Windows 2000 SP4 supported or not for Avast Free v7?

[antdude]

Hello.

I have a client who still uses his old Windows 2000 SP4 machine. https://support.avast.com/index.php?languageid=1&group=eng&_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=1172#idt_01 says "What are the supported operating systems for avast! 7.x ?

The supported operating systems for avast! Internet Security 7.x, avast! Pro Antivirus 7.x and avast! Free Antivirus 7.x are Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 or higher (any Edition, 32-bit or 64-bit), Microsoft Windows Vista (any Edition excl. Starter Edition, 32-bit or 64-bit) or Microsoft Windows 7 (any Edition, 32-bit or 64-bit).

Note:
The above means that avast! 7.x isn't supported (isn't compatible, can't be installed and won't run) on DOS, Microsoft Windows 3.x, Microsoft Windows NT 3.x, Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows ME, Microsoft Windows Server operating systems, or any others which aren't specified as supported." 

2000 is not even mentioned anywhere. Is it supported or not? If not supported, then how long is the old version going to last? Also, where can we redownload the older one to install for now?

Thank you in advance.

[MikeN92]

"or any others which aren't specified as supported"- I'm guessing that means Windows 2000 is not supported.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/11113/

[antdude]

Just for kicks in an old VMware Workstation v5.5.9 (256 MB of RAM) image, it gave me errors with two different installations. See attached screen shots/captures.

[antdude]

"or any others which aren't specified as supported"- I'm guessing that means Windows 2000 is not supported.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/11113/

Thanks. It would have been nice if Avast told me that and blocked the installation early!

[william1955]

I write this post from computer with Win 2000 SP4 and all latest updates, Avast! Free 7 and
Online Armor Premium 3.1.0.26 (latest version for Win 2000).
Everything working like a charm.

I don't know official statement about Avast!, but practically it works.

P.S. Ironically, I have very big problems with Avast Free 7 on Win XP Pro SP3 and Private Firewall
       7.0.26.4. Computer is very slow and not responsive, so to revert it to working condition,
       I uninstalled Avast! 7 and return to Avast! 6.

       Strange ?

Best regards
William

[antdude]

I write this post from computer with Win 2000 SP4 and all latest updates, Avast! Free 7 and
Online Armor Premium 3.1.0.26 (latest version for Win 2000).
Everything working like a charm.

I don't know official statement about Avast!, but practically it works.

P.S. Ironically, I have very big problems with Avast Free 7 on Win XP Pro SP3 and Private Firewall
       7.0.26.4. Computer is very slow and not responsive, so to revert it to working condition,
       I uninstalled Avast! 7 and return to Avast! 6.

       Strange ?

Best regards
William

Interesting. It seems like many people are having problems on all Windows versions. I think I will wait for now.

[ady4um]

During the beta tests, there were some problems with Windows 2k. I don't know if all problems are gone now in the final avast 7.0.1407.

Anyway, here is the quote from "PK" (from Avast Team)

Win2000 compatibility will be fixed in release version, we found some bugs on Win2k.

As you know, there are several avast! components which don't work on this OS, because it doesn't support new XP/Vista/7 features:
- filesystem shield: transient cache (internal cache)
- filesystem shield: persistent cache (NTFS cache)
- filesystem shield: on-cleanup scan for memory mapped files
- autosandbox/sandbox/safezone
- behavior shield
- scanning may be slower

Anyway, the basic functionality is maintained. OS limitations affect only new "modern" features.

In any case, for the installation of Avast under Windows 2000 you need at least:

1_ Download Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=7506


2_ Download Update Rollup 1, for Windows 2000 SP4 (KB891861)

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=18997


3_ Download Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&pf=true&id=25


4_ Download Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=1


5_ Download Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=5582


6_ Adobe Flash Player (optional, useful for avast graphics)

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/142/tn_14266.html#main_Archived_versions

(and select "Archived versions for Windows 2000 for Internet Explorer)

Currently, the latest version is Adobe Flash Player 10 for Windows 2000 for Internet Explorer.

After the table, there are latest releases. Look for the latest release available (currrently, debugger version 10.3.183.15, released 2012FEB15.)

Or look for the "older archives" versions, Flash Player 10.1

HTH

[antdude]

During the beta tests, there were some problems with Windows 2k. I don't know if all problems are gone now in the final avast 7.0.1407.

