Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Wonnerber Snerr on March 15, 2011, 04:40:14 AM
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avast's website is not clear as to whether or not it is compatible with Win2K. On the home page (http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download#tab2, under "system requirements"), it says XP/Vista/7, but in FAQ (https://support.avast.com/index.php?languageid=1&group=eng&_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=750#idt_01) it includes Win 2000 as well. I'm using avast! 6.0.1000, and problems I am having are:
1) real-time shields "File System", "P2P", and "IM" do not work. when trying to start them, I get an "Unable to start the (shield name) Shield! Shield unreachable." error message.
2) Clicking on the "register now" button does nothing, so cannot register it.
The manual & scheduled scans, and updates work fine.
The avast! install file is the same one I used to install on a Vista machine, and had no problems with it.
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I believe you have answered your own question :)
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Hello creigb, thank you for looking into this.
So you agree that avast is NOT compatible with Win 2000? I just want to be certain before I switch to something else, because I believe avast is the best and would hate to see it go ;(
If not compatible, avast needs to change their OS compatibility statement. I downloaded it from cnet.com, where it also says its compatible with 2K. If it IS compatible, then I need to dig into my PC to find the cause of the problems I'm having. I'm just not sure if its compatible due to conflicting statements.
And I disagree... I didn't really answer my own question. One statement says it is compatible, the other only omits 2000, which leads me to believe its compatible. As far as it not working on my system, that could either be a compatibility issue, or a problem with the system or other software.
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According to Avast, it should be supported: https://support.avast.com/index.php?languageid=1&group=eng&_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=750#idt_01 (https://support.avast.com/index.php?languageid=1&group=eng&_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=750#idt_01)
As far as it not working on my system, that could either be a compatibility issue, or a problem with the system or other software.
What other security software do you currently have or did you have in the past on this machine including:
- Antivirus (AV)
- Firewall (FW)
- Trial versions of AV, FW and other security programs
- Other security software
- If you had other AV and FW on your system, did you use the vendor's uninstaller tool or another way to uninstall?
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Say's that avast free and pro work's with win2K proffesional, is your system win2k pro? but from other posts iv seen mentioned on the forum is that xp sp2 is the minimum ???
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avast! Pro Antivirus 6.x and avast! Free Antivirus 6.x minimum requirement is Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Service Pack 4, according to the link.
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Whilst this relates to avast5 - Win2k and avast 5.0 see:
Please make sure you have the Update Rollup 1 installed (it's required for avast! 5):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=B54730CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en
It may well also be required in avast6, e.g. the Update Rollup 1, but presumably if you were using avast5 (?) that would have been present. Or it would have failed validation when you tried to install if it didn't have SP4 and Update Rollup 1.
If you have win2k, SP4 with Update Rollup 1 installed, then it may be best to try a clean reinstall:
- Download the latest version of avast, 6.0.1000 http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download (http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download) and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again (if you didn't save your last download). Use that when you reinstall.
- Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, aswClear5.exe find it here (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility) and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for both 5.x and 6.0.x). - 1. Now uninstall avast! (using add remove programs, if you can't do that start from the next step), reboot.
- 2. run the avast! Uninstall Utility from safe mode, first for 5.x if previously installed and then for 6.0, once complete reboot into normal mode.
- 3. install the latest version, reboot.
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I use Windows 2000 Pro with avast! Free since Version 5 without any problems.
Version 6 is working fine, too! ;)
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(((((((( Reply @ SafeSurf ))))))))
SafeSurf, Thank you for taking the time to look into this.
I agree with your comment and the link re: compatibility, and ~Sky~'s comment confirms it. So apparently some other issue is at play here.
Security software CURRENTLY on system:
1) Norton Internet Security - all aspects of the antivirus component have been deactivated (scheduled scans, real-time protection). I'm keeping it for the other components (firewall, systemworks, etc). Don't "think" that should cause a problem. Let me know if it does.
2) Malwarebytes' antivirus 1.50
3) SUPERantispyware 4.49.1000
4) CCleaner 3.03.1366
Security software on system in the PAST:
Don't think I've had anything in the past. I've just recently revived this computer after 4-5 yrs non-use, so its hard to remember. Don't see any processes/services in System Explorer (like taskmanager, but better) that I don't recognize, so no security software remnants are running.
UNINSTALLING: My first choice of uninstalling is the uninstall icon created in the start menu if present, or if not, then via Control Panel's add/remove software.
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(((((((( Reply @ craigb ))))))))
Yes, I have Windows 2000 Pro SP4. Can't believe I left that out. Makes a LOT of difference.
Exactly, some places mention 2000, others do not. Very confusing which one to believe.
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(((((((( Reply @ Gopher John ))))))))
Yes, that is what I have, Windows 2000 Pro SP4. I left out the Pro in original posting.
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(((((((( Reply @ DavidR ))))))))
No, I didn't have prior versions of avast on this particular machine. Previously had Norton antivirus, and replaced it with avast 6.
Stupid question? Update Rollup 1, what is it? Would that be included in the Service Packs (I have 1-4), or is it automatically included in the MS Updates options? I've installed everything MS Update has offered me.
