Eset Smart Security

Winuser · Jul 4, 2013

This is a warning for anyone that wants to try Eset Internet Security 7 Beta on Windows 8.1. I installed it this morning and thought everything went OK. When I tried to restart windows I got a message that Windows encountered an error had to restart. When the computer restarted I could not get Windows 8.1 to load. All it would do is give a message that Windows couldn't start and then it would reboot. I tried system restore and startup repair 3 or 4 times but they wouldn't work. I finally had to use system refresh to get Windows 8.1 to load again. Luckily I didn't have that much installed and it didn't mess up my Windows 8 install; so all I really lost was my time. One good thing did come out of it though. I found out that after a couple of unsuccessful starts Windows 8 will go to a screen with options for doing repairs or loading another operating system if you have one.

JustATest · Jul 4, 2013

Thank you for that advisement! You may have saved a few others from the associated headaches. BTW, don't try Avast 8 yet either (on 8.1) or you'll be posting another FYI.

Winuser · Jul 4, 2013

I'm to to stay with the Microsoft security programs for now. I guess it's best to try one beta program at a time. Now that I have 8.1 running again I'm going to start loading my programs to see how they run.

Mystere · Jul 4, 2013

I find myself baffled that people seem to think nothing of installing these kinds of programs on beta OS's. They are very intrusive and need to have very intimate knowledge of how the OS works. As such, when a new version of the OS is released they will almost certainly need updates, and can cause damage to your system if you try to use them. This also includes anti-malware tools and firewalls.

The same with tools like CCleaner, or other "optimizers", registry cleaners, etc... do NOT use them on beta versions of OS's unless they have specifically stated they are compatible. It's almost guaranteed they will break your system.

Obviously, if you know the risks and are just curious about what will happen if you do, then by all means, go ahead. But you really need to expect that your system will be unusable afterwards more often than not.

This is how it was when Windows 8 was released, Windows 7, Vista, XP SP2, XP, Windows 2000, etc... It seems that people keep making the same mistakes over and over.

JustATest · Jul 4, 2013

Mystere said:
I find myself baffled that people seem to think nothing of installing these kinds of programs on beta OS's. They are very intrusive and need to have very intimate knowledge of how the OS works. As such, when a new version of the OS is released they will almost certainly need updates, and can cause damage to your system if you try to use them. This also includes anti-malware tools and firewalls.

The same with tools like CCleaner, or other "optimizers", registry cleaners, etc... do NOT use them on beta versions of OS's unless they have specifically stated they are compatible. It's almost guaranteed they will break your system.

Obviously, if you know the risks and are just curious about what will happen if you do, then by all means, go ahead. But you really need to expect that your system will be unusable afterwards more often than not.

This is how it was when Windows 8 was released, Windows 7, Vista, XP SP2, XP, Windows 2000, etc... It seems that people keep making the same mistakes over and over.

You make a very good point; however, some of us have the extra resources to do such beta testing. BTW, thanks to my own beta testing efforts and the help of other posters in this forum (like Winuser), I can now safely say that I am running Win 8.1 and my installation is rock-solid at this point; however, I will ultimately end up breaking it again in my efforts to help others with their particular issues. However, the average user should heed your caution and wait for all the kinks to be worked out.

Mystere · Jul 4, 2013

As I said, if you understand the risks, then go for it. I'm not saying you shouldn't. I'm saying, however, that installing any tool like these has very high risk, and you shouldn't do so unless you are willing to accept those risks.

Winuser · Jul 4, 2013

The way I see it is that betas are for experimenting. If you try something and it doesn't perform they way you want then you uninstall it. I had very little to lose so I tried it. What did surprise me was the fact that system restore and start up repair couldn't fix the problem. If I had all my programs and files installed I would have done a back up first. I just wanted to warn anyone thinking about installing Eset Smart Security so they know what to expect before they do.

XweAponX · Jul 5, 2013

ESET Smart Security installs a replacement firewall which may be interfering with the Windows FW. I'm using ESET Antivirus which is the same but without the Firewall.

If you have an INstall Disk, you can use "System Restore" from the Install Disk to set your system to before you installed Smart Security. You can also do it from advanced boot options, but in order for that to work, you either have to have a dual boot or Auto Login shut off.

Winuser · Jul 5, 2013

XweAponX said:
ESET Smart Security installs a replacement firewall which may be interfering with the Windows FW. I'm using ESET Antivirus which is the same but without the Firewall. If you have an INstall Disk, you can use "System Restore" from the Install Disk to set your system to before you installed Smart Security. You can also do it from advanced boot options, but in order for that to work, you either have to have a dual boot or Auto Login shut off.

