Want download Avast software but having trouble - another method???

General Topics
1

My brand name anti-virus software is about to expire and I’d like to replace it with Avast, which has been recommended by more than one friend. I may purchase the commercial version, but my current at home configuration is making it impossible to download long programs (and even many short programs). I’ll have to locate the problem myself, of course, but meanwhile I need to replace the old anti-virus.

I’m constantly being knocked off line, either by a bad phone line down the street that the phone company has tried to fix twice, or something is amiss within my computer. My machine’s regularly being disconnected is preventing anything the size of Avast from being available. Having simple dial up is a major part of the problem, and living in a town not known for good utility maintenance doesn’t help.

I’m hoping that there might be a disk version of Avast that I could buy (for a reasonable price), or perhaps I could download Avast with the library’s fast broadband and use a disk made from this. I’m not up to any shenanigans, and can imagine that perhaps Avast is only available as a download to the computer to be used.

Any ideas?

2

You can download the program to any USB-device or on a CD and take it to your PC. No problem.
Use the library, it will work.

It is essential though that you properly remove the old antivirus. There are tools for removal to be downloaded on the vendors homepage, or you may look here: http://uninstallers.blogspot.com/

3

The following link should be of help to you:
http://mysharedfiles.no-ip.org/TipsTricksFreeware/How2InstallAvast.html

Welcome to the forum. :slight_smile:

4

Thank you both.

I’ve had Norton Anti-virus on my machine for two years and will need to Uninstall it just before I add Avast. I’ve just downloaded the Norton tool from Zyndstoff’s link because it appears simpler - but it should since I haven’t seen the specifics yet. Simpler than the detailed directions from Bob, which seem to refer to Uninstalling Avast Anti-virus. If there’s more that I should know in order to handle this right, I hope someone will pitch in.

Thanks to both of you for quickly getting me straight about the simplicity of applying Avast, via CD, to my system. I guess I can download the free version and then arrange to pay them soon afterwards for an upgrade. I’ve been told two different things about the paid version, though. One ISP provider (in another small town) said that the paid version offers better protection for users who often use Facebook, Twitter, or look at scanty bods. Two other experts told me that the protection between free and paid versions of Avast doesn’t vary at all, that the paid version only differs by having real time active virus protection that’s automatic and doesn’t require the user to run the program every so often.

I think I’d pay (what I understand to be about $35) to have continuous protection that starts automatically. It just sounds more foolproof (that being me, of course). How do the paid and free version vary, if anyone knows?

Thanks ahead of time. Dislike being such a newbie, but will use good information wisely, I hope, and not be so new tomorrow or the next day.

5
which seem to refer to Uninstalling Avast Anti-virus.
If you have an older avast before you install the new......
Two other experts told me that the protection between free and paid versions of Avast doesn't vary at all, that the paid version only differs by having real time active virus protection that's automatic and doesn't require the user to run the program every so often.
avast! 5.0 comparison http://www.avast.com/comparison-chart
6
Simpler than the detailed directions from Bob, which seem to refer to Uninstalling Avast Anti-virus.
The link I provided covers installation of avast! and steps that need to be taken if you already have an AV program on you system.
7

The AV protection between paid and free version is: none.
Free updates as frequently as the paid does, fully automatic.
You don’t have a script shield on the free version and no virtualization feature.
It’s your decision if you need that.

When using Firefox as a browser, you are doing very well with the free version. I’d recommend trying that first and see.

8

The free version checks for updates every 4 hours vs the paid versions every hour

You don't have a script shield on the free version and no virtualization feature. It's your decision if you need that.

When using Firefox as a browser, you are doing very well with the free version. I’d recommend trying that first and see.


No browser is secure and using Common sense to not visit bad sites and keeping the operating system up to date is important.

9

You people have offered just the help I needed to make the switch (from Norton). I did so today and it seems to be all right. I was stunned how quickly 43 MB downloaded at the library. Put it to disc, then transferred it to my computer. I thought I’d peek at Avast on my CD before committing to uninstalling Norton, but then panicked a little as the Avast installation seemed to be proceeding, instead of just introducing itself, as I’d expected. I canceled the transfer from CD into my machine while in progress, but it seems to have continued because when I’d uninstalled Norton, there was Avast claiming its wholesomeness in the heart of my computer (I think).

Then, I did a full system scan using the new Avast and it seemed to function as expected. Over an hour for about 120,000 files. The lettering on many of the pages I’d wanted to look at is almost whited out on my 'pewter, and I’m not sure whether I’m negotiating through the program very well, but I think it’s ok, and know I’ll learn what’s needed. Waiting for my registration to show up soon.

I used the free version, which looks like it may lack certain functions. I don’t do financial transactions on line, and will stay away from the limited surveys of porn I’ve occasionally looked into (I learned more about our species, than anything else!). It’s my understanding that the middle version (Pro) allows users to go onto Facebook and Twitter, and porn, without catching viruses or bugs from any of them. I don’t know when or why Facebook or Twitter will interest me, but I’d prefer not having to pay for them just to experiment around.

One surprise is how fast 24 MB from the CD I made at the library transferred and was installed into my computer. The Norton, which had come off a store bought Norton disk, had an Uninstall feature attached to the program in my computer and this processed at lightning speed, as well.

So, basically, I was just an extra nervous newbie who needed his durn paw held in order to adventure into really safe-seeming, and well traveled waters. Thanks for supplying the information that helped it all to happen so easily.

