End of support for Windows XP/Vista

[Harlequin]

When I tried to install V18.8.2356 it said it requires my PC to support SSE2.  Unfortunately my PC is too old to support that.

Which version of Avast can I install for XP that doesn't need SSE2?

I want only the antivirus as my PC is too slow to run additonal features.

Thank you!

[bob3160]

When I tried to install V18.8.2356 it said it requires my PC to support SSE2.  Unfortunately my PC is too old to support that.

Which version of Avast can I install for XP that doesn't need SSE2?

I want only the antivirus as my PC is too slow to run additonal features
Thank you!

If your XP doesn't support SSE2, look here: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=164936.msg1322691#msg1322691

[Harlequin]

Can I check I have taken the right steps to upgrade Avast on my WinXP/SP3 PC.  I used to have Avast ver.4.  I have taken the following steps.  Can someone kindly check to see I have done the right things to intall and customize a more up to date version of Avast.

(0) Uninstall Avast v4.8 and reboot.

My PC doesn't suport SSE2 so I used an older version, as advised by Bob3160's post.

(1) I downloaded and ran AVAST_FREE_ANTIVIRUS_SETUP10.4.2233.1299.EXE
(2) I downloaded and ran VPSUPD.EXE update file
(3) I applied Avast universal key:  W11332244H9900A0420-8MRTR8W5

I believe I have to make sure my Avast does not update itself, so I made the following changes.  Is it correct that I have to download and apply updates manually?  Or am I getting mixed up with not wanting program updates?

(4)  Avast user interface > Settings > Update > Virus definitions - settings > Ask when an update is available 
(5)  Avast user interface > Settings > Update > Program - settings > Ask when an update is available

My PC is very slow (AMD Duron 1800), so I disabled features which I dont; want.  All I want is a file shield.

(6)  Avast user interface > Settings > Active Protection > Web Shield > off
(7)  Avast user interface > Settings > Tools > Software Updater, Cleanup, SecureLine VPN, Rescue Disk  > off

---

Have I disabled something I should have left alone?
Will  I have to get manual upadtes of virus signature/fingerprints?

Thank you for any advice.

[schmidthouse]

Hi
I also run Avast on a very 'low resources' XP however if you are on the internet I personally would not and do not disable "Web Shield" as a vast number of Infection vectors are vulnerable without a Web Shield.
Just my personal opinion.

[bob3160]

Hi
I also run Avast on a very 'low resources' XP however if you are on the internet I personally would not and do not disable "Web Shield" as a vast number of Infection vectors are vulnerable without a Web Shield.
Just my personal opinion.

80% of all infections come directly from the internet so if you spend any time online, follow schmidthouse's advice.

[schmidthouse]

Hi
I also run Avast on a very 'low resources' XP however if you are on the internet I personally would not and do not disable "Web Shield" as a vast number of Infection vectors are vulnerable without a Web Shield.
Just my personal opinion.

80% of all infections come directly from the internet so if you spend any time online, follow schmidthouse's advice.

Hi Bob
I knew it's high, wasn;t sure of a number.

[DavidR]

<snip quote>
I believe I have to make sure my Avast does not update itself, so I made the following changes.  Is it correct that I have to download and apply updates manually?  Or am I getting mixed up with not wanting program updates?

(4)  Avast user interface > Settings > Update > Virus definitions - settings > Ask when an update is available 
(5)  Avast user interface > Settings > Update > Program - settings > Ask when an update is available

My PC is very slow (AMD Duron 1800), so I disabled features which I dont; want.  All I want is a file shield.

(6)  Avast user interface > Settings > Active Protection > Web Shield > off
(7)  Avast user interface > Settings > Tools > Software Updater, Cleanup, SecureLine VPN, Rescue Disk  > off

---

Have I disabled something I should have left alone?
Will  I have to get manual upadtes of virus signature/fingerprints?

Thank you for any advice.

4.  You should leave the Virus definitions to Auto Update these VPS updates are still supported in Avast version and they wouldn't change the program version.  They aren't very large as they are incremental unlike downloading the full virus database and you won't have to download the full virus database.

5.  You know because of the SSE2 issue you can't go beyond that point, so it would be better to set Program Updates to Manual, so you don't get Asked and won't have to answer NO.

6.  Absolutely a no no to disable the Web Shield as has been mentioned.

7.  The Software Updater is only for a limited number of programs (Not Avast AntiVirus) and it is something that could be handy. 
CleanUp I would go further and uninstall it not just switch off.
The same for SecureLine VPN as it is also a Paid option and you would likely get nag screens to purchase it.

[Harlequin]

I believe I have to make sure my Avast does not update itself, so I made the following changes.  Is it correct that I have to download and apply updates manually?  Or am I getting mixed up with not wanting program updates?

(4)  Avast user interface > Settings > Update > Virus definitions - settings > Ask when an update is available 
(5)  Avast user interface > Settings > Update > Program - settings > Ask when an update is available

My PC is very slow (AMD Duron 1800), so I disabled features which I dont; want.  All I want is a file shield.

