avast! 5 wont start

[zip]

Save avast! 5 download (http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/) to desktop.

Run avast! 5 uninstall tool (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility) in safe mode, reboot twice.

Boot into safe mode with networking & install avast! 5, reboot.

Worked for me & others. :)

I'm very happy to be back with avast! 5 Free on XP sp3, 32bit. 8)

I never had a problem with avast! 5 free on 7 64bit.8)

[doktornotor]

Yeah, the safe mode w/ networking install worked on every box that refused to work w/ Avast so far... Mentioned it a couple of times on their forums; the mods seem to dislike the trick, someone even claimed that install doesn't work in safe mode, go figure. Shrug. Anyway, enjoy. ;)

[i_g]

Well, install doesn't fully work in safe mode... because of Microsoft :P
An important part of avast! installation is the VC redistributable package. This package, being a MSI, doesn't install in safe mode because it needs the Windows Installer service running - which it's not.

If you already have the corresponding redistributables installed on your system... then it might work I guess.

[doktornotor]

Well, the VC redistributable stuff has been long installed on my box in various versions. (Reminds me I should clean up in that department as well :P)