Before You Begin
Before diving into the uninstallation process, make sure you have administrative access to your computer. Additionally, it’s essential to create a backup of any important files or data to prevent any unforeseen issues.
Step 1: Close Avast and Disable Protection
Before uninstalling Avast, it’s crucial to close the program and disable its real-time protection to avoid any conflicts. Follow these steps:
- Right-click on the Avast Antivirus icon in your system tray (located at the bottom right corner of your screen).
- Select “Open Avast user interface” from the context menu.
- In the Avast window, go to the “Settings” tab.
- Under “General,” find the “Troubleshooting” section and uncheck the box that says “Enable Avast self-defense module.”
- Click “OK” to apply the changes.
Step 2: Uninstall Avast via Control Panel
To proceed with uninstallation, you’ll need to access the Control Panel. Follow these steps:
- Click the “Start” button on your desktop.
- Select “Control Panel” from the displayed options.
- In the Control Panel window, locate and click on “Add or Remove Programs” (or “Programs and Features” in newer versions).
- Scroll through the list of installed programs and find “Avast Antivirus.”
- Click on “Avast Antivirus” and then click the “Remove” (or “Uninstall”) button.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the uninstallation process. Avast’s uninstall wizard will guide you through the necessary steps.
Step 3: Remove Avast Residual Files
Although the uninstallation process removes most Avast files, some remnants may still remain. To ensure a thorough cleanup, follow these steps:
- Open Windows Explorer by pressing the “Windows” key and “E” simultaneously.
- Go to the following folder:
C:\Program Files
- Locate the “Avast” folder and right-click on it.
- Select “Delete” from the context menu.
- Confirm the action when prompted.
Step 4: Restart Your Computer
After completing the above steps, it’s essential to restart your computer. This will ensure all changes and modifications take effect.
That’s it! You have successfully uninstalled Avast from your Windows XP computer. Remember to install an alternative antivirus solution if you haven’t done so already to keep your system protected.
We hope this guide has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions or encounter any difficulties during the uninstallation process, feel free to reach out to us. Happy computing!