BleepingComputer.com: Avast & 98

I hope someone here will be able to help, I've tried asking at the Avast forum and so far they haven't come up with a solution.

I've been trying to install Avast anti-virus on a Dell computer running Windows 98. I get to the Setup Finished screen and the program says that there was an error while completing the setup process.

I can post the whole error if anyone requests it, but these are the problems as far as I can tell:

02.11.2008 20:32:57 package: program: installed 119 files (16121302 bytes), removed 0 files
02.11.2008 20:32:57 general: news: updated
02.11.2008 20:34:19 package: vps: can't write to C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\400.vps, error code: 0x00000005

Let me know if you need more information. I'm running Windows 98 SE and Tiny Personal Firewall. I've heard some people having issues with the program updating on 98, getting a similar error, but they've been able to get around it by using the beta version. I can't get that without having a stable version installed first.


Help!

Welcome to BC Jen.

Well I actually install Avast! Home Edition 4.8.1229 yesterday and it installed without any problem.

Where did you download it from? Could be a corrupt download.

I don't have use a Firewall perhaps you can disable it before install.

Thanks, Keith.

I'm downloading it from the Avast website. I can try filehippo.com but it looks like something is blocking the program writing to that folder. I'll disable the firewall and try again but its a fairly simple firewall since most programs won't run on 98 and therefore doesn't really block program access internally.

Keithuk, on Nov 7 2008, 12:05 PM, said:

You should read this Keithuk, please do so
jen254 try it from here http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

That's where I was downloading it from.

Anyway, I managed to solve my own problem. it took a bit of work, but I have Avast up and running! Thanks anyway for the ideas.

Your welcome and thanks for letting us know.

Hi.

Quote

Could you give a small explanation on how you solved it? This would benefit others if they have a related problem too. Also I'm just curious.

Thanks

With Regards,
Extremeboy

Sure, I booted into safe mode and got Avast to install. Once I restarted it wouldn't update though and the on-access protection wasn't working. I downloaded the beta update file and ran that so it would upgrade to the beta version.

I'm still not sure what was blocking it from updating - someone on the Avast boards said that some drivers in Win 98 prevent large files from being written. I guess the beta version works around that. I still wish I knew what the exact problem was, but at least I found a way around it!

'interested' as I run Win98se on one of my computers and soon to require Avast installation ;

however, on my lappy it has installed with no problems; I ask if you may have another antivirus program lurking or not completley uninstalled?

Also; not keen on the idea of a Beta Antivirus program ; have you tried completley uninstalling the Avast, rebooting and a fresh installation of Avast that is NON Beta?

ruby1, on Nov 10 2008, 02:31 PM, said:

I had AVG 7.5 installed. I uninstalled it but I'm sure there's still stuff lurking in the registry. I use Revo Uninstaller on my XP and Vista systems but of course it doesn't work on 98. My suspicion is that was the problem, the computer is almost 9 years old but I did reformat about 3 years ago. I might have had Yahoo/Verizon's security software installed at one time too.

I got an email back from Avast that the new version will be coming today or tomorrow. I didn't mind installing the Avast beta, I like their software a lot but if you want to wait - the current version is 4.8.1229 so just check the website.

There's no way I'm undoing all the work that I did. That computer boots too slow as it is for me to sit there and uninstall/reboot one more time
I could not get the non-beta version to install no matter what I did until I booted into safe mode. Once I got it in, it would not update and non of the on-access protection would work, so I had to go to the beta. (someone on the avast forums had issues with the updating on 98)

You may be able to get it working without all the drama I went through, but otherwise you're better off waiting a day or two until the final version comes out if you don't trust betas.

jen254, on Nov 10 2008, 08:01 PM, said:

AVG is a very good uninstaller there is nothing left worth talking about in the registry.

After I install Avast the other day I had trouble disabling it. I could delete is in the registry startup but it was still running somewhere. I don't need a virus checker running all the time.

AVG is great, I can disable it and run it when I want too.

Keithuk, on Nov 10 2008, 04:32 PM, said:

I searched for AVG in the registry and found more than 10 entries. I'm not familiar enough with the registry to know what they were but it definitely wasn't wiped off my computer. AVG took too long to update on my computer. I wish I could have used 8.0 but it's not compatible with 98.

Avast has an uninstaller you can use if you're still having problems.