AvastWscReporter service

[DavidR]

Yes they could, but without knowing what those keys there really is no way of saying who created them.

If my memory serves me well, when you first install a third party antivirus Windows does create some HKey Local Machine entries relating to that AV.  I guess there is also the relationship that it and not Defender is the default AV. 

When you uninstall Avast those registry entries are still controlled by the OS and in due course the OS would remove them.

This relates to the Avast Remediation exe file, I really don't know who gives these names, but I believe it is related to checking your installation for errors, etc (to presumably remedy the problem or report it).   Because of the nature of this tool I guess it could be stand alone or it couldn't check the correct working of the Avast installation.

I have an entry for this in my Task Manager and that is where the AvastWscReporter service enters the picture.

If you have uninstalled avast, then this Avast Remediation exe entry wouldn't be in the Task manager ?
If not any registry entry for the AvastWscReporter service would be redundant.

[long1077]

DavidR, I appreciate you taking the time in assisting with my issue and for that detailed reply.  Are you saying that windows will eventually delete all the registry entries associated with Avast eventually?  I attached a few photos of some of the registry entries after performing a search for "Avast."  I am not sure if what I attached would help you to know if I could just delete them from my registry or not.

[bob3160]

DavidR, I appreciate you taking the time in assisting with my issue and for that detailed reply.  Are you saying that windows will eventually delete all the registry entries associated with Avast eventually?  I attached a few photos of some of the registry entries after performing a search for "Avast."  I am not sure if what I attached would help you to know if I could just delete them from my registry or not.

These refer to the Avast Secure Browser. It's not part of what gets removed with the AV program.

Uninstall Secure Browser via Programs and Features - Reboot
Run the removal tool, reboot, run the installer import your favorites if you saved them.
A video to help with the installation: https://youtu.be/r_VLA0HMLQM

[DavidR]

DavidR, I appreciate you taking the time in assisting with my issue and for that detailed reply.  Are you saying that windows will eventually delete all the registry entries associated with Avast eventually?  I attached a few photos of some of the registry entries after performing a search for "Avast."  I am not sure if what I attached would help you to know if I could just delete them from my registry or not.

You're welcome and the attachments have certainly helped as bob3160 has identified them (certainly the last 3) as being related to the Avast Secure Browser.

Hopefully the uninstall info and video given by Bob will help you remove it and hopefully those reg keys.

[long1077]

I uninstall both the Av and browser before using Revo uninstaller program.  I just ran that uninstaller tool and a window flashed and it said "starting" and nothing else happened.  The registry files are still there.

[long1077]

Should I re-install Avast browser again and go through the uninstall steps again to see if that would remove those registry entries?

[long1077]

I suppose everyone is at a loss of how to proceed next to remove these registry entries?

[DavidR]

It isn't so much being at a loss as to how they might be removed, manual removal is an option but likely to be a bit of a pain.
Did you follow bob3160's instruction on removal of the Avast Secure Browser ?

But the other point is, if they remain are they making any impact, e.g. are you getting any error messages or is a service still running in task manager, etc. etc.  ?

If not then the hassle of manually removing registry entries could be more trouble any if there is no impact.

I haven't looked in my registry in a very long time and I'm sure there are redundant entries in there from all programs installed and removed in the past.  Generally I don't go looking unless there is something that needs investigating, errors displayed to the screen, etc.

[long1077]

DavidR, as I stated before, I originally had uninstalled Avast AV and Avast browser uising Revo uninstaller program.  After uninstalling them, I tried to install a software product (not an Avast product) and it gave me an error message (Avast update helper was detected on your system. In order to continue with the installation, please remove any other antivirus solution).  Receiving this error message is what made me look into checking to see if all Avast was completely removed.  At that proint, I ran the Avast removal tool, which that did not help resolve the error message I still am receiving.

[DavidR]

Yes you did, but if there are still remnants of avast in the registry (I don't know where this looks), they may need to be removed manually as what you have done so far hasn't worked with this new AV installation.  I guess it doesn't say exactly what it has found and where, a screenshot might help.

Something that I have seen like this in the past in the forums is something related to avast is being found in the windows.old folder if it hasn't been removed after a window update.

[long1077]

DavidR, the error messages that I received is exactly what I have typed.  The only line I left out was at the top of the error message it stated "Potentially incompatible software found."  This error message is preventing me from installing another AV product.

[DavidR]

DavidR, the error messages that I received is exactly what I have typed.  The only line I left out was at the top of the error message it stated "Potentially incompatible software found."  This error message is preventing me from installing another AV product.

Unfortunately the unhelpful message doesn't help to track it down to eliminate it or even give the name of that "Potentially incompatible software found."  Plus saying that it is 'only potentially incompatible' is somewhat grey.

Did you check for the presence of a windows.old folder  ?

Did it actually name Avast as the "Potentially incompatible software."  ?

Did you have any other security based software installed before Avast ?

[rocksteady]

Wonder if you tried using File Explorer (tick hidden items) on This PC to search for anything avast i.e.   avast*.*

Edit: typo

[bob3160]

"Potentially incompatible software found."
This sounds more like remnants from another AV.
Not a problem with an Avast install.
I'd dig deeper as to left overs from Mcfee or Symantec or one of the others.
Check my signature for successfully installing Avast for removal tools to other AV programs.

[long1077]

The wording of the error message says "Avast update helper was detected on your system. In order to continue installing, please remove any other antivirus solutions."

DavidR, I searched for windows.old using everything search and it did not find anything.

Rocksteady, I always have "hidden items" box checked.  It does find a number of avast listings.  One in particular is program files/avast software/avast/setup/stats.ini.  Another 2 folders that are in windows/WinSxS/amd_avast  very long folder name containing a number of dll files.  I also, have a number of avast files in windows/WinSxS/Manifests folder.  Why weren't these removed when I uninstalled the program?  Could these files be what could be causing my error message issue?  Can I just delete all of them?