Will Avast play well with Microsoft Security Essentials with Real time disabled

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Short version: If I have MSE, Microsoft Security Essentials - with Real time scanning disabled, can I install Avast with real-time scanning enabled and not have conflicts or is it necessary to uninstall MSE in order for Avast to work properly?

Long version: I just bought a new Win7 laptop to replace one that was impaired by an avast update that didn’t go so well [A prior laptop barely escaped permanent damage from an avast update in 2009] -I’m wary of avast, but still use it on most pc’s. I’m going to install MSE on this new laptop at least until I get it set up with scads of backups and restore points…then I may disable or delete MSE in favor of the more powerful but riskier avast.
Thanks

2

You will need to uninstall MSE fully.

AVs have low level drivers which will clash even if real time protection is disabled.

In simple words, it will do more harm than good.

3

Removal tool(s) can be found at: http://www.ache.nl

4

Thanks for the input, Guys.
MrToad

5

Removal tools can also be found on the Avast Faq’s and technical support pages http://www.avast.com/en-us/faq.php?article=AVKB11#articleContent

6

I’m just always intrigued why some folks think 2 AV’s are better then one.
One and only ONE, that’s the rule ;D

7

In windows 8, installing avast! automatically disables Defender. :slight_smile:
In windows 8, Defender is a combination of Defender and Security Essentials.
I don’t know what avast! does on other versions of Windows in regard to Security Essentials.
We where originally told that Security Essentials is the exception to the One AV rule.

8

On other versions of windows - 7-vista-xp MSE needs to be removed as avast does not shut down it’s service or low level drivers as it does with Win8.

Even when MSE is disabled avast can still throw detections on the MSE signatures so it’s best to remove.