Avast 2014 not working

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Before I give up totally on Avast, is there a way to install a previous version before 2014?

Somehow today my Avast updated to 2014 and now it won't load pages due to invalid compression or only loads a small part of the page. Pages I've been going to for years. I've always told people Avast was the best free anti virus out there, but this new version looks like it has removed a lot of features and created issues with page loads. I've seen a lot of complaints about 2014, but no solutions other than blaming the browser or PC and not Avast.

If I disable the three shields (before it was eight), the pages load fine. I tried restoring prior to upgrade, no go. I've tried repairing the installation, no go. I've uninstalled it, used Avastclear, and re-downloaded the setup and reinstalled, no go. Avast program up to date. To top it off it seems very slow when it's loading the little bit it does load.

I'm running Win7 64bit with Zone Alarm. Avast has full permission.

[Asyn]

I'm running Win7 64bit with Zone Alarm. Avast has full permission.

Drop ZA and you'll be able to use any version of avast!...
However, see: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=156014.msg1130913#msg1130913

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I'm running Win7 64bit with Zone Alarm. Avast has full permission.

Drop ZA and you'll be able to use any version of avast!...
However, see: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=156014.msg1130913#msg1130913

Tried that. it worked on some pages for a few minutes then shut my network connection down completely. I understand their strategy though. Remove features and program it not to work with competitor programs so people would upgrade.  I can't really complain though as Avast Free had a good run for many years. Still, nothing last for ever. It's a pain to un-install, had to use the Avastclear to get if completely off the PC. Thanks for the info, that will save me from wasting time trying to find a fix.

[Asyn]

Tried that. it worked on some pages for a few minutes then shut my network connection down completely.

Well, you should've removed ZA completely, else it won't work.
-> http://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB11

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You know, I might have considered getting rid of Zone Alarm, considered that is, as it has proven it's a solid firewall over the years. Not only because it has consistently been one of the top rated free firewalls but because of my personal experience with it for even more years than I've used Avast. Then I think, why get rid of it for Avast, when Avast has cut some of the features that made it stand out above others whose virus protection are just as good.

To clarify, Avast is a great free program, but the free features included now are inferior to the features offered before. Basically their free version is no better or worse than some others being offered. As far as having to pay for features that used to be free. Well, that strategy is usually a bad idea, however I'm sure that for every old user that moves on, new users that don't realize what they are missing will sign up.