify to your needs if required. You can also browse the sticky Topics at the top of each of the forums to help you get the best out of avast.
Download avast to your hard disk somewhere you can find it again and go off-line.
Uninstall Norton, reboot, on occasion it has been known for Norton to leave remnants that might effect the installation of avast; we can deal with that later if there is an issue.
Install avast and reboot, watch out for any indication that avast has found remnants of Norton.
If there is a problem with remnants a link worth looking at, which is a program removal tool that can remove the remnants of a number of different Norton Programs: Removing your Norton program using SymNRT running this tool should clean any remnants, go off-line and reboot.
DavidR got here first, so I’ll just answer the registraion question
Down load avast, get the norton removal tool from their site, uninstall norton, reboot,use the tool, reboot, install avast!, read the help files, ask questions here.
You answered all of my questions. Thank you so much.
I will now go to my laptop and start the process!
Both of my computers have Norton 2002. I have the booklet, so maybe there will be clues in it how to get rid of the remnants. If not, I will come back here.
Thank you again for your help. Being on this forum convinces me that I can always get help with avast when and if I need it.
Well, for now, avast is happily on my laptop. I did the Add/Remove thing for Norton, plus there were two other things in the Add/Remove thing - Live Update and Live Reg or something like that. Both are gone. However there still is a folder in C/Programs/Symantics that has four items. (Shall I try to get rid of them?)
Anyway, my laptop seems ok and the two blue balls from avast are there now. I have no idea what to do about them, but maybe just let them be. I do not need instant messaging protection nor do I see any need for my email going out to be screened.
I’ll see if I can find the boxes to uncheck these.
Whew. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous throughout this process.
What are the four items in the folder ?
For the moment I would leave well alone. The two icons i VRDB & a avast interface they can be merged together. Now would be a great time to start browsing the avast help file when your adrenalin levels are low and before you start tweaking things when you don’t know what they do.
There are 7 avast providers (left click the avast a icon, you should see a list of them if not click the More Details button) you only need to enable those you use so those that you don’t use can be terminated.
Outlook/Exchange only required if you use MS Outlook not exchange.
Instant Messenger only if you use an IM program, if not not need to untick anything, terminate.
P2P Shield not required unless you are using a peer 2 peer (file swapping) program.
The others Internet Mail (for pop3 email programs, OE, Thunderbird, etc.), Network Shield, Standard Shield and Web Shield are I would say the minimum requirement and should be running.
Scanning outbound email is valuable as should you end up with a spambot on your system the only thing likely to alert you to a problem is the Internet Mail. So even if you only ever use web based email Hotmail/Yahoo this is still valuable the overhead is minimal.
