W7 Pro: Update Avast Free Antivirus from 12.3.2280 to 17.5.2302

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

-01 First tried via ‘ProgramUpdate’ option
-02 After update W7 was unworkable, programs could hardly be started
-03 Restore W7 backup image
-04 Programlist: uninstall Avast
-05 reboot in safe mode
-06 run avastclear (version 17.5); at the end message about incompatible
EmsiSoft AntiMalware and advice to uninstall; did not (yet)
-07 stop Comodo Firewall
-08 run offline version of Avast Free 17.5.2302
-09 same result as before, hardly workable W7
-10 Via programlist selected avast to try a repair; get errormessage
“an error occurred during removing, possible already uninstalled”
However, program was still in ProgramList.
-11 tried steps 05-09 once more, no luck
-12 BSOD
-13 boot safe mode
-14 avastclear
-15 uninstall EmsiSoft AntiMalware
-16 normal boot
-17 install 17.5.2302_offline
-18 Avast installed proper en W7 was usable, worked perfect.
-19 because of the BSOD once more restored the W7 image backup.
-20 Uninstalled EmsiSoft AntiMalware
-21 Stopped Comodo Firewall (just for safety)
-22 Used the Avast ‘ProgramUpdate’ option
-23 installation went ok and W7 also works OK.

Conclusion: Looks like EmsiSoft software is causing the Avast Update
is failing.
But of course I’m not sure of that.

Maybe EmsiSoft AntiMalware could be re-installed now, did not (yet) try that

Marcel

2

Only use one resident Av at a time.

3
  • Remove EmiSoft completely
  • Remove Commodo completely
  • Perform a clean installation of the latest avast version
4

Clean Install of Avast:
https://goo.gl/4Ptzkf

5

I think I did not make this really clear but my topic was meant to show that EmsiSoft most probably stops Avast from properly updating.
So removing EmsiSoft would do the tric, as it indeed did for me. Normal updating instead of clean installation. That was all folks, just wanted to be helpful.
Abd removing comodo completely is a hell of a job, I tries that a couple of times, without any luck.

Have a nice weekend everybody.
Marcel

6

https://blogs.microsoft.com/microsoftsecure/2014/08/05/can-i-run-more-than-one-antivirus-program/
https://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/
https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB11#artTitle