I'll delay uninstall/reinstall of avast until I find out about the Update Rollup (here or I'll research on net), as that may well be the problem.
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(((((((( Reply @ ~SKY~ ))))))))
Thanks for the confirmation! That clears up the confusion between conflicting posts. Appreciate it.
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I don't know if the Update Rollup 1 is likely to be the cause, as I would have hoped that this would have been identified before installation.
If it isn't the problem and possibly worth doing anyway - I suggest that you run the Norton removal tool as it has form for leaving remnants behind and that could cause conflict.
A link worth looking at, which is a program removal tool that can remove the remnants of a number of different Norton Programs:
Removing your Norton program using SymNRT (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039)
Or ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe (ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe)
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(((((((( Reply @ David R ))))))))
I mentioned in an earlier reply to SafeSurf (forgot to mention to you) that I have left Norton Internet Security on my machine, but all aspects of the antivirus component have been deactivated (scheduled scans, real-time protection). This is in order to keep the other components (firewall, systemworks, etc). I don't think that should cause a problem. Let me know if it does.
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(((((((( Reply @ David R ))))))))
I mentioned in an earlier reply to SafeSurf (forgot to mention to you) that I have left Norton Internet Security on my machine, but all aspects of the antivirus component have been deactivated (scheduled scans, real-time protection). This is in order to keep the other components (firewall, systemworks, etc). I don't think that should cause a problem. Let me know if it does.
You must unninstall Norton, and use it's unnistall tool after that to clean the system from it's remnants, avast! will not work with another antivirus present in the system.
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You must unninstall Norton, and use it's unnistall tool after that to clean the system from it's remnants, avast! will not work with another antivirus present in the system.
Sorry for the late reply, but agree with the above. You cannot run 2 AV's (or disable part of an AV and run another AV...basically having 2 AV's in your system) at the same time because this will cause conflicts. Therefore you need to uninstall Symantec via their uninstaller tool: http://us.norton.com/support/kb/web_view.jsp?wv_type=public_web&docurl=20080710133834EN (http://us.norton.com/support/kb/web_view.jsp?wv_type=public_web&docurl=20080710133834EN), then reboot your machine. Disabling is not the same as uninstalling.
Since Symantec is known to leave remnants even after using the uninstaller, I also suggest that after running their tool and rebooting that you go into Safe Mode > Advanced Search >
enter "sym" into the search box > and again type in symlcbrd.sys (which is a Symantec Core Service BIOS reader) and if anything comes up you can delete it. Repeat the process third time, but type in NIS or NAV (what ever you had on your machine), and then type Symantec and see what entries come up. If in doubt of a file, right click on it for Properties to see if it is a Symantec file...if so you can delete it and empty your recycle bin while in Safe Mode, then restart your machine.
If you have a cleaner on your machine, like CCleaner Slim http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds (http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds), run the cleaner and registry cleaner (you can make a back up of any registry fixes in My Documents temporarily) after doing the Symantec uninstall. Most of us here use CCleaner. If you did end up removing a lot of Symantec files, you may also want to consider defragging your machine to free up some space as well, then reboot.
Should Avast give you any problems after this, since you did have 2 AV's on your machine, try an Avast Repair first:
- Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > Avast Antivirus.
- Scroll down and choose Repair function in the pop-up window.
- Reboot.
Let us know if you have any questions. Thank you.
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Sorry but deactivation won't be enough as there will still be low level drivers enabled and it is these that will/can come into conflict.
Norton is notorious for not playing nice with other security applications as it gets its hooks (low level drivers) into everything and this is I feel what you are seeing. There are many such posts in the forums of issues after having had Norton installed.
Now I don't know if you could uninstall it, but it can be a bit of a pig to remove everything (so I would still recommend the use of the tool) and reboot. Then you may be able to do a custom install and don't install the AV element; I don't know if this is even possible or how successful this might be.
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@ David,
I gave the OP instructions (see my previous post just before yours) on how to uninstall the other AV and look for remnants as I am very familiar with this having had to do this on too many other machines. :P I also feel this is the OP's problem as well and he/she needs to completely uninstall it. Thanks.
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Yes and I gave them in reply #13 on the previous page http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=73820.msg613277#msg613277 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=73820.msg613277#msg613277) ;D
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NOTE TO ALL: my problem has been resolved.
FIX: Removed Norton Internet Security, then run their uninstall tool.
Also looked into my Windows updates, as someone had mentioned that Update Rollup 1 was required. Discovered it was not installed. Couldn't figure out why it wasn't being offered. Did a little digging, and remembered having hid an update (.net framework 1.1) because it never would install... it would 'say' it installed, but would always reappear at the next update check. So I searched the forums for a fix for that, got the updates up thru 2.1 SP1, and no more were offered. Then a wonderful thing happened... Update Rollup 1 was offered! Installed it, and now avast is finally running as it should.
Thank you all for your help. It sure is nice... peace of mind!
Till the next computer phuck-up... in about 2 days I suspect :)
Again, THANK YOU ALL, VERY MUCH.
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You're welcome.