Well, to jump straight to the point here, Avast! won’t uninstall.
I wanted to switch/try another anti-virus software suite, but it wanted me to uninstall Avast! Internet Security 7.0, so I attempted to do so. I am using Windows Vista, all up to date and everything, and went under “Programs and Features” in the control panel to remove it. It opens up the main utility, I click uninstall, click next. And then the utility gives out. The next thing I did was uninstall it forcefully with “Revo Uninstaller” which got rid of the entire set, all the programs and registry points it could find. All the other Anti-Virus software I tried to install gave me installation trouble (strange driver errors), and after some time I went back to try to remove anything that might be left of Avast!. I downloaded the AWSClear.exe and ran it. It crashed upon running. I ran it in safe mode, same thing. It gets as far a saying the removal of the service was successful, before just crashing. When I start up back to normal windows, all of the sudden many different windows services/programs start crashing. When I tried to start back up a network service, it went BSOD. I then ran a system restore to before any of this happened, it loaded up to when Avast! was fully installed, more or less. I tried to uninstall it with AWSClear.exe again in safe mode, this time doing the same thing. Causing windows to be so dysfunctional it is not usable, and not even being able to finish AWSClear before it crashes. I restored it again, and now here I am. I am at a loss on what to do, as I no longer have any working AV (I do have MBAM, working in the background, but it isn’t a full AV). Can’t uninstall Avast! normally, as it crashes and does nothing (installer program), can’t use AWSClear, for the same reason, plus some. And trying to forcefully remove it via other programs doesn’t help me either. Does anyone have any ideas? I have tried to explain everything that happened, in order to the best of my knowledge. I hope this helps somewhat.
Revo Uninstaller does NOT work well with programs that require a boot to uninstall. Even less antivirus and firewalls.
I tried to uninstall it with AWSClear.exe again in safe mode, this time doing the same thing.avast! uninstall tool should work at this point...
Well, that bit of foolishness has been noted, but that still doesn’t seem to solve my debacle here.
Here we are in 2020 and I can’t uninstal Avast! Internet Security. Used Revo Uninstaller which went all the way through to the end finishing with a message that Avast! Internet Security would be fully deleted on next start up. Well I’ve done that and the Avast! icon is still on the desktop and is still clickable and opens, even though it doesn’t exist - how is this possible? I have uninstalled all Avast! products from my pc now even the free version. None of it exists. Grrrr. I am not techy, nor a pro, but damned if I know whats going on. HELP!
Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions…!!)
@Asyn, The OP relates to Avast IS v7. The uninstaller on Avast webpage is advertised as only for Avast v19. Also Avast seem to have removed any reference there to any OS older than Win7. See screenshot.
However, I remembered people were having difficulty removing old versions from Win XP/Vista. After trawling all through that thread I found a post by bob3160 that links to an installer suited to older versions.
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=220639.msg1516866#msg1516866
Maybe that will do the job?
I just wish the links for installers and ininstallers for older versions (e.g. for XP/Vista) appeared more prominent here on the forum instead of having to read through pages of the XP thread to get to them. Maybe something for the Mods to think about.
Hi, ignore the OP, @auntychook did reply to an outdated (2012) thread.
→ https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.msg527512#msg527512
→ https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.msg552606#msg552606
@Asyn. Ah OK you got me on the 2012 thing.
As for the links to installers/un-installers, OK for German language users, but think my comment about their visibility on English language part of the forum still applies.
Uninstaller - Avast AV for XP / Vista
https://install.avcdn.net/iavs9x-xp/avastclear.exe
@bob, No immediate need as OP was from beginning of last decade. Also see my reply #5 where I refer to your comprehensive listing of installer/un-installer links in the XP/Vista thread. Trouble is they are now hidden in the noise in that thread.
Just saying it would be good to have them a bit more visible on the forum, as a sticky or something, instead of having to search again whenever question calls for them. Cheers.
Stickies are pretty rare for a reason.