Downloading & transferring Avast to another PC

Osem · 10-02-2010, 10:37

As covered in another thread, I have recently bought a new W7 PC and want to uninstall the supplied free trial of Bullguard and install Avast free version. The new PC isn't connected to the internet yet and I want to have AV on it before it is. I've already been advised that I should uninstall Bullguard first then download Avast via this PC onto a memory card and use that to transfer it to the new PC.

I already have Avast 4.7 on this PC and don't want to fiddle about with that just yet so how do I ensure the new download for the other PC doesn't overwrite or interfere with the version installed on this one? I haven't done this before so how do I get the downloaded files onto the card and when I've done that, how do I install the files on the other PC from the card.

Sorry to sound simple but when it comes to stuff like this I am...

Cheers.

Dai · 10-02-2010, 10:58

Basically all you need to do is download the installer and save it somewhere where you can find it again..

http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-...-10019223.html

So long as you don't run it on the old machine it won't affect your existing installation.

Just copy that downloaded file onto the usb stick or whatever you'll use to transfer it across, copy it onto the new pc and run it from there.
I'd recommend on the win7 machine to right-click on the installer and 'run as administrator' - it's easiest to do this if you have copied the installer file onto your desktop from the usb stick.

Pog66 · 10-02-2010, 11:01

Can't you just download the 40+ MB file from the Avast web site - if i recall it is a standalone install - & copy that to the new PC?

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....as Dai said!!

**Rob** · 10-02-2010, 11:04

I'd install by being logged in on an account with Admin rights, rather than ordinary user. Easier than faffing about with the permissions issues that occasionally bite when using run as.

To be honest though, just uninstall Bullguard. Then first thing you do when connecting the PC to the net is to download and install your new Antivirus software. You are going to have to be so unlucky to get a virus in that couple of minutes, especially if you havenet opened or run anything else. Remember too that your antivurus must have it's current virus signature files to really work properly. Merely installing the a/v isn't enough. It's the updates that are critical.

Osem · 10-02-2010, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

I'd install by being logged in on an account with Admin rights, rather than ordinary user. Easier than faffing about with the permissions issues that occasionally bite when using run as.

To be honest though, just uninstall Bullguard. Then first thing you do when connecting the PC to the net is to download and install your new Antivirus software. You are going to have to be so unlucky to get a virus in that couple of minutes, especially if you havenet opened or run anything else. Remember too that your antivurus must have it's current virus signature files to really work properly. Merely installing the a/v isn't enough. It's the updates that are critical.

Thanks - Hmmm.. we haven't sorted out user and admin accounts on the new PC yet. So would it be a good idea to do that now?

My only concern about going online with the new PC with no AV installed is that I don't know how long it'll take me to download the file and install it properly and during all that time we'll be unprotected surely. Can anyone let me have a good link to avast and give me an idea how long the download will take? Cheers.

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Update.

Well actually it seems we have set up a password protected admin account and I've just created a user account for our eldest. It was so simple I didn't realise I'd done it lol

Aragorn · 10-02-2010, 11:16

The default user will be an admin account any new users have a choice of Admin or Oick.
As long as you have the Windows 7 Firewall enabled and only download the Avast installer you aren't going to have a problem.

Osem · 10-02-2010, 11:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

The default user will be an admin account any new users have a choice of Admin or Oick.
As long as you have the Windows 7 Firewall enabled and only download the Avast installer you aren't going to have a problem.

Thanks - presumably the W7 firewall is set on automatically?

**Rob** · 10-02-2010, 11:27

Download doesn't take long. It's not a big piece of software and on a modern PC won't take that long to install either. The install can be easier to do when you are online so that you can do all the registration stuff (needed for the auto updates of the a/v signatures).

Osem · 10-02-2010, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

Download doesn't take long. It's not a big piece of software and on a modern PC won't take that long to install either. The install can be easier to do when you are online so that you can do all the registration stuff (needed for the auto updates of the a/v signatures).

Ok may just give it a try then but I'll have to go offline on this pc as we don't yet have a router so I'll have to plug the new pc into the VM modem. I've checked the w7 firewall settings and it shows 'home & private networks' as not connected and 'public networks' as connected. Is that OK?

Anyone got that link to avast download?

**Rob** · 10-02-2010, 11:39

http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-...=dl&tag=button

Osem · 10-02-2010, 11:43

Thanks for that.

Never tried Vista, happy with XP, but finding using w7 quite straightforward (so far!!!).

Going to uninstall that Bullguard stuff on the new PC now so can anyone let me know if the firewall settings above are ok and whether I can now just sign this PC off the www, connect the new PC to the modem and download avast or whether there's anything else I need to take care of first?

Thanks for being patient

Aragorn · 10-02-2010, 11:49

When you connect to the modem W7 should identify it as a Public network (it might ask you) and will enable the firewall for that connection. (Don't forget to power cycle the modem, so that you pickup a new IP Address)

Or direct from Avsat - http://www.avast.com/en-gb/free-antivirus-download

---------- Post added at 12:47 ---------- Previous post was at 12:46 ----------

W7 will probably want to automatically install some security updates - best to let it do so!

---------- Post added at 12:49 ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 ----------

Oh, and while you are connected go to www.getfirefox.com !

Osem · 10-02-2010, 12:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

When you connect to the modem W7 should identify it as a Public network (it might ask you) and will enable the firewall for that connection. (Don't forget to power cycle the modem, so that you pickup a new IP Address)

Or direct from Avsat - http://www.avast.com/en-gb/free-antivirus-download

---------- Post added at 12:47 ---------- Previous post was at 12:46 ----------

W7 will probably want to automatically install some security updates - best to let it do so!

---------- Post added at 12:49 ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 ----------

Oh, and while you are connected go to www.getfirefox.com !

Cheers will do.

Just uninstalled Bullguard on the other pc so should be ready to go in a bit then....

Just checked and the new PC has IE8 but may look at firefox at some point when I've cooled down from all this tecchie stuff....

---------- Post added at 13:01 ---------- Previous post was at 12:50 ----------

OK guys I'm off now - If I don't make it back here it's been nice knowing you all......

TVM for all the help!

---------- Post added at 13:33 ---------- Previous post was at 13:01 ----------

Hi guys - well here I am on my new PC so thanks for the advice everyone...

Avast went well except one thing. I'm trying to register it (even though I have 30 days) and completed the online registration form with a current e.mail address but when I click the 'register' button nothing happens. Anyone got any idea why? Could it be down to some settings somewhere? I'll also want to register the MS Office 2007 free trial version shortly but would like to work out what's gone wrong with the avast regn. before I try that.

TVM guys

**Rob** · 10-02-2010, 12:39

Have you already used the email addy on another version of Avast?

Osem · 10-02-2010, 12:42

No i don't think so but shall I try another ? I've been accessing the hotmail account I named and it's working ok. It's not as if the avast regn appears to even respond. When I click the button nothing happens at all.