Should I uninstall v. 4.8 before installing v 5 free

[fdm2000]

I'm running v. 4.8 on a Win XP PC and also on a Win 7 pc. Is it necessary to uninstall the earlier version prior to installing v. 5 or does the v. 5 installer remove the older version?

TIA,

Frank

[Hermite15]

not necessary, but much better to uninstall V4.8 first, reboot, and install V5 from scratch. You'll avoid bad surprises that way 

[fdm2000]

Thanks for the response Evangelist - I uninstalled V. 4.8 and installed the new Avast Free V 5 - it went well with no apparent glitches  .....much obliged.

Frank

[Hermite15]

you're welcome but please don't call me "Evangelist" 

[fdm2000]

Mea Culpa, Logos. I had a brain cramp and hastily gave you the unintended moniker! Sorry

Frank

[john36]

Absolutely!

I thought I could get away with installing over top of 4.8.

What a mistake.  All kinds of problems ensued.

I then uninstalled 5 and reverted back to 4.8.

I decided to attempt installing 5 again, but this time I uninstalled 4.8 completely and ran the Avast cleaner tool in safe mode and rebooted twice.

Nary a problem now.

I don't understand why Avast and all the moderators on this board are not advising people to uninstall 4.8 first.

It should be a sticky.............................

I should add, that make sure you download 5.0.396, I think it's the latest, and from what I've heard, the most trouble free.

Good luck.

[fdm2000]

John,

After your experience, I am certainly glad I took Logo's advice and spent the time to uninstall V. 4.8. So far no apparent problems with V 5.

Frank

[john36]

Frank,

Smart move on your part.

Glad to hear all is working well.

I just wish the Avast team would advise everyone that upgrades from 4.8 to 5, to uninstall 4.8 first.

I realize that it might not be necessary, but why take the chance.

A lot of people are having problems because they probably installed over top of 4.8.  I know I did.

What would it hurt for the experts on here to advise all people to uninstall 4.8 first?  Period!

Makes no sense to me......................

[Dewg]

The problem becomes: what do you do with a company of 500 people with 4.8 Pro installed?  Tell all 500 they have to uninstall 4.8, download and run a cleaner utility in Safe Mode, then install 5.0?  The install of 5.0 can be handled pretty simply thru Group Policy and silent install scripts.  But I've not heard of a simple way for Group Policy to do an automated, silent uninstall, reboot into Safe Mode, and executing a cleanup utility.

The 4.8 Pro Upgrade to 5.0 Pro needs to be seemless and 98-99% error-free before a large company can move to 5.

I'll wait.   

[john36]

Dewg,

I hear you.

I was referring mainly to the average Joe who was installing the free version of Avast 5.

I really don't know what the answer is for the situation you describe.

You're right though, it should be a seamless transition, and I don't blame you for waiting.

[Hermite15]

Mea Culpa, Logos. I had a brain cramp and hastily gave you the unintended moniker! Sorry

Frank

no problem was funny after all