Am new to avast!, have read and read, but am not finding the answers I need. I have Vista, and have downloaded the free Home version of avast!. Even though the help instructions say I can schedule a scan, it seems from all the info on this forum I cannot? Also, is there a way to disable the automatic boot scan on start up? I find it annoying to have to wait - I know I can hit the escape key, but I would rather disable it altogether. Thanks for any help!
Welcome to the forums, saweber. 
Scheduling a scan is available in the Pro version but not in the Home version. It is one of the few limitations of the free Home version.
The boot scan at startup occurs only during the first restart after installing avast. This is needed to insure that your computer is clean at the beginning of using avast. You should allow this initial boot scan by avast. After the initial boot scan, this will not happen again unless you schedule a boot scan at some future date.
CharleyO, thanks for the reply! I installed avast! yesterday & I think it did try to run a scan, but I hit escape & stopped it. Now, everytime I start my computer, it starts running a scan. Is that because I did not let it run all the way through?
Yes, that is correct. Let it finish that first boot scan and it will leave you alone after it finished.
That’s strange - the scan should not start again, even if you interrupt it.
Can you please export the key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
into a file and upload it to ftp://ftp.avast.com/incoming ?
(Actually, I’m only interested in the BootExecute value, but you’d have to edit the exported package to remove the rest.)
Thanks.
Holy smokes! I’ll be happy to try to help, but you’ll have to give me better directions on how to do what you’re asking - I am technically challenged! But just letting it scan all the way through did work. However, looking at the report afterward, I noticed the archives were not scanned due to password protection. I have no passwords on anything - any ideas? Thanks
You did not sent these passwords. They are set by the program(s) that own those files. These are most likely other security programs. Can you give examples of those that can not be scanned?
When I go to Menu, I can click on tools, but View Scan Reports is not highlighted, therefore I cannot choose that option. I looked everywhere, but do not see where I can look at the report again.
The Home version doesn’t retain on-demand scan stats beyond the current session, once you close the Simple User Interface (SUI) they are gone.
When you first open the SUI that option and a couple of others will be greyed out, see image, this is because two of them are Pro version only and the other won’t be available until you run a scan.
So unfortunately you would have to run the scan again and leave the SUI open so the results are available or leave the window with the files that can’t be scanned open.
David, when I scan next time, I will note the results & let you know exactly what it says. Does avast have a firewall or is that something that would have to installed separately?
No avast doesn’t have a firewall it isn’t a security suite, Alwil software are developing a firewall but there is no date for planned completion.
The Network shield provides very limited protection in that it monitors ports commonly uses by exploits, but a firewall is an essential part of your security - It should be capable of blocking unauthorised outbound Internet Connections. The Vista firewall has this outbound checking but it is disabled by default.
You could also enable the outbound protection of the Vista firewall, but it isn’t very friendly, is rule based and you have to create the rules. - Vista Firewall Control, check out this topic for some user friendly help for the Vista Firewall, Outbound protection, http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=30234.0
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 (care required now it is a suite not to install the anti-virus element), 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.
See A Forum discussion on free firewalls http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=30808.0
See http://www.matousec.com/projects/firewall-challenge/results.php.
What about Windows firewall - will having it turned on protect me? It just seems so often that when a firewall is on, accessing some sites is difficult if not impossible.
The windows firewall (Vista) is fine but as I said outbound protection is disabled and when enabled isn’t very friendly so you need to get some help in the form of the Vista Firewall Control, which I mentioned and gave a link for further information.
David is giving you good advice,I tried microsofts own firewall with advanced security i.e.2 way and it was a pain.I was advised on this forum about vista firewall control and its great.Its easy to instal,easy to use and light on resources.Follow his advice and link.It is even freeware as well,you cannot go wrong. 
Please excuse my lack of knowledge in the tech area - I think I now understand. But one more question for clarification - do I turn on the Windows firewall AND download the free Vista firewall control OR does the Vista firewall control take care of inbound and outbound? Thanks
I would have thought the Vista firewall would be on, you have to enable the outbound protection part of it (sorry, no point asking me how to do that I don’t use Vista), then you install the Vista Firewall Control.
The Vista Firewall is the firewall program, all the Vista Firewall Control does is act as a user friendly interface to manage outbound rules, etc.
I really can’t be any more detailed than that I have avoided Vista so I can’t do any testing of the firewall control.
Thanks, I’ll try it -
You can leave your firewall on.When you download Vista firewall control and install it,it will take charge of your existing firewall.You will start getting prompts from the firewall like avast ,enable all,enable once etc.To apps you use all the time click on the enable and not enable once or it will keep asking you.May sound complicated but it is not.It guides you along.It is one of the easier firewall controls to configure.If you have any problems with it just post back.
Cod head, thanks, that was very helpful. My windows firewall is on, and really, everything so far is set on “enable”. Of course, each new thing I do, I get the pop up box, but I guess eventually we’ll have gone through everything then it won’t bother me asking anymore! Anyway, thanks for your help, appreciate it!
Glad we all could assist you.Pleased you are sorted now. ;).