Like many here I ran into a problem with Ad-Aware 2007 after the upgrade to IE7. I have the Pro version and contacted support. Unfortunately they repeatedly responded by telling me to uninstall 2007 and install 2008 without addressing the error messages I, like you, have received. I run Windows Vista.

I discovered what should have been told me to begin with.

You FIRST have to go to msconfig (in Vista, Start > type in msconfig > then select) > Start Up, and un-check aawservice from the start up list. (Task Manager is supposed to let you know what is runing, however, after trying to uninstall 2007 no reference to it appeared in Task Manager even though the aawservice was running/trying to run and giving the Unhandled Exception error).

Re-Start your system. This will eliminate the Unhandled Exception error.

You will now be able to go to Program File and Program Data File and delete all Lavasoft info. Before, you would receive an error message "You need permission to perform this action".

Make sure you completely uninstall 2007. See: http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=22364

I was then able to install 2008 (those with paid versions will be asked to enter your registration during the process).

I was able to do a Full System scan. All appears to be well.

Hope this helps.
Mike

Thanks for posting, Mike.

Over the Holiday we were evaluating and testing to come up with a best solution for all encountering this problem. By now I think we have it figured out sufficiently. I've been adding edits to the pinned topic here in the forums
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=22364
I was able to overcome the uninstall problems using Task Manager to end the service process but since you found disabling the service in startups I've added that one as well so if one doesn't work the other will. Once the service is stopped, uninstall (in most cases) can proceed, but if not, we added the folders to delete.

I think that it was on Christmas Eve just after you posted that the Support Team realized the problem of needing to end the service from running and have since added it to the procedure as well (for those contacting the Support center)

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to post and help others who are also having this same problem.

Mike B, when I stoped aaw service, program did not start at all. It looks like everybody "solution" is uninstall2007 and buy 2008! BAD marketing!

Hello umim,

It is a free upgrade for all users, Free, Plus or Pro. Follow the steps here to uninstall Ad-Aware 2007 and upgrade to Ad-Aware 2008
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=22364

Ad-Aware AE (Anniversary Edition) due out later this month will also be a free upgrade for all users and has even more advantages to Ad-Aware 2008. See here
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=22798