Windows XP Sp2
Avast 4 Antivirus
Zone Alarm Firewall
Spybot Search & Destroy
Lavasoft Adaware
Hi,
After 3 years trouble free with AVG 7.5 antivirus, I had horrific problems trying to upgrade to AVG 8.0 yesterday, with the PC crashing several times. Removed AVG this morning, downloaded and installed Avast 4 Free Home Edition this morning ok. System seems fine, tells me I’m fully protected etc, and actually PC is operating a bit faster!
However, when I attempt to do a full scan, the Avast freezes - stops scanning after about 8% (50.000 files).
I’ve tried it in the Normal mode twice, and also the Quick mode twice. Each time it stops when reaching the Zone Alarm Program Files. I’ve shut down the ZA Firewall, but the scan still freezes at the same place.
Obviously ZA and Avast are not compatible on my PC. Is this a common issue? Thinking of trying the Comodo Firewall, but wanted to ask you guys first, if there’s anything else that I could do to get the Avast system fully operable with the programs I already have.
Thanks, in advance.
Please try to enable the creation of the report file in avast! settings and let everything, even “OK files”, be included there.
When the scan freezes, close the program and check the end of the report - what is the last line? If you check the particular folder in explorer - what’s the “next” file in there? (alphabetically)
Thanks for the speedy reply. I’ll try to enable the creation of the report file.
The last two files it has ‘stuck’ at are
C:/Program Files/Zone Alarm SB/bar/Cache
and
C:/Program Files/ Zone Alarm SB/bar/ 1 bin.
Well, the files that are listed in the report file have been scanned without any problems - i.e. it’s probably stuck on the next one in the folder (or next folder, if it’s the last file in the current folder) - i.e. on the first file that is not listed in the report (actually, if you are running a “Quick scan”, it may be a bit further - some .txt and similar files may be skipped in between).
If you try to scan the particular files alone, using the Explorer context menu - does it freeze as well on the guilty one?
Another trick is to put ZoneAlarm folders in the “exclusion” list, that way AVAST will not scan the folders any more. Same goes for every other false alarm / incompatibility.
I’m certainly not saying this will be possible to fix (in avast!).
We’ve seen reports where ZoneAlarm blocks opening of the “tracking.log” file (by “block” I mean it freezes the process) - but that file is located in System Volume Folder information, not in Program Files, so this looks like something new.
Hi again,
Sorry to have been so long replying to your last post, but been doing some ‘cleaning’ - after problems with AVG yesterday - ran CCleaner to check for registry issues, ran chkdsk etc.
I’ve scanned the Zone Alarm files, and the next files in line using the Explorer context menu. Scanned okay with no problems.
Tried a full scan in the Thorough mode. It froze after 19% (77978 files), in the same place as before! - after the ZA files. Only files after this on my C drive in the Explorer menu are the Temp, and Windows files, both of which scan ok individually.
At least following your advice proves there isn’t a fault with Zone Alarm compatibility.
Not sure what else I can do, apart from removing and then reinstalling Avast.
Will try this tomorrow.
Many thanks for your advice. If my efforts tomorrow resolve the problem, I’ll let you know.
I guess that’s the System Volume Information folder again - the file shown in the scanner window may be a few files late.
sezlez, maybe your problem is the same after all - ZoneAlarm starts with “Z”, i.e. it’s probably(?) the last folder in Program Files… so maybe the scanner actually is in System Volume Information folder when it freezes, just the window still shows Program Files, as it’s not updated for each file.
Try to put *\tracking.log into the list of avast! exclusions…
Put
*\tracking.log
into the exclusion list. Tried scan in quick mode, but alas, it froze after 51487 file checks -8%
Bedtime here in the UK!
Any further advice you may post, I’ll try in the morning. Otherwise I’ll try the removal/reinstalling Avast method.
Thanks for your help.