Disable Avira splash screen and Nag on Windows 7 64bit

June17

Just a quick post. Basically the free version of avira comes with a splash screen and an annoying nag screen that’s basically a popup ad that opens up every few hours telling you to go premium. Disabling the nag is easy (same as on vista):

Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic\avnotify.exe
Right-click avnotify.exe-> properties-> security->
Under the group or username SYSTEM click edit
Put a checkmark under the DENY column for “read and execute”

It’s also possible to do this via the security policy app. For more info check this helpfull site.

Now to disable the splash is a little different – since avgnt is no longer in the registry under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run on Windows 7 64bit. Instead you have to look for it in:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

FYI this seems to be the currentversion\run for 32bit apps on a 64bit OS.

Now you just find avgnt and add /ns at the end (i.e: avgnt.exe” /min /ns). For avira versions before 9 (update!! Outdated virus scanners are bad. It’s free. You have no excuse!) use /nosplash instead.

Hope this helps people

UPDATE: As MisterAV pointed out, avnotify is also used for browsing virus info. An alternative is to use VirusList which will cover you on the virus info side and leave you able to block avnotify and enjoy a nag free antivirus

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7 Comments to

“Disable Avira splash screen and Nag on Windows 7 64bit”

On July 31st, 2009 at 2:31 pm John K. Says:
Thanks for the instructions. It removed the only annoying feature of one of the best security software out there. I appreciate it!
On September 6th, 2009 at 3:23 pm MisterAV Says:
About the splash ok but if you block avnotify it’s also used to browse to virus info. So you must consider this.
On September 10th, 2009 at 1:27 pm masayume Says:
True. I never used that feature since i always used viruslist. Thanks! I’ll add that to the post.
On December 24th, 2009 at 12:28 pm Jake Says:
ive found that this only works until the updater replaces avnotify.exe with a newer version. after that it keeps popping up again. i dont have access to gpedit. what can i do
On December 29th, 2009 at 2:56 pm masayume Says:
Hmm…..What version of windows are you running? If it replaces avnotify you’d have to do it again, but that should only happen with an actual program update. The definition update shouldn’t effect this – i’ve had no problems but then again i’ve got access to gpedit.
On June 21st, 2010 at 1:12 am Charlie Summers Says:
Avira seems to be updating avnotify.exe/dll with annoying frequency of late; at least once a week I’ve received the annoying nag window after an update. I keep denying (for all users, not just SYSTEM) but like a bad penny it keeps coming back.

Soon time to switch to something less in-your-face than this thing…
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