Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: pixturesk on June 01, 2009, 02:37:49 AM
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I notice in the system requirements for Avast free that support for Win98SE will not continue after 2009. Will I be able to continue getting the virus definitions for Avast Home free 4.8 after 2009, (continuing to apply for the annual license) without updating to newer versions of the program itself? I am still continuing to use Win98SE very successfully (with a private programmer supplying updates, patches, hotfixes up to Feb/09 + further with annual updates). Avast Home has been superb for a non-techie, non computer generation type, like me, love to continue using it!! If I can continue using Avast 4.8, what a relief!! Thanks, Ken.
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Nothing has been confirmed beyond the end of 2009, so no one other than Alwil can answer that.
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The only reason I am asking is because that line about Win98SE/ME seems quite specific on the system requirements page. Will someone from Alwil perhaps reply to my question? (I am off to sleep will check back in the morning) Thanks again, Ken.
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I guess you're referring to this line from that page:
Note: The operating systems Windows 95/98/Me/NT4 will be supported until the end of 2009.
If you take that at face value - and no reason why you shouldn't I guess - it would be reasonable to assume that sometime after 2009 support will cease.
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Bottom Line. I just want to know whether the premise of my original message might, in fact, be acceptable, so that I might continue using Win98SE which is very much my comfort level. If not, then I have to look at installing Win 2k Professional SP4, which many feel is Microsoft's top OS or XP Pro SP3 or switch completely to a Mac (no registry in a Mac so very little chance of virus or spyware) which I have been experimenting with, I think that Mac is very much the future!!. Thanks, Ken.
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Seeing as how Win 2k Professional SP4 is slightly after Win98SE then it might work but XP is in the wane and Vista is current and Windows 7 is just over the horizon I guess that if you have the money and the applications work on the Mac then Apple may have another customer.
By the way, avast! works on a Mac.
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Hi,
Support for the current version of Avast may continue until late 2010 but when it stops so will the updates.
I have W98SE and I have installed Xubuntu dual boot because Linux is virtually infection free.
I use a few PortableApps for Windows via Wine as per the image below.
(http://g.imagehost.org/t/0573/PortableApps.jpg) (http://g.imagehost.org/view/0573/PortableApps)
Else, it takes about 3 minutes to boot into W98SE.
My regards
PS I use the Avast program for Debian Linux in Xubuntu to protect me from Windows infections and there has been no announcement that its support will cease. I also use the Xubuntu firewall which many would regard as overkill.
.
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avast! 4.8 will probably continue alongside avast! 5 for about 12 months after 5 is released. It could be as early as July 2010 or it could be January 2011! I think there'll be plenty of warning whatever the end date is.
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So Vladimyr, just to sum up, what you are saying is that even if 4.8 has support even to Jan. 2011, after that date no virus definitions will be available for Avast Home 4.8, that it will become non-functional? Will support for Win 2K Pro SP4, which is like XP Pro SP3, continue after Jan. 2011, which might be my preferable alternative? If that is the case, that gives me plenty of time to either install Win 2K Pro or Win XP Pro or switch to a Mac. I notice that Avast for the Mac requires a minimum system spec of Tiger 10.4. I currently have an iMac G3/400 with Panther 10.3.9, which rules out Avast. ClamXav has a free version for Panther, which might become the Mac choice. Thanks, Ken.
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This is all speculation as I have seen nothing official specifically stating that from Alwil software, so if any respondent has seen that I would welcome the reference.
There have been the usual rumours/suggestion that Virus Signature updates may continue on version 4.8 beyond the end of 2009. But, I haven't seen anything official on that, so I don't believe it wise to make decisions based on speculation.
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Hi David R,
This is what igor said on 2nd May 2009
"avast! 5.0 wasn't released yet - and when it is, it will be avast! Home/Professional first; the update for server and network editions will come later. So, my personal guess is that the 4.x support will be prolonged and won't stop at January 2010. But it's just my opinion, no promises/guarantees."
I take vital decisions based upon on the best information available so I already have Xubuntu and the guy who's asking the questions has already tinkered with MAC.
So you recommend action and we agree with you. On the one hand where, in this thread, was it recommended that a decision be deferred? On the other hand, for those who opt for a second Operating System - that may not actually be needed until late 2010. However, on the third hand the world may end on 31st December or even today (except that it's already tomorrow in Australia).
