Which old version of AV free should I install?

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I have been caught by the problems with version six where no matter what I do to install it, the second start of my computer after installation it all locks up. I am currently taking the risk of no virus software at all for the first time in many years of computing!

When I first started having problems I read someone recommend installing version 5 as being a way to get round this till avast fix the new install but wondered if that meant all of the version 5 releases on filehippo or if there was one in particular I should install?

I’m using XP Home, SP3.

Thanks in advance for any help. Don’t want to have to go back to AVG, I migrated to avast only a year ago and was fine till this release.

2

Hi Piffyuk and welcome to the forum!

Have you already tried this version: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=73110.msg608535#msg608535
Before installing use the avast!-removal tool: http://www.avast.com/de-de/uninstall-utility
By the way: do you have any other security software on your computer?

DJBone

3

Thanks for the welcome DJBone :slight_smile:

I haven’t tried the new beta because of reading in the forum that people are still having the same issues with it. There’s only so many times I like do do hard restarting of my computer.

I used the avast removal tool and the AVG removal tool that someone kindly posted, in case some parts of AVG were still left installed. Though I run CCleaner from time to time so not much rubbish hangs around for long.

When I first had issues with Avast I had tried uninstalling Spybot and haven’t put that back yet.

Also in the same thread advising the AVG removal tool I followed the advice to install Malwarebytes Anti Malware.

My firewall is Zonealarm vs 9.2.57.0

4

You might give the new version a chance, because it solved a problem with Zonealarm compatibility as you can see in the first post from vlk.

DJBone

5

There is a new Avast Uninstaller Tool now from the one previous posted in this thread: http://files.avast.com/files/eng/aswclear6.exe. Please use this one for uninstalling ALL versions and products of Avast from now on. Thank you.

6

if you try the new beta version and still have problems then use the removal tool safesurf suggested…now if you want the best previous version of avast i would say its 5.1.889 i currently use…its the latest v5 version before v6 come out and in my machine works like a charm :wink:

7

Just an update and thank you. I did install the beta and it is running fine. The next test will be to reinstall Spybot.

8

My suggestion based on user feedback from other forum users is to NOT install Teatimer as this conflicts with Avast. IMO, don’t install SB and instead use MBAM (Malwarebytes) instead to avoid all conflicts, but you will find out for yourself. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.

9

Ah, thanks for the tip, the problems I had with the AV update originally sound as if they were caused by Zonealarm and Spybot then.

10

Yep. We’ve had many users report conflicts with those.

The download link for MBAM is http://www.malwarebytes.org/. There is a Free (on-demand) or Pro (one time paid resident) version.

11

+1 :wink:

Regards
~SKY~

12

If you want a “companion” for MBAM, a better choice would be SuperAntiSpyware (often referred to as SAS). Like MBAM, it comes in both free (on-demand scans only) and paid (resident protection) versions, and I’m not aware of anyone experiencing conflicts betwen it and avast.

13

MBAM http://filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/
Super Anti-Spyware http://filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/

These links should help. As far as av goes 6.0.100 is very stable. http://filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/

14

Interesting. Spybot used to be the one recommended by all the reviews a few years ago, has something changed?

15

a few years ago == stone age when it comes to computers and malware

16

Yes time, it used to be good years ago, things change, malware changes and Spybot hasn’t really kept pace. Not to mention we are starting to see compatibility issues with spybot (and Teatimer) and avast 6.0.

17

It was used then. :wink: