Versions 8 and lower no longer supported

[igor]

Virus definitions for Avast version 5-11 are indeed not created anymore (they are not compiled, not signed, not released - they simply do not exist).
The techspot.com page only makes it appear they are, most likely because they are showing the release date of the 18+ definitions (i.e. of a program version that is current and supported). But the definitions you actually download from there for Avast 5-11 are old, they won't update anything.

[visionhelp]

Wouh, just deleting my comment, with lot effort written !

[DavidR]

It is called flogging a dead horse, it isn't going to get up again.  So trying to breath life into a very old topic where the last response by a senior Avast Team Member, was over 9 months ago and pretty clear.

Virus definitions for Avast version 5-11 are indeed not created anymore (they are not compiled, not signed, not released - they simply do not exist).

Support has ended for those Avast Program versions.

A commercial company can't keep supporting old versions of a program version when the numbers of users doesn't justify the expense to continue that support (even if they were for paid products.  People also have a duty of care to look after their own systems.

[visionhelp]

The more sad then is, that my comment appears to must have been deleted.
YOU did read it, but no one else.
This to me is not OK at all, sorry.
This does make a senseful talk exchange impossible, please.

[DavidR]

It is a case of trying to breath life into a dead topic started over 4 years ago - Avast have made the decision to cease support for Avast versions 8 and lower.  That isn't going to change, for the many reasons already given in this topic.  Not only would it be very complex to continue support for these old Avast version and newer OSes (as has been explained already), it would also be labour and cost inefficient for the limited numbers trying to stay on Version 8 or earlier.

When you try to post in an old topic there is a warning about it being an old topic, trying to breath life into it isn't going to change Avasts decision.