My regards
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Mike, you have put it into perspective. I, we, just want someone from Alwil to give a definitive response. The problem for me as a Win98SE user is that the only free alternative remaining is ClamWin. I hesitate to ever return to Norton because of the bloat, the way it slows the performance of my computer, so I am just trying to plan as a non-techie, not of the computer generation, in case a change is inevitable, can't take a chance on virus exposure if I continue to use a Microsoft OS. I am prepping Win 2k Pro SP4 + Win XP Pro SP3 just in case. The Mac alternative is easy because viruses are, so far, not a problem. It is a shame if we cannot continue using Avast, which has been so reliable, effective, intensive in coping with the ever growing virus crisis. Avast is simply, IMO, the finest anti virus program available. Just continuing to offer definition updates seems, in my non-technical opinion, to be a reasonable stance. Thanks, Ken.
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Yes that is Igor's 'personal' view which as he qualified "But it's just my opinion, no promises/guarantees.
So any likely support extension for avast 4.8 & win9x/ME going beyond the end of this year would I guess have to be made in the next few months.
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Hi Ken,
(1) There is little chance that you will get a quick answer as to when W98SE will cease.
(2) It is costly and difficult to continue support for W98SE and only for the benefit of us few.
(3) Microsoft gave up on us years ago.
(4) It would be churlish to criticise ClamWin since it is free but Avast is hugely more effective.
(5) My advice would be; implement at least a temporary alternative to W98SE by 31/10/09.
(6) Never mind all the technicalities - just see the wood for the trees.
Hi David,
I am inclined to consider what igor says very seriously. I am usually equally in favour of treating all your thoughts just as seriously, except that you have just made a guess after stating guesses are useless?
My regards to all
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That doesn't change the facts, my guess is that at some point a decision will have to be made, that is however, an inevitable fact, the only guess is when the decision will be made.
So until it does then what we know for a fact is really what has to be used for forward planning.
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Hi,
The decision has been officially announced but the effective date has not been announced.
Forward Planning is in any event a process rather than a fact (except in and of itself).
My regards
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avast! is a great product for XP and beyond. Win 9x/ME/NT/2000 shall be unsupported eventually. My advice to those of us who still love 9x/ME is -- BEFORE the support ends -- to get the old BitDefender Version 10 FREE. During the install, choose the COMPLETE option. A 9x/ME user shall have a very good on access, P2P and email scanner. Many are of the opinion that 9x/ME/NT/2000 are going to be replaced soon with (at least) XP, Vista or Win 7. Not so! Win NT/2000 servers are all over in businesses in Texas, and people -- including The Houston Police Department, US ARMY recruiting posts, etc. -- are tired of upgrading to yet ANOTHER MS OS which FAILS to work! This should be clear from the number of support boards on the net and the number of posts on these boards.
Dave
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Hi Dave, Mike. I went to get the Bit Defender Free Version 10 but it kept taking me a link for the trial version of some similar software. But the following link, after searching Google took me to an actual link for the version you are talking about, on the site File Hippo: http:http://www.filehippo.com/download_bitdefender/, I hope it takes you there. This same situation took place with Super AntiSpyware Free, but if I continue to use the legacy version I am using, I will, so they say, always be able to get the spyware definitions, so far it's working.
I suspect that Avast will probably continue supporting Win 2K because it runs programs akin to XP. So if I continue to use a Microsoft OS, I will either try Bit Defender Free 10 or Clam Win, or just begin again with either Win 2K Pro SP4 or Win XP Pro SP3, then continue using Avast or just completely change to a Mac, which is increasingly becoming more intriguing. Then no more virus worries, also the most stable OS I have ever seen, rarely if ever crashes, much more innovative than any Microsoft OS. Thanks, Ken.
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pixturesk,
Please forgive me for stateing what you probally already know,but the BitDefender free is on demand only,
and instals more process's than most real time AV's.
I would at least look into online scans,and maybe DrWeb Cureit.
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Thanks normishmael. I now have both Bit Defender + Clam Win, will seriously check them out, but no panic, want to hear the official announcement from Alwil, then take it from there. Thanks.