Anyway, here is the quote from "PK" (from Avast Team)

Win2000 compatibility will be fixed in release version, we found some bugs on Win2k.

As you know, there are several avast! components which don't work on this OS, because it doesn't support new XP/Vista/7 features:
- filesystem shield: transient cache (internal cache)
- filesystem shield: persistent cache (NTFS cache)
- filesystem shield: on-cleanup scan for memory mapped files
- autosandbox/sandbox/safezone
- behavior shield
- scanning may be slower

Anyway, the basic functionality is maintained. OS limitations affect only new "modern" features.

In any case, for the installation of Avast under Windows 2000 you need at least:

1_ Download Windows 2000 Service Pack 4

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=7506


2_ Download Update Rollup 1, for Windows 2000 SP4 (KB891861)

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=18997


3_ Download Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?displaylang=en&pf=true&id=25


4_ Download Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=1


5_ Download Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=5582


6_ Adobe Flash Player (optional, useful for avast graphics)

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/142/tn_14266.html#main_Archived_versions

(and select "Archived versions for Windows 2000 for Internet Explorer)

Currently, the latest version is Adobe Flash Player 10 for Windows 2000 for Internet Explorer.

After the table, there are latest releases. Look for the latest release available (currrently, debugger version 10.3.183.15, released 2012FEB15.)

Or look for the "older archives" versions, Flash Player 10.1

HTH

Interesting and thanks. My client's old production Windows 2000 SP4 PC should have all those updates since I maintain it.

Is anyone else running v7 in old W2K SP4?

[ady4um]

Is anyone else running v7 in old W2K SP4?

I think there are, as I read a post about at least one that was successful with the program update.

In any case, the list I posted includes not only SP4, so be sure to have them all (at least the first 5). It should be the same as it was for avast 6. Beware that I'm just another user, not an Avast Team member.

I don't think there is any rush. Avast 6 works fine, so you could wait a couple of weeks (or more) or until the next program update.

[c64]

Is anyone else running v7 in old W2K SP4?

I'm using Win2k, and Avast 7 works fine, but I had compatibility problems with Comodo Firewall. If I close Comodo, the system is OK.

[antdude]

Is anyone else running v7 in old W2K SP4?

I think there are, as I read a post about at least one that was successful with the program update.

In any case, the list I posted includes not only SP4, so be sure to have them all (at least the first 5). It should be the same as it was for avast 6. Beware that I'm just another user, not an Avast Team member.

I don't think there is any rush. Avast 6 works fine, so you could wait a couple of weeks (or more) or until the next program update.

Yeah, I am going to wait. V7 just came out and it seems all kinds of problems on all OSes. Do you know how long v6 will be supported with updates?

[ady4um]

I doubt there will be more program updates for v.6. Most probably it won't, even if some serious bug is found, but I might be wrong.

Regarding engine and definitions updates, they are the same for avast 5 / 6 / 7, so there is no problem with that.

Moreover, moving all current users from avast 6 to avast 7 will take some time (several weeks at least, if not more), so no need to rush.

Considering that avast 4.8 is still being used...

In any case, I'd rather see all the Windows 2k issues in relation to avast 7 resolved, including all the new supporting articles that are not explicitly saying that "Windows 2000 SP4 UR1" is supported (which should be included).

[antdude]

I doubt there will be more program updates for v.6. Most probably it won't, even if some serious bug is found, but I might be wrong.

Regarding engine and definitions updates, they are the same for avast 5 / 6 / 7, so there is no problem with that.

Moreover, moving all current users from avast 6 to avast 7 will take some time (several weeks at least, if not more), so no need to rush.

Considering that avast 4.8 is still being used...

In any case, I'd rather see all the Windows 2k issues in relation to avast 7 resolved, including all the new supporting articles that are not explicitly saying that "Windows 2000 SP4 UR1" is supported (which should be included).

Wow, v4.8 is still supported and updated (not program)?

[Lisandro]

Wow, v4.8 is still supported and updated (not program)?

Tic... tac... tic... tac...
December 2012 is the dead line...

[antdude]

Wow, v4.8 is still supported and updated (not program)?

Tic... tac... tic... tac...
December 2012 is the dead line...

We will be dead after 12/12/2012. [grin]