(6)  Avast user interface > Settings > Active Protection > Web Shield > off
(7)  Avast user interface > Settings > Tools > Software Updater, Cleanup, SecureLine VPN, Rescue Disk  > off

4.  You should leave the Virus definitions to Auto Update these VPS updates are still supported in Avast version and they wouldn't change the program version.  They aren't very large as they are incremental unlike downloading the full virus database and you won't have to download the full virus database.

5.  You know because of the SSE2 issue you can't go beyond that point, so it would be better to set Program Updates to Manual, so you don't get Asked and won't have to answer NO.

6.  Absolutely a no no to disable the Web Shield as has been mentioned.

DavidR, thank you and everyone else who has replied.  I appreciate all your help.

Does Avast Web Shield analyze all incoming web traffic before it gets to the browser or does Web Shield work in conjuction with the browser, perhaps as a sort of plugin?  I notice I do not have Browser Protection and Browser Cleanup installed.  I probably unchecked those boxes when I installed Avast 10.  Are they needed for the Web Shield to work?

I ask this because I mainly use an old version 12.18 of Opera that is no longer supported (newer versions require SSE2 which I don't have).  I sometimes use Palemoon 25.5 and an obsolete Chrome 25 (the updater doesn't work).

I half wonder if an old browser with less function is in some ways safer than a newer browser with various electronic handshakes and fancy functions whose additional complexity may be more open to exploit.  Could this be true?

Thank you once again for any advice.

[Asyn]

I half wonder if an old browser with less function is in some ways safer than a newer browser with various electronic handshakes and fancy functions whose additional complexity may be more open to exploit.  Could this be true?

In short, no.

[TheOwner]

I half wonder if an old browser with less function is in some ways safer than a newer browser with various electronic handshakes and fancy functions whose additional complexity may be more open to exploit.  Could this be true?

In short, no.

I also still use Opera 12.18, it was best browser ever made, but Avast cant scan encrypted connection. For example cryptominers like Coinhive not working on this old browser so i think the same, is safer now and no one focus on this browser anymore because no one use it.

[MartinZ]

In January 2020 ends support for Win7 by Microsoft.  Avast also stops support it in 2020?

no, MS ended support for XP in 2014. We have approx 5 years delay, so you can expect similar delay for Windows 7

[Harlequin]

I installed AVAST version 10.4 on my WinXP backup partition.  Everything worked okay for a few days but is it my wild imagination or did changes to AVAST settings affect my XP system such that it now dumps the registry when powering down?

I went back to my live XP partition and installed AVAST there.  All was well for a few days but after some fiddling with AVAST settings, the same thing happened.

Can anyone comment if they have had the same experience?

Apart from this, AVAST 10 is working well and exceeding my expectations.  Thank you to those who helped with advice.
   
   
   
   

[bob3160]

Sounds like your fiddling with the settings is upsetting the apple cart.

[rocksteady]

I have had no issues with 18.8.2356 on my old WinXP SP3 machine. It does take a while to startup mind.
I have just been back to read this thread and decided to look at cpu load for spikes due to avast. I could not see any during the brief time I observed Task Manager.
No real issues with 2356 on Win10 either. The sensitive data scan now seems fixed in Smart Scan on this version, which bugged me previously.
I hope those WinXP guys suffering with Avast problems find solutions, as problem does not seem to apply to all XP users.
PS I have about 2.5Mb RAM in the XP machine. Not a lot, but not minimal.
Ed

[DavidR]

I have had no issues with 18.8.2356 on my old WinXP SP3 machine. It does take a while to startup mind.
I have just been back to read this thread and decided to look at cpu load for spikes due to avast. I could not see any during the brief time I observed Task Manager.

<snip>

I hope those WinXP guys suffering with Avast problems find solutions, as problem does not seem to apply to all XP users.
PS I have about 2.5Mb RAM in the XP machine. Not a lot, but not minimal.
Ed

1.  You won't have to go looking for it, it will be noticeable as your system will slow, browsing, even my mouse pointer and some other tasks.  Then look at the task manage and you would see it, if you aren't getting symptoms (great) no need to go hunting (I didn't until it was an issue).

2.  For me the solution was dropping back the the version in my system info below my posts. I have 4GB of RAM and the processor is still quite fast.

This issue for me is no doubt linked to the behaviour shield calling/opening the windows unsecapp.exe function, which would appear to have a load overhead on the main avast service AvastSvc.exe (which has the spike). 

What changed in the behaviour shield and why it would appear to call unsecapp.exe (and why it would need to) and how it manifests itself upon the avastsvc.exe CPU load is beyond me.  I have mentioned this (as have some others), but so far not a peep from Avast.   

Which is a bit disappointing after over 14 years of using avast and being a beta tester for much of that time.  All I'm looking for is, if this is the last version supporting XP/Vista that it be pretty bulletproof.  Not just for me, I can look after myself but for others too.