Avast/Vista/Browser issues

[creaturesghost]

I just recently bought a laptop with Vista on it, and, after being recommended it by a friend, decided to download the free home version of Avast.

The only problem I've had is that when I open my web browser (this happens in both Firefox and IE) nothing shows up. In IE it tells me there's no Internet connection. When I turn Avast off, I have no problem.

I've tried messing around with the windows firewall, but that hasn't helped. After looking at the Avast site, it sounds like it might be a problem with the Web Shield, but I don't know for sure (I'm slightly computer stupid).

I saw at least one other thread that referenced this problem, but there were no specifics on how to fix it. I'm just wondering if it's the firewall, or something else, and if anyone has any specific ways of fixing this. Any help would be much appreciated.

[Spiritsongs]

   Hi :

      Since new computers usually come with an antivirus program on them,
      we have to know IF this is true ? If yes, WHAT antiVIRUS and WHAT
      did you do to REMOVE IT from your computer ?

      It would also be helpful if you told us the NAMES of the security
      program(s) on the computer; this would include Version Numbers, etc .

[Lisandro]

After looking at the Avast site, it sounds like it might be a problem with the Web Shield

I'm not sure... Firefox and IE, with Vista and avast work perfectly.
Like Spiritsongs asked, do you have any other antivirus running?
Any other security program?
What did you change in Windows Vista firewall?

[creaturesghost]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that it came with McAfee. I attempted to uninstall it before downloading avast, but it wouldn't allow me to take all of the programs off.

McAfee "Privacy Service" still remains (it says it cannot be removed), and the McAfee Security Center is still installed (it says this cannot be removed until everything else is, namely the Privacy Service, which, again, seemingly cannot be removed).

As far as the Windows Vista firewall, all I've tried to do is add Avast as one of the programs that is allowed to go through the Windows firewall, but that didn't work.

There are no other security features that I've installed or am aware of.

[Lisandro]

For sure, McAfee "Privacy Service" and other remains are the culprit here.
On McAfee site there is uninstallers for their programs.
http://ts.mcafeehelp.com/faq3.asp?docid=71525

[creaturesghost]

You hit the nail on the head.

Thanks!

[Lisandro]

You hit the nail on the head.

Thanks!

You're welcome. Please, post back the results of fully uninstalling McAffe

[Vlk]

Please also see here: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=27037.0