Ad-Aware 2007 Not Windows Vista Compatible

Lavasoft recently released Ad-Aware 2007. Based on postings at the various security forums, it is apparent that very important information about compatibility is not easily discernible from the Lavasoft website (see image below). So, absent clearly provided information by Lavasoft, allow me to clarify:

Ad-Aware 2007 has not been certified for Windows Vista. In fact, Lavasoft "discovered a technical glitch required for Ad-Aware 2007 to fully operate with Vista."

Click to to see full screen

which yields the bit in green below indicating that Ad-Aware 2007 is not Vista ready:

Personally, I would advise against using any software until Certified for Windows Vista:

Certified for Windows Vista software:

* Is independently tested for compatibility, functionality and reliability on Windows Vista-based PC's.
* Provides enhanced security by implementing Microsoft security guidelines.
* Meets privacy standards set forth by the Anti-Spyware Coalition.
* Installs reliably and if necessary, uninstalls cleanly.
* Eliminates unnecessary reboots.
* Ensures compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista.

See Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 933305 for Applications that have earned the "Certified for Windows Vista" logo or the "Works with Windows Vista" logo. Look under "More Information".

Ad-Aware Plus and Pro users are reminded to be vigilent with Ad-Watch. See Ad-Watch Setting Can Kill .LNK and .EXE File Extensions.

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Edit Note:

This topic has received quite a few hits since August 28, 2007, when Lavasoft published their blog post, Ad-Aware Now Vista Compatible, (including the Works with Windows Vista logo shown here) and the subsequent forum announcement on September 3.

When following the referral links to this topic, they all seem to go to various sites where users with Windows Vista are having problems with Ad-Aware 2007. Thus, in conjunction with the above-linked announcements, the purpose of this edit note is to supply this updated information provided by Lavasoft so an informed decision can be made by Ad-Aware users. I will leave it to you to read between the lines.

1. The August 28, 2007, press release, copied below, stated that a Vista-ready product was available for customers:
   

   News Release:
   
   For Immediate Release
   
   Ad-Aware Releases Update Supporting Vista
   
   Gothenburg,Sweden, August28 – Pioneer anti-spyware company Lavasoft today announced the release of the Microsoft VistaTM compatible version of Ad-Aware 2007.
   
   “Many of our customers have already made the transition to the Windows VistaTM operating system, and they depend on Ad-Aware to continue to protect them from online threats,” said Lavasoft’s CEO Jason King.“Vista is great for consumer usability,but like its predecessors, it comes with security flaws, leaving computer users vulnerable to cyber threats and crime.”
   
   In July, Microsoft COO Kevin Turner announced that Vista had already sold 60 million copies since the launch at the end of January 2007.This latest version of Ad-Aware provides compatibility for VistaTM (32 bit). To ensure that the product was compatible without relying solely on the self-interpretation of ‘works with Windows VistaTM’, developers at Lavasoft took advantage of the Vista-Ready program offered at the Microsoft headquarters.
   
   “We traveled to the United States to develop from within the Microsoft offices, which gave us a great advantage with quick turnaround for any Vista compatibility questions we posed,” stated senior developer at Lavasoft, Lennart Lundqvist. “The team at Microsoft is focused on transitioning software applications for the Vista platform,and as a result we have a compatible product to respond to our own customer’s needs.”
   
   The Vista version is available to existing customers through the web update program within Ad-Aware 2007. New customers can visit www.lavasoft.com for more information.
   
   About Lavasoft
   
   Founded in 1999, Lavasoft is "the original anti-spyware company", with over a quarter of a billion downloads worldwide for the Ad-Aware product. A private company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, Lavasoft provides security solutions for individual consumers and enterprise clients alike. Lavasoft has 4,000 partners in 120 countries.
   
   For further information, please contact Michael Helander, Director of PR & Communications at Lavasoft, telephone +46 733 18 45 63 or atpress@lavasoft.com.
   

2. The August Newsletter (referenced in the September 3, 2007, Forum Announcement) stated the following:
   

   “We have opened up important lines of communication with Microsoft, and have established the next steps that need to be taken in order to ensure a Vista compatible version early this fall,” says Odd Stranne, project leader and software developer at Lavasoft.

   Since the new Ad-Aware 2007 product has been built with the capability to immediately distribute version updates and patches, all Ad-Aware users with a valid license will
   immediately receive the Vista compatible update when it is available.
   

3. October 22, 2007: Anything missing from the Winqual Application List: Works with Windows Vista website (site requires IE to work)?

End Edit (22Oct07)