Hi Guys,
Can anyone tell me how to COMPLETELY uninstall Avast Pro including all files, dll’s etc.
Thanks
This simplest way is to use the Windows Add/Remove function on the Control Panel.
If this fails to remove all the files (but it should), download a copy of Avclear4 from www.alwil.com (Downloads).
This is an uninstall program which WILL remove everything.
Good luck ;D
Question: Why are you removing Avast? Having problems? Not satisfied? Maybe we can help get you to use it!
techie :-[
Hi techie101,
Thanks for the reply. Do you know if your reference to Avclear4 is current?.. I couldn’t see it at that link!
As for the reason, I am having hell of problems with ‘system’ crashes 
(blue screen etc) and I have been loading and re-loading my OS (XP) until I’m doing it in my sleep. My PC manufacturers support dept., are about as useful as a chocolate tea-pot and in my opinion, haven’t got a clue what the problem is. So the last time a did an OS re-install, I backed up everything prior to installing each piece of application software. Now looking at the ‘event logs’ the only date/time I can relate the start of the crashes to is the install of Avast.
Don’t get me wrong, I reckon Avast is the best AV application, but there is another thread in the forums about ‘crashes and freezing’ and suspiciously kubecj asked me to send my Avast setup log which I did. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any feedback coming back (I have asked), so I want to un-install Avast to eliminate it from my investigations.
I’m now in the process of trying to find where to get my error MiniDump files analysed, but we all know how helpful MS can be and my PC manufacturer seems to think mini dump has got something to do with disposing of an old fridge! >:(
If that Avclear file is still available, I’d really like to get hold of it.
Thanks for the input.
AvClear:
http://www.asw.cz/i_idt_1336.html
Thanks whocares… got it.
walker,
I am glad another member had the link handy. Sorry, I should have just given it to you instead of telling you where to go. I try to answer as many of these questions as I am able, so I have to jump around alot and it becomes time consuming.
Anyway, I share your feelings about customer support, and MS. Try going to www.protonic.com The tech support is free and the techs there are pretty nice and helpful.
I have also heard of conflicts when Avast is installed, but thusfar, no definite determination has been made as to why it happens. I have Avast on my W98, ME and XP machines. All run fine.
The only help I can offer is that in my W98 machine, it did crash after Avast was installed, but it seems that the crash was the result of another program that conflicted with Avast. That other program was the cause, and Avast was the trigger! Now I have Avast back in and it works great.
In Kubs defense…he normally is prompt. They do get busy. Try sending him another email, or use the IM feature on the board to catch his attention (if his light is green…he is monitoring)
Good luck.
Thanks techie101, I’ll give your link a try… sounds interesting.
I wasn’t knocking the Avast crew, I think they do a great job and I’m guessing they are up to their necks in the new release issues. Unfortunately I have a ‘needs must’ kind of scenario.
Hopefully there will be some answers when things quieten down.
Thanks again for your help.
Sorry, I didn’t get your mail. Can you resend it? And please, cc also to jindrich DOT kubec AT seznam DOT cz
Just to be sure.
thanks,
Hi kubecj,
Have resent with copy to alt address. Please note, I have had a couple of more updates since you originally asked, so I guess the log will reflect this.
walker
Hi,
got your logs today. All of them look perfectly reasonable to me.
Are you having any uninstall (or other) problems right now? I think you’re using latest 268 version.
Hi (sorry should it be Jindrich or Kubec, the name has me beat :-\ )
It’s a real mish mash of coinsidence… covered a little bit in other threads (crash/freeze & update better) and a brief passing with Vlk,
Anyway, scenario…
*New PC with pre-installed Spanish language software.
*Got manufacturer to change the software for English version (came on CD’s for me to install, naturally).
*Same time as installing new software, Avast updates were realeased.
*Also at same time, computer starts ‘blue screen’ crashes and random shut-down/reboots.
Ok, on from there… I didn’t suspect Avast and did many reloads of OS and application software inc. Avast and MS updates, but the problem persisted. Vlk suggested removing Outpost firewall, which I did, still no joy.
Eventually, I started loading the OS and each application seperately (btw; these were always ‘fresh’ re-loads inc partitioning/format). I then got to the stage where it appears that the crashes etc started after loading Avast. This was about the time you asked me to send the setup-log, because I assumed you saw something wrong with the file date stamps I posted in the other thread!.
Moving on again 
… Whilst this is going on and in between your replies, the ‘Blue Screen’ crashes, re-boots etc stopped and the machine became STABLE. The ONLY thing I KNOW OF that has happened in that interim period is that that Avast updates have been coming through and loading. I still haven’t finished loading my other applications as I stopped when things pointed to Avast.
My un-educated assumption was that you guys might have fixed something in Avast (or the loaded) which rectified my problems and that I had just managed to pick the worst time (ie middle of Avast going to a new version) to have loaded it. Of course, I was, and still am really, curious as to what you saw wrong with those file dates to prompt you to ask for the setup-log!?
