MSE does indeed NOT have a function to spot and also remove remnants / conflicting elements. I must have seen this function on another program, having scouted among the AV and AM programs recently. However, I hope to get support rather than defensive or dismissive reactions from forum members about my plea. Avast should really seriously consider the improvement I ask for. If Avast is a quality product, it deserves a quality installation, not an anything-goes installation which will leave perhaps half of their customers with conflicting remnants undermining the effectiveness of their new acquisition.
Computer program forums often ignore the reality that most computer users are "software idiots", to some degree. They want and need to use their computers without having to perform special antics. That is the whole point of designing "intuitive" or self-explanatory software. And that is the point of Kaspersky and other top AV providers preventing installation over conflicting remnants of other products. Its to make their products more "idiot proof", a fact appreciated by millions of software idiots out there. Please help encourage Avast to address the weakness of their product that it installs on top of conflicting elements. That would be true loyalty to Avast. That's what real friends do.
Conflicting remnants is really a serious AV problem. I add some URL's that might help some users to get rid of possible remnants. Its worth uninstalling Avast and re-installing it after using tools mentioned at the websites given below:
1. This site contains extensive information about removing all remnants of previous anti-virus or anti-malware installations:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/protect/forum/mse-protect_start/list-of-anti-malware-product-removal-tools/407bf6da-c05d-4546-8788-0aa4c25a1f91 2. This site contains a list of removal tools available for different anti-virus and anti-malware programs:
http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/3. This site contains another list and instructions for completely uninstalling various anti-virus and anti-malware programs:
http://www.raymond.cc/blog/comprehensive-list-of-uninstallers-or-removal-tools-for-antivirus-software/4. This site will apparently help you to remove remnants of any anti-virus or anti-malware program (according to it's claims):
http://www.appremover.com/