Well I almost thought those links you gave me was gonna do the trick, but in the end it was still a fail.
Previously I had been going to the main avast.com page and downloading the free version there. The file was labeled something like
"cnet2 online installer".
With that version installed, I was never able to get the "avast clear" uninstall file to work - it always gave me an error panel and I had to uninstall via add/remove programs.
Never once with the main page's download link did avast ever trigger windows defender to realize another antivirus was installed - so I was literally trying to run both at the same time.
With the links in your last post, today I used the free version install file named "avast offline installer", and this time it DID finally trigger windows defender to deactivate and recognize avast was installed. So the download link on avast.com's main page is corrupt somehow - no matter what.
However even doing it with the links you posted last, my laptop will run for about a minute and then everything will STILL freeze up and I have no choice but to kill the power and improperly shut pc down.
The repair option has never helped no matter which install file I used.
At this point I literally don't know what to do. I've tried a half dozen times to get avast to work and it just wont.
The only idea I have is to abandon avast after 15 years of using it and switch to another antivirus. Maybe AVG?I knew they used to be good back in the day, but not sure who the best one is these days that is free.
Im open to suggestions here