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For 9x/ME BD Free 10 is ON ACCESS, P2P and email scan. I hope that you can find it at fillhippo or softpedia. IT WORKS! I have many old 9x clunkers running BD Free. But avast! giving up on 9x/ME/NT/2000, the world shall be forever in schock!
Dave
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Bit Defender 10 Free is at the above link, certainly at File Hippo, that's where I got it. I also got some re-assuring news from Clam Win with the following exchange in their forum. Nice to know there is a current alternative, if + when the "unthinkable" happens, Ken.
My question: Will Clam Win continue to support Win98SE for the long term?
Clam Win admin Alch reply: we have no plans to abandon it
My reply: Alch. Thanks for your quick reply. This is very reassuring to know, Ken.
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It's a pity, really, that the detection rate of ClamWin let that much to be a trustable antivirus nowadays.
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Agree Tech, but "beggars can't be choosers!!"
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Rising AV shall continue also to support 9x/ME, but only with its AV -- not its security suite. For BD 10 Free, be sure to choose COMPLETE option during when installing. BD 10 Free has also some registry protection for 9x/ME only, so that's someting to consider if you are planning on using, e. g., SSM alongside it.
My Clam ain't updating.
Dave
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Agree Tech, but "beggars can't be choosers!!"
Beggars can be choosers if they choose Xubuntu.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xubuntu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xubuntu)
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or Frank a Mac, which, for me, is becoming an increasingly appealing alternative.
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Hi
I am well pleased with W98SE and dual boot with Xubuntu.
I prefer an "additional" solution to an "alternative" solution.
However, Xubuntu cannot recognize my scanner which, like
my computer is 11 years old but it's free (or cheap) and
easy to test Xubuntu (or another Linux distro) using a live CD.
My regards
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I think Kubuntu (that requires a little more RAM) is more similar to Windows and could make the OS passage more smoothly...
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Hi,
With more than 256 MB RAM by all means try Kubuntu.
With 192 MB or more try Xubuntu. Which is fast,
typically faster than W98SE, on old hardware.
With 128 MB or less try PuppyLinux or google for an
alternative.
If you don't already use Firefox or Thunderbird you could
try them using the portable versions on your Windows
Hard Drive and/or a USB stick.
Either can be run from 'buntu, without any changes, via
"Wine". Otherwise the 'buntu versions of either program
could be used instead or as well the windows versions.
If these meet your basic internet needs and you dual boot
there may be no rush to learn a lot about 'buntu.
Linux is free, secure and stable and it's an ideal answer
for me. Other Win98 users may well prefer XP or Vista,
especially if they already have some experience and have,
or will have, sufficiently powerful hardware.
Either way, with Avast for Windows or Avast for Linx you'll
maintain first class security protection.
My regards
PS Else, like Ken, plenty of users reckon on the Mac.
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This chat we are having is getting even more interesting Mike, Tech + others. I too have been playing with Puppy Linux. I only have a P3 600, 256 megs, 32 meg ATI Radeon 7000, dsl internet, so, especially as a live cd, Ubuntu is very slow. Puppy 2.0 (which works best on my computer) suits me perfectly because I can run it as a live cd, which loads completely into ram, runs almost as fast as Win98SE. Puppy saves all my settings after each session to a 512 mb file on my computer "C" drive, so the next time I run Puppy it boots up in 30 sec. keeps all my settings. Even though I use Puppy only as a live cd, I can install new software like Firefox, the Gimp, to that large file on my "C" drive until it fills up. My only problem with all Linux is I cannot get a driver for my Lexmark P915 printer not even at linuxprinting.org, the central repository for Linux printer drivers.
I can't take anymore time now, but my story about how I got into playing with a Mac was a revelation, very inexpensive, perhaps another time, another subject. Bottom line, is that there is no registry in a Mac, therefore very little chance of a virus or spyware. Even installing + uninstalling software is so simple. Ken.
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Try ReActOS. Runs at 16 MB, and is very fast with such little ram!
Dave
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Hi Dave,
Interesting. Thank you. Although in alpha testing, have you tried it with any well known windows programs (including Avast)?
My regards
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Hi Dave,
Interesting. Thank you. Although in alpha testing, have you tried it with any well known windows programs (including Avast)?
My regards
No, but you're giving me ideas for keeping me out of trouble! ;D
This should be interesting.
Dave