I have heard others say that it auto updates for them. It never works for me and when I click manual update it hangs up and or says it can not connect to the server. I have tried this everyday for over a week now and no success, so I download the definitions from the website. This is supposed to be a final release and so far it acts like a beta still. Any suggestions? Thanks
What OS do you have?
What version of avast 5 are you using, Free, Pro or IS?
Do you have a firewall?
Also, under Settings/Update, what (if anything) is ticked for your connection type? Ideally you should leave both unticked (the default).
If you’re getting error messages relating to inability to connect, I suspect this setting isn’t your problem. I get the impression that if you have “dialup only” ticked (not recommended, even if you’re on dialup) avast doesn’t even try to update so there’s no error message(s).
I had this problem. I have dial-up and, if I check I only connect to internet using dial-up modem, Avast 5 Free won’t update. If I leave it default (both unticked) update works as it should.
I’m having this same issue. windows media xp sp3 & avast 5. Also the email function to contact avast is malfunctioning. The @ is stuck all the way to the left and will not move with any key. My email for username is not being accepted. Makes contacting avast rather frustrating. Have not been able to update since installation on 2-7 & windows firewall is flashing red. ??? I forgot this is Avast 5 pro firefox 3.6 default and the dreaded IE8. Also Chrome & Safari4. Ad-aware anniversary, Spy-bot, Secunia psi, & a-squared hijack free. Also Avast 4.8 Pro hadn’t updated on it’s own set on automatic in quite some time. Also both boxes are unticked and in default I assume
I am a new user and I have the same problem as well. I just installed Avast 5 Free and registered it. The registration worked. Then I click on manual update for either program or virus definitions and neither will work. It just says “Step 1/3 initializing please wait…” and nothing happens… no error message, no progress, nothing. I have nothing ticked under Settings/Update. I am using Windows XP SP3, Zonealarm Free 9.1 with a broadband connection. In Zonealarm I have given Avast software components full server access.
I have XP
Avast ver 5.0.396
cable modem
ashampoo firewall with settings to permit all access to avast functions
thanks
I have always connection checked and that is my type of connection. I disabled it and it doesnt matter so far.
Since version 5 the UPDATE PARAMETERS haven’t worked as already mentioned. If you check either box auto updates won’t work. It’s easily corrected by simply not checking them, but it’s frustrating especially for inexperienced users when a function doesn’t work like it’s supposed to.
I don’t know if this is your issue telex29, you haven’t said, but I do know if I have one of them checked my manual update works just fine.
nah doesn’t even work for me. I tried what you said and I still get a can not connect to a server error when doing a manual update. I am disappointed in Avast, it used to be my favorite AV program and now I think I am going back to AVG. ton of people have this problem and everyone can not get the auto update to work. WTF I mean the Avast team should know about this by now and have a fix for it, but it seems like they made this 5.0 version and went on vacation and are on a beach drinking with the office closed. I would be out raged if I payed for this and this happened. So I will be sure not to buy it, way to go Avast team!
I have checkmarked “My computer is permanently connected to the internet” and “Direct connection (no proxy)”.
I am connected via cablemodem and a NAT router, and Avast5 updates fine with these settings. Some had noted a problem if on dial-up and they had set “I only connect to the internet using a dial up modem”.
Anyone having the problem, please post the file \setup\setup.log
thanks
Vlk
Sorry for these two posts. My automatic updating problem was a firewall issue.
Avast should check for automatic updates every four hours and everytime after a reboot. Also sometimes the Windows Security Center gets messed up. In Control Panel and Add Remove Programs, if you click on Avast, there is ( at least there was in 4.8, should also be there for 5.0) a Repair function. Click on that Repair function and let Avast do it’s thing. Did you get your updates now?
If not, wait about 1-2 minutes, close out of everything and reboot. Upon restart, Avast will check for updates about 1 minute after rebooting. No need to do manual definitions updates. Every 3 months or so, or if you hear about it on the forum, you can open up the program to get program updates that have new features and bug fixes.
But definition updates are “Set and Forget.”
Jack
Hmm. Interesting. Just noticed that my signatures are 2 days old. I did the repair. Let’s see if that works. Too many problems with this .418 build too.
Avast! Pro, W7 64-Bit Ultimate.