Windows did ask me to insert the disc into the drive but System Restore and Startup Repair still would not work. I had to do a Repair Install to get Windows 8.1 to run. I didn't have that much installed so it wasn't a big deal to start over. Almost forgot,; I do have a triple boot; Windows 8.1, Windows 8 and Windows 8 Safe Mode.

XweAponX · Jul 5, 2013

Ok, that's what I've had to do several times. As long as you can get into some version of the Desktop even if it is the Black Screen of Death, if task Manager comes up then you can do an In-Place Install.

Does the Smart Security Program work after you ran the In-Place install?

Winuser · Jul 6, 2013

Smart Security is no longer installed on my Win8.1 drive. From what I read on the Eset forum it is a known problem. They are working on a update that will work in 8.1 and should be released soon.

XweAponX · Jul 7, 2013

Good - I'm using Eset AV version 6.0.308.0, it hasn't caused me any grief. The safest bet is to avoid Antivirus programs that install extra-curricular firewalls, they are redundant, unnecessary and always problematic. The Windows 7/8 firewall is the best, easy to configure, and does not interfere with normal operations.

Winuser · Jul 28, 2013

If anyone wants to experiment; Eset has updated their Security 7 beta to 7.0.104.0 and they say it works in Windows 8.1.

XweAponX · Jul 28, 2013

Thanks for the info, I have no intention of using it, but I may run into a system that may need it.

pabloottawa · Dec 25, 2013

I just ran into this problem last night and am getting fluctuating hangs on startup with windows 8.1 and eset SS 5. Sometimes it boots up fine, but usually it just hangs at the desktop with no icons present on startup. It just started happening as soon as I installed eset.

So is this the bottom line here? That eset doesn't play well with windows 8.1? That's too bad, it worked perfectly for me with windows 7 ultimate x64.

Moving forward, I guess my next question is which AV software works best with windows 8.1?

Lee · Dec 25, 2013

pabloottawa said:
I just ran into this problem last night and am getting fluctuating hangs on startup with windows 8.1 and eset SS 5. Sometimes it boots up fine, but usually it just hangs at the desktop with no icons present on startup. It just started happening as soon as I installed eset.

So is this the bottom line here? That eset doesn't play well with windows 8.1? That's too bad, it worked perfectly for me with windows 7 ultimate x64.

Moving forward, I guess my next question is which AV software works best with windows 8.1?

There is noting wrong with the installed AV that comes with the installation of 8/8.1. Have yet to see either a virus or malware.

pabloottawa · Dec 25, 2013

Yeah I was hoping for this response but yesterday I got a different response from a different person saying that windows defender is just not enough of an AV program to take on the really tough stuff.

You know, I've read tons of forum threads and posts about eset's smart security software and how it doesn't play well with windows 8/8.1. Some articles I've read have gone as far back as June 2013 and yet here we are almost 7 months later and eset STILL hasn't fixed the issue. Pretty disappointing considering the amount of money they want per year for their "protection"

XweAponX · Dec 25, 2013

Winuser said:
This is a warning for anyone that wants to try Eset Internet Security 7 Beta on Windows 8.1. I installed it this morning and thought everything went OK. When I tried to restart windows I got a message that Windows encountered an error had to restart. When the computer restarted I could not get Windows 8.1 to load. All it would do is give a message that Windows couldn't start and then it would reboot.

It is not a good idea to use Smart Security with Windows 7 through 8 - With XP and Vista it is fine because neither of those OSes have a good built in Firewall, but 7 and 8 both have that excellent firewall.

If you can get it booted, remove Smart Security, and install regular Eset Antivirus, and stick with version 7, never download the Betas of anything, unless you are able to wipe your OS and re-install. Basically only Developers and paid/compensated Beta testers should ever use Betas, because of the risk factor as shown here.

Eset is basically the only AV package that is worth s damn, I have it on four machines, five if I include my Windows 8.1 testing machine. On each machine it has saved me from a total virus meltdown.

Edit - I didn't realize this was an old thread - Basically the same response though, you don't need another firewall program for Windows 7 and 8, and the regular AV program never has any of these issues.

Winuser · Dec 27, 2013

I'm running Eset SS 7 without any problems. I did have a problem trying to run an older version.

pabloottawa · Dec 27, 2013

Winuser said:
I'm running Eset SS 7 without any problems. I did have a problem trying to run an older version.

Please list your full specs so we can compare setups.

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