auto update stopped working

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi

I recently re subscribed to avast home after years of no problems.
Since then, the auto update feature has stopped working( dont get the blue box)
I can update both the virus definitions and the program itself manually.
I added avast to the windows firewall exceptions list to no avail. I have no other firewall and am using the latest version of Firefox.
My os is windows home xp sp.
Thanks.
Jim

2

The windows firewall provide no outbound protection so it shouldn’t be blocking the updates, see Firewall below.

Can you do a manual update, right click the avast ‘a’ icon, select Updating, iAVS Update ?

Try a repair of avast. Add Remove programs, select ‘avast! Anti-Virus,’ click the Change/Remove button and scroll down to Repair, click next and follow.

If that doesn’t work I would suggest you reinstall avast, uninstall, reboot, install, reboot.

It would probably be best to first Download the latest version of avast http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again. Use that when you reinstall.

Firewall:
Whilst the windows XP firewall is usually good at keeping your ports stealthed (hidden) it provides no outbound protection and you should consider a third party firewall.

Any malware that manages to get past your defences will have free reign to connect to the internet to either download more of the same, pass your personal data (sensitive or otherwise, user names, passwords, keylogger retrieved data, etc.) or open a backdoor to your computer, so outbound protection is essential.

  • There are many freeware firewalls such as, Comodo, PCTools Firewall Plus, Jetico, etc. - Zone Alarm free works fine with avast and has a reasonably friendly user interface, however, the free version is becoming bloated with trial ware and is also crippled as far as outbound protection goes In the Program Control, configuration area, the slider will only goes as far as Medium protection, if you want more you have to buy the Pro version.
3

Hi

Thanks for the prompt response David.
I uninstalled and reinstalled it and it now works fine.

Cheers

Jim

4

No problem, glad I could help.

Welcome to the forums.

Merry Christmas.