Finally, the here and now… TODAY… the machine has still been stable for a couple of days and my comment to Vlk was… I’d love to be able to reassure myself and put a finger on what caused the problem. Especially before I load any more software. My thoughts at the moment are to partition and format again and do another ‘fresh’ OS re-load or ‘completely’ remove Avast with AvClear4 (suggested on the forum) and just reload Avast fresh.
Strangely enough, I would have felt happier if you HAD found something in the setup-log or told me that Avast ‘might’ have caused the problems (given the scenario). The quandry now is, have I located the problem, has Windows sorted itself out (and better NOT to reload the OS!!!).
I had a look at the setup-log myself and noticed some items with errors, server downs and failed updates. I also noticed Vlk posted a thread aking if the latest version has helped with the ‘crash’ problems!!!, but everything that is coming back to me is saying there isn’t an Avast problem!. I’m at a loss to know what direction to take for the best!!! :-\ :-\
Sorry for the long message, any (re)thoughts, suggestions, clarifications?
Much appreciate your interest kubecJ. I’m in no way knocking Avast or the team… both are great.
Walker,
If you can’t wait get your crash dump analyzed, try this approach. Start with a clean installation of only Windows and avast!. Use the system for a while, then install one more application. Repeat, installing one applicaton at a time. If the problem is a conflict between avast! and some other program, there’s a reasonable chance it will be the last one installed. Of course, if the problem results from a combination of applications and avast!, well good luck untangling that mess. Since you’ve already installed some of your apps., and your system is stable so far, it’s a good gamble that you can just continue from this point forward without disrupting this test.
I hope you can continue to use avast!. It’s a terrific product, and the willingness of the people here to help and the quality of their advice just can’t be beat.
Regards,
Hornus
Thanks for the suggestions Hornus.
Things have actually moved on a bit since… one blue screen proved fatal
I did go your suggested route at one time, but there are SO many devices on this pc that it became impractical to disable them all and then test one at a time. Also, I’m not convinced that Windows is reporting the devices correctly as most of the information is read from the drivers that windows actually see’s fit to load.
Anyway, it’s a long, long story and I’ve paid my most favourite people in the whole world for support, and they are busy scratching their heads over the problem… good old Microsoft :o 
>:(
Best of Luck Walker, and let us know the outcome (especially your opinion of the support you got from MS).
I really agree with you Hornus…
Walker, if it helps, when you have time, take a look at the freeware list fully compatible with avast! (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=834;start=new).
Luck with MS support…
No one has a support team like avast!
Thanks Hornus, thanks Technical,
There’s no worries about me moving away from Avast. I’m like you guys… a devotee.
As for Microsoft, this is the first time I’ve tried paying for one of their support incidents and I knew it was gonna be a waste of time before I started. :-\ .
It costs about 54 UK pounds (inc tax) for one incident and once they take your credit card details (over the phone), they put you in a queue for a technician. 40 minutes of listening to Frank Sinatra belting out ‘I did it my way’ and I gave up. Called them back and they said…‘Oh but some people hang on for one and a half HOURS… we’re busy with the Blaster virus, don’t you know’ : . I’m close to saying… you should’nt have lousy software that’s open to so many attacks.
At the moment, it’s not really viable for me to hang on the phone (calling Ireland from Spain) for over an hour, So I don’t know if I will ever get anywhere with that option.
Oh how I love Microsoft :-\ :-X >:(
We´re with you Microsoft? What is this? ;D
Maybe you should lost your time and start again OS, applications…
Yep Technical, without exageration I must have done that 50 times already
I’m running again now without many of the devices and drivers loaded… and it has been OK for a couple of days. The problem is, eventually I will need the other devices and drivers.
However, if I let Windows choose them, this is where I think the problems will start again. With a fresh OS install (as I am now), Windows does not identify the device that are fitted/installed… ie they all come up as ‘unknown devices’. So what I really need is the mainboard and system manufacturer to tell me what is actually fitted in this PC… which they aren’t doing!.
As an example, the PC manufacturer told me that it had SIS chipsets… I opened it up and lo and behold… there sits Intel chipsets!!!.
My thinking is, Windows is finding incorrect device drivers which are causing the crashes. OK… it could be suggested that I download the drivers direct from the device manufacturers websites, but there are two problems here. 1, I need the PC manufacturer/mainboard maker to tell me exactly what devices I have. 2, some of the devices are supposedly the PC manufacturers own components (TV/Radio/modem combo card) which seems to have their own proprietry drivers.
It’s all a bit of a saga, :-\ but I’ll get there eventually
If you don´t have the manufactur CD (motherboard, etc.), you´re in trouble deep. Unless, you try to install a earlier Windows (e.g., Win 98) and then “update” to XP. I think XP will recognize better your system and you will have the change to use Windows Update.
If you have localized troubles (non-recongnition), please, disable the device and try to use less resources of your system for a while (I mean, without a net card or sound card…)
I can just pray for you
Hehe 59 UK pounds, you could buy a new motherboard instead - it would definitely be better spent money.
Anyway, so you bought the box by parts?
It reminds me of my last year’s saga ‘Me and my brand new Compaq notebook’. The notebook is quite OK (I’m typing on it right now :)), but it was a real pain to get it working (mostly “thanks to” the absolutely unbelievable “quality” of ATI graphics drivers)…