Antivirus software is the most important aspect for the full operation of a computer or laptop. Moreover, technology does not stand still, and every year new software is developed that can neutralize virtually any virus threat, as well as protect your PC from unwanted programs. But not every antivirus can be removed by simply sending it to the trash. And a vivid example is the Antivirus Avast program.
Avast - simple, effective, but difficult to remove
In fact, this antivirus is completely unpretentious and does not actually use the resources of the operating system. Therefore, removing Avast can only be relevant if you need serious protection against hacking and phishing programs.
Avast is free (at least a 30-day demo is available), after which you can:
- completely remove the antivirus and install it again;
- Find a license file on the Internet
- buy a license.
Actually, the second option is the most relevant among PC users. But the removal of Avast free antivirus in different ways is also used in cases where the license file could not be downloaded.
Methods for removing Avast antivirus software
To date, there are three working ways to completely remove this anti-virus software from your computer. All of them work equally efficiently, and the difference between them is only in the use of additional programs.
- Uninstall Avast using standard Windows tools;
- using a special utility (which is available on the antivirus developerās website);
- use of the uninstaller.
It is better for novice users to use the third method, since the first two paragraphs require skills and abilities to work with the registry and specialized software.
Uninstall Avast with Windows Tools
A very simple method. You need to go to the PC control panel, for which you need to click "Start" - "Control Panel".
In the window that opens, there is a shortcut āUninstall programsā or āPrograms and componentsā (it all depends on which version of Windows is installed).
In the window that opens, all programs installed on the PC are indicated, the files of which are entered in the registry. To successfully remove Avast from your computer, it is recommended that you carefully follow the instructions below.
- You need to find Avast antivirus in the list, select it with one click of the left mouse button and click on āUninstall / Removeā at the top of the window.
- The Avast installation window opens, in which you should select the "Delete" item, and then periodically click "Next".
- After the uninstallation is completed, the antivirus will offer to restart the computer for the changes to take effect. You must click "Restart Now."
- After the reboot, you need to clean the registry from the remaining antivirus files. There are two ways to do this:
- open the registry through the Run command and delete the necessary files manually;
- use a registry cleaner (CCleaner is the best choice).
In the first case, you need to call the Run menu. To do this, press the key combination Win + R. In the line that opens, enter the regedit command, which, in fact, starts the registry.
At this stage, the removal of Avast free should be performed very carefully, since accidentally deleting the wrong file can lead to a system crash with its subsequent reinstallation.
So, the registry is open, now you need to find the necessary files, for which it is recommended to use the registry search (the search is activated by pressing the key combination Ctrl + F). Just enter the word avast. Search results need to be deleted - just select the file by clicking LMB and press the Delete button.
This operation is performed until no avast values āāremain in the registry. Completing the uninstall is another reboot of the computer. That's all, now the antivirus has been permanently deleted from the computer, but it can be reinstalled or use other software.
Cleaning the registry using CCleaner
The second option for cleaning the registry of antivirus residues involves the use of additional software, which is CCleaner (by the way, it is very recommended to install this program, since it allows you to clean your PC from unnecessary temporary files, optimize your PC and much more).
So, for starters, you should open the program and click "Registry" in the window that opens. The analysis of existing files and their binding to installed programs will begin. Since CCleaner detects the process of uninstalling Avast from the computer, it will add the remaining antivirus files to the list of unnecessary ones. After the analysis is complete, click the "Fix" button. In the small window, click "Fix selected" again. By the way, it is not necessary to immediately clean the entire registry, you can leave only those that belong to Avast in the list of all found files.
Removing antivirus using a special utility
This method makes removing Avast simple and straightforward. No need to go into the registry and look for the necessary files there.
The first phase of Avast removal is performed similarly to the previous method. And in the second phase, you need to go to the official website of the antivirus and there, following the link, download the aswclear utility.
After it starts, the PC will automatically reboot and go into safe mode - this is a prerequisite for a normal uninstall. You need to run the program again and agree to the terms of Avast removal.
Done. The PC will reboot again, not a single file from Avast will remain on it. This Avast removal program is very easy to use and the main phase for inexperienced users can be the very first phase when you need to remove the antivirus distribution itself.
Uninstallation Programs
And finally, a way for beginners and the most lazy.
Important! Before using this method, you need to read the paragraph to the end!
There are many programs that, like the control panel, store information about the programs installed on the computer and allow you to delete them with a few clicks of the mouse. But unlike standard Windows tools, this software allows you to completely remove Avast, including registry entries.
The best representative of the uninstaller data family is the Revo Uninstaller program. The choice fell on her, because she has a wide range of functions, an intuitive menu and ease of operation.
Using Revo Uninstaller
First you need to run Revo Uninstaller. It will scan the system for installed applications.
After the scan is complete, you need to find the desired antivirus in the list, click on it with the mouse and click "Delete". This operation deletes the Avast files located in the root directories.
Attention! After the removal is complete, the program will offer to restart the PC, but you need to select the "Restart later" item.
Next, select the āAdvancedā mode so that the Revo Uninstaller will once again scan the system and registry in search of the remaining files and entries. The mode is activated using the āScanā button.
After completing this scan, you should mark all found Avast files and click "Delete." Now the PC can be rebooted, since all antivirus files have been deleted.
The choice of how to remove Avast antivirus from a computer depends solely on the user's abilities. But in any case, all three of these methods are effective and delete the necessary files with the guarantee that the system will not produce any critical errors when installing other anti-virus software.