Chewy

On edit (modify): Received my registration e-mail, and seem to be registered for a year. If it continues this smoothly, maybe my results are an example of the way things are supposed to work?

10

Welcome chewbacca

When you get to 20 posts which will not take very long then you could have your own avatar like:
http://www.halloweencostumes4u.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000003/11681%20Chewbacca%20NB.jpg

The free version of avast! is fine for Facebook but stay away from pr0n sites as they are loaded with malware and you will be needing Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware (MBAM) to recover.

This is a gentle assist on your paw not a sharp yank on a collar.

11

Looks like you transferred smoothly.
There is no real reason to switch to the pro, IMHO.
You can use Mozilla Firefox with NoScript Addon + avast5 free + (if you still feel a little unsecure) ThreatFire.

The most important thing however is to use your brain, and by what you wrote I presume you are doing that quite well.
So, have fun!

12

Thanks to both of you.

One of the computer guys who’d recommended Avast, also recommended Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and SUPERAntiSpyware, which I’d downloaded successfully at home before getting Avast. It took a couple of attempts for each, with my questionable connection. I’m a little too much like a monkey in following directions like these given by my enlightened peers. I’ll just follow them without really knowing much more than I’ve confidence in the recommending source.

I think I might look a little further into the inventory of avatars, though the kid’s cute with his furry attachments. Not sure how I’ll represent myself. A profile of Chewy might do.

I’ll take a look at what is said about ThreatFire. I’m not sure what FireFox’s NoScript Add on is, but will look into it, also.

Thanks for the leads and the encouragement.

13

Download Norton Removal Tool from Majorgeeks.

14

You can always download from Download.com safely

I would advise you to use a Download Manager also

15

Firefox is no safer than any other browser and they should be up to date.

ThreatFire is OK but with Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware (MBAM) and WinPatrol it is not needed.

A Download Manager is good if you have dial-up.

16

Firefox lets you add NoScript which partly substitutes the script blocker that is not included in the Avast!5 free.

YoKenny: I don’t criticize IE8, I just prefer Firefox.

17

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.switched.com/media/2009/11/ie9scribble.jpg

;D ;D ;D

18

Well it looks like the OP has moved so that leaves the thread open and it seems IE is the topic

and btw hosts file protection pretty much (but not totally) rules out porn

  • the sites are blacklisted, and cos mostly syndicated, it makes easier to block FOAF (friend of a friend)

but I want to ask about IE

  • I didn’t realise IE was integrated so deep into Vista until the other day when I tried to fix a damaged IE8
  • in Vista there is no IE8 in Add/Remove programs - and no connection wizard (correct me if I’m wrong)

The damage - no favicon / logo would manifest in the IE browser - but everything fine in Chrome

  • tidied laptop up and IE ran very well, passed Secunia, cleaned, defrag, but problem persisted
  • problem seemed permanent - laptop running well
  • all I could find wrong was damaged active X object program
    - in Internet Options > General > Settings > View object

Computers wiith an active X object file damaged are common enough

  • but the fault does not often affect IE in the way this one did - that is, no favicons and logos.

It was here when I discovered how deeply IE was integrated into Vista. Any comments?

I may start a thread soon to deal with only IE issues, that is low level issues and desktop

  • not browse performance, unless default or optimal custom expectations are not met
  • as with the case of the missing favicons / logos

My reasoning is that if IE is messy - integrated into the desktop as it is - then yr avast may likely not perform to expectations - although not always the case, I have a computer than runs with the yellow exclamation mark (I cannot fix), and retuns often enough 'done, with errors on page…) and yet avast pertforms up to expectation, and IE still runs well enough.

However, there is an inherent difficulty here, I don’t have problems with avast, which puts me in same situation with my clients here in New Zealand, but not with those, wherever they may be located, who visit the webforum for sorting out problems with their avast.

let me make a shot in the dark - 5o% to 75% of problems that manifest in avast occur in conjunction with messy Intenet Explorer, low level issues and desktop - and including net hardware connection.

besides, Eddy said as much when he came on for a short spell a few days ago.
Well Eddy didn’t say quite what I inferred, and he does specify the latest IE version

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=56694.msg482356#msg482356

VLk, I think people also should mention what connection they have (dl speed/ul speed) and what browser they are using. I'm getting lots of complains about slow internet/systems when people are using the latest IE version. Perhaps that has something to do with it.
19

I also use Vista and I have found this silly problem

My DSL light on my wireless modem keeps on blinking some times and Internet connection gets disconnected but when I reset IE 8 this problem is gone…

I reset my IE 8 at least once a week because I am having some connectivity issues… >:(

Seems funny sometimes :stuck_out_tongue:

20

@ mkis

About IE
Please read about Windows Explorer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Explorer

Try entering C: in IE’s address area and the File manager will open showing the contents of the C: drive.

Windows 7 users have the option of removing IE8 but I have no idea what would happen if I tried it on my system as I do not want to break it again and have to take it back to the store where I bought the system to have them fix it again when I tried some tweaking that I read about. :-[

@ Chris Thomas

If the DSL light flickers then you are loosing connection because the modem is not close enough to the signal source or the connection is poor.

My ISP is offering a free upgrade to 10MB/sec using a fiber connection but I doubt they could get it here as it would be a bit of a challenge getting the fiber cable to my apartment. :cry: