Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Mele20 on September 25, 2004, 12:58:26 PM
-
I was planning on trying this av until I saw during the installation that IE is required. I backed out. Why is IE required? I don't use IE and if I could rip it out of my XP Pro box I would.
-
Where did you saw that? avast! is totaly independed of IE...
-
It says that a working copy of IE 4.0 or above is required for avast! This comes up on the screen very early in the install process. I thought it might mean that IE is required for updating...like with McAfee.
-
Yes, internet explorer 4 or higher is required for avast! to work.
tECHNODROME
-
Yes, internet explorer 4 or higher is required for avast! to work.
tECHNODROME
You're wrong :P
IE is only needed for display help files and minor features.
I'll post more as soon I find in the board.
Wellcome back tECHNODROME... ;)
-
What exactly does that entail? Does that mean that IE simply must reside on the computer? Will I have to open IE at any time if I use avast!? What of IE does Avast! use? Why can't it use FF for example for whatever it is it needs IE for?
-
What exactly does that entail? Does that mean that IE simply must reside on the computer? Will I have to open IE at any time if I use avast!? What of IE does Avast! use? Why can't it use FF for example for whatever it is it needs IE for?
Exactly, you got the point.
Windows needs some parts of IE integrated into the shell.
These parts are needed from avast too (simply must reside on the computer).
Of course, no need to open IE even to update avast! 8)
You can use and set any other browser in your system.
Wellcome to avast.
Sorry, I can't find - yet - more information on the board. I'm searching...
-
Exactly, you got the point.
Windows needs some parts of IE integrated into the shell.
These parts are needed from avast too (simply must reside on the computer).
Of course, no need to open IE even to update avast! 8)
You can use and set any other browser in your system.
Wellcome to avast.
Correct. What did I say wrong? You need to have IE installed in order to install avast!. ;)
tECHNODROME
-
Techno...
Not exactly. You can install Avast without IE on the system, but as Technical stated, the Help files will not work. Minor clarification. ;D
-
I stand corrected. Thanks for clarifying this Techie101. ;)
tECHNODROME
-
I am running winxp home w/sp2, using firefox browser with avast! 4.1 home edition and it works great. My avast! updates are set to automatic (virus and program). The updates also work great with no effort on my part. I never open IE and avast! never asks for it. I would recommend avast!
-
...I would recommend avast!
Just recommend ? We live for avast!, especially avast! forums members. We defend avast! and we would go into fire for avast! ;D Everyone knows that !
Right Technical ?
Cheers people !
-
Ok. Thanks everyone. :) I''m going to install it today.
-
After all, Mele20, is avast working for you?
Technodrome, sorry if I misunderstand your first post but, sometimes, the newbies here could think they must have IE and do not install avast, which it's not truth ;)
-
What exactly does that entail? Does that mean that IE simply must reside on the computer? Will I have to open IE at any time if I use avast!? What of IE does Avast! use? Why can't it use FF for example for whatever it is it needs IE for?
As many have said IE is required for displaying help files (IE is an integral part of the windows system), but would still install without it.
Avast doesn't call IE to display help files, the windows system uses IE to display help files and a number of other things. So if you have managed to cull IE completely (very difficult) the help files in avast may not be displayed.
It can't use FF because it's not an entegral part of windows, so can't be called.
-
I understand now why IE is required and I am fine with that. I know that IE is core to Windows and that Windows uses IE to display help files.
Technical, I haven't installed it yet. I will today.
The only reason I asked about IE's involvement was because I thought it possible that avast! required Active X to do updating and that would bother me. However, needing IE so that Windows can display the help files properly is perfectly acceptable to me.
Again, thanks everyone.
-
I thought it possible that avast! required Active X to do updating and that would bother me.
Well, you're on the right place so... 8)
No need of ActiveX ;)
-
I have another question though. I see that it installs a lot of protection that I don't need. Can I disable email, P2P and instant message protection after installing? I need an on demand scanner for scanning floppies and any files I download to disk before executing. I would also need a resident scanner if the only way to detect archives is to unzip first. I don't do P2P or instant messaging and my ISP scans all incoming and outgoing mail plus I never, ever open an attachment that I am expecting (I delete all others) without first saving to disk and then scanning.
Don't get me wrong, I think all the extra protection is great if you need it, but I didn't see a way to exclude any of those things from installing if you don't need them so I hope there is a way to disable them after the installation. I especially do NOT want an email scanner.
-
No problems at all... you can disable any of those providers that you don't use. I don't use P2P programs either. Instant messaging provider never ran on my machine. Outlook/Exchange - disable it if you don't use MS Outlook (completely different program than Outlook Express, but of course you already know that).
If you are 100% sure your ISP checks your incoming and outgoing mails of viruses, you can disable Internet mail provider (Outlook Express) as well... why not ?
Script blocking provider is very useful if you use IE... if not, then still it can be very useful if you use Mozilla, because it works with Mozilla too. Unfortunately, Firefox is not supported, and it looks it will never be...
Cheers !
-
Thanks! I'll go ahead and install it. As for the script blocking provider I do use Mozilla as well as FF. I have Script Sentry also.
My ISP is Road Runner and they use Symantec Corp to scan all incoming and outgoing mail. I have tested it and it catches and strips any infected attachment that Symantec detects. My other mail provider is dslreports and they use Kaspersky to scan all incoming mail and they just drop all infected mail. I don't get a lot of mail either so I am not in the situation that many are in where an email scanner is quite necessary.
-
And additional precaution... you can disable PREVIEW PANE in Outlook Express, or even in Outlook. That way, mail messages won't open right away as soon as you click on them... that will give you some extra time to check those names who is sending you and what. If you don't know who is that person that sends you e-mail, especially if it has some strange attachment attached, just delete it and story is over. You don't have to open it to see what's inside... of course, it will not be a bomb ;D, but it can be something more nastier, something that your computer won't like at all.
I'm always telling to my customers: "... don't be too curious when it comes to newly arrived e-mails from some unknown sources... believe me, there is nothing inside of them that can make your life better... NO ONE WILL EVER SEND YOU SOME MONEY OR SOMETHING VALUABLE FOR NOTHING... don't trust those "sweet" looking mails, they can cost you a lot."
Cheers and good luck with your new antivirus. You won't regret if you install it. I hope you'll like all those skins as well. Of course, they are not so important for antivirus product, but still... they make your antivirus tool more attractive (I hope).
Sasha
-
Thank you for the additional advice. I have never used preview pane in OE, I read all mail in plain text only and if I don't know the sender but am unsure if the email might be from a legitimate source, I read it from properties/details/message source first.
I'm not a click happy newbie but if I were, your advice is excellent. :)
-
Thank you for the additional advice. I have never used preview pane in OE, I read all mail in plain text only and if I don't know the sender but am unsure if the email might be from a legitimate source, I read it from properties/details/message source first.
I'm not a click happy newbie but if I were, your advice is excellent. :)
I know you are not a newbie and you shouldn't take it as insult. I know that you appreciate my trying to help you, and I can see it from here:I'm not a click happy newbie but if I were, your advice is excellent. :)]I'm not a click happy newbie but if I were, your advice is excellent. :)
...but please, try to understand me... like it or not, you may be very experienced user, but still you are newbie in these forums. We (technical support) are very patient with everybody who visits these forums, and we treat everybody exactly the same way... there is so many total beginners out there, and believe me, they don't like to hear our "expert" language when they desperatelly seek for some basic help...
I couldn't possibly know are you novice, intermediate or expert. So, don't take anyone's advice in these forums as insult or something like that... I posted almost 2000 posts in these forums and believe me, I know what I'm talking about... ;) I know you are not ungrateful, you seems like happy avast! user, and user with good knowledge, so take those advices as trying to help and nothing else.
Have a nice day and stick around. Your help in these forums would be much appreciated... of course, if you have some spare time.
Cheers !
-
I understand now why IE is required and I am fine with that. I know that IE is core to Windows and that Windows uses IE to display help files.
Microsoft has you believing that, but at least with Windows 9x and Windows 2000, it's possible to run Windows without IE, except for the small part, which is for MSHTML, the Microsoft HTML rendering engine.
98 Lite and 2000 Lite by default leave that small part of IE installed.
BTW, Microsoft has gotten criticized before for integrating IE. There may literally be a court order to stop Microsoft from integrating IE with Windows.
-
Coourt orders to aside. I wish all the best to Microsoft as well to all other companies. Live and let others live. If they are capable to survive in all conditions, that's plus for them... However, I don't have problems with IE. Always up to date, as soo as some patch comes out of Microsoft shop, it's installed in here, runing avast! Pro with script blocker, and don't have any single problem.
Off-topic - RJARRRPCGP - I have exactly the same motherboard as you. I see you still running BIOS v.1005. There is download of the latest BIOS version which is btw v.1010 (Oct.10th 2004), available on the official ASUS web site. See here:
http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=A7N8X-X (http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=A7N8X-X)
It's actual release, not BETA version. I updated mine and no problems at all. Actually, I migrated from 1009 to 1010. That's only in case you are interested, if not... no big deal, just forget I mentioned anything... :D
Cheers !
-
RJARRRPCGP
Is Microsoft forcing you to use IE or are you using a different browser?
Did you have to pay extra for IE or was it free? ;D
-
Also avast! uses IE to display its Pro interface... :)
Ummm... ActiveX... That's why I hated McAfee so much, they depended on ActiveX scripting so much that they would not stop... sighs :)
-
Also avast! uses IE to display its Pro interface... :)
Althogh, technically, it seems the same problem, you're right, you won't see any html file (or interface)... But, again, can somebody download windows updates without IE in the 'background', I mean, use the website... ::)
-
Technical,
In order to use the windows update site, you need IE or and IE based browser. There are other sites where the updates can be obtained where IE isn't needed but, you would have to know exactly which update you need.
-
But, again, can somebody download windows updates without IE in the 'background', I mean, use the website... ::)
I used to be able to access the v4.windowsupdate site using Avant (an IE core based browser), however since the upgrade to v5.windowsupdate, I can no longer access the updates with Avant and have efectively been forced to use IE.
-
RJARRRPCGP
Is Microsoft forcing you to use IE or are you using a different browser?
Did you have to pay extra for IE or was it free? ;D
Bob, yes there are occasions when MS does force you to use IE, not to mention you are using it in the background of Windows XP (since it is an integral part if XP), therefor you are still vulnerable to IE's security issues even though you don't use it as a browser. So you are effectively forced to keep that up to date.
Yes you could totally ignore IE updates (and you don't have to use it as a browser), but you still have keep it upto date or leave your system vulnerable. That would be plain crazy, that is not a choice!
The fact that it's free makes no difference since it is an integral part of windows xp and you paid for that.
-
David,
A picture is worth 1000 words. ;D
-
Well I'm happy that v5.windowsupdate works for GreenBrowser, when it changed from v4 to v5 I couldn't access it with Avant (an IE core based browser). This could have been early days with v5 as since your post I have checked it again and it now works.
This however, doesn't negate any of the other points on being forced to use IE, since it's an integral part of the windows xp system, you can't not use and you have to keep it up to date.
-
David
Just one more point. Please keep in mind that there are still lots of us that like Microsoft and IE and some of us don't even want to sue them.
There are always alternatives to using Windows. Then IE or any other part of windows doesn't enter into the picture at all. :)
Just remember, this is my personal opinion. ;D
-
David
Just one more point. Please keep in mind that there are still lots of us that like Microsoft and IE and some of us don't even want to sue them.
There are always alternatives to using Windows. Then IE or any other part of windows doesn't enter into the picture at all. :)
Just remember, this is my personal opinion. ;D
Who stated that I hate Microsoft or want to sue them, certainly not me? All I have stated is fact.
I use windows because, I like the interface, I have used windows since windows 3.1 and before that DOS, I can't recall any graphical user interfaces (perhaps GEM) of that era. I also used Unix for work so I am familiar with command based OS.
But the current linux options are not yet as easy to install as windows (for your average user), but they are getting there, it will become easier for first time PC buyers to chose a linux operating system.
It is a huge step for anyone to take (read captive audience) to move from windows to linux. They have to find an alternative to all their windows based programs and there has to be a degree of compatibility with the windows program that is being replaced otherwise all the work you have done is lost to you, unless you have a dual boot system.
Choice is always about compromise, and one of these about using windows xp is the embeded IE or turning your computer operations on their head to switch to linux hardly warrants thought. So alternatives have to be realistic, somewhat like not bothering to update IE because you don't use it, crazy.
-
DavidR, why don't you use Maxthon Browser (former MyIE2)... wonderful features and all Windows updates works without any problems...
Access this site without any trouble (Microsoft Updates):
http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/default.aspx?ln=en-us (http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/default.aspx?ln=en-us)
Cheers !
-
DavidR, why don't you use Maxthon Browser (former MyIE2)... wonderful features and all Windows updates works without any problems...
Access this site without any trouble (Microsoft Updates):
http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/default.aspx?ln=en-us (http://v5.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/v5consumer/default.aspx?ln=en-us)
Cheers !
I tried Myie2, some time ago and found it unstable on my system, that is why I tried Avant and found that to be much better on my system.
After all the IE troubles, I have been test driving Firefox for the last few months and using my Avant browser as backup for sites that don't work with firefox (e.g. those that use activex, etc.). I used Avant for some time to access v4.windowsupdate with no problems, but with the beta v5 and early days of the regular v5.windowsupdate it didn't work. MS have obviously been working on v5 and Avant does work as is reflected in the attachment two posts previously.
-
Yeah that's OK... but still, you should try Maxthon now. They changed few things inside the code... maybe it would be stable enough on your system now.
I had same problems with Avant browser before, and I decided to use Enigma browser and sometimes GreenBrowser... but after all, I went back to Maxthon (former MyIE2)...
Mozilla/Firefox is good browser, it's just not for me... editing those pages like this one in avast! forums when we have to type our messages, is just too much of a hassle for me... but, I think at the end, we all found something that we like... I also use Mozilla sometimes (don't like Firefox, plus avast! script blocker doesn't work in Firefox and it works great in Mozilla)... it's a very good backup browser here on my system.
Cheers !
-
Mozilla/Firefox is good browser, it's just not for me... editing those pages like this one in avast! forums when we have to type our messages, is just too much of a hassle for me... but, I think at the end, we all found something that we like...
That was almost a deal breaker for me and firefox the posts editing/effects but I installed the BBCode extension and it is much more acceptable, not perfect but very workable.
As has been said before, we get used to a browser its feel, etc. I got used to avant and its ease of use, But that is my backup now to firefox. I have no problem with the avast script blocker not working with firefox as I use the home version (sans script blocker) in conjunction with analogx script defender.
Different strokes (browsers) for different folks, what ever you use do it safely.
-
Completely right DavidR !
Btw, bbcode is good smlal add-on. It can help a lot ... but I still don't get it how couldn't they integrate that code into one of their latest builds... :-\
-
Completely right DavidR !
Btw, bbcode is good smlal add-on. It can help a lot ... but I still don't get it how couldn't they integrate that code into one of their latest builds... :-\
Beats me too, especially when you can't use the full functions of their own mozillzine forums when using firefox unless you use bbcode of course.