Hi,
I recently upgraded to Avast 5 and i have tried to do a manual update of the definition files but it just says initializing. I use Comodo Firewall and i have checked that it is not blocking the connection.
In the Avast settings it is set to use Internet Explorers settings but i use an Ethernet cable and so i don’t connect using a modem. I have also selected Direct Connection (No Proxy) but still i get nothing. Can anyone help?
Don’t know if this will help or not.
I had the exact same problem, so i decided to reboot again and now it is working fine.
I installed it last night and did a reboot, and i have switched on my computer again this morning but still no luck.
Hi Dumper
Afraid i am at a loss. ???
Someone will be along with a lot more knowledge than me shortly 
To same…
With correctly entered proxy setting…
Well let’s say what is your connection speed?
If it is really slow just go to option disable update,
Restart your computer then try to update it manually and let’s see if it works
I have a 3mb connection speed, i cancelled the update and rebooted, but still no luck.
download manually from avast website
I checked, but it looks like you can only download updates for Avast 4. Also it is not something i would want to do everyday, i would like it to update properly.
Exact same problem here… this is an issue. Requesting an update brings up the update window which states:
“Initializing, please wait…”
and there it stays forever, doing nothing. Overall progress never begins.
Program update feature does the same thing.
WinXP SP3
Comodo Firewall (allowing all Avast! events; also tried with firewall turned off)
Obviously, an antivirus that won’t update is going to be a big problem.
Everything working here.
It may be that 100 000 000 users have updatet to v5 and is now trying to update at the same time, and the update server is now tierd and want some rest… ;D so maybe it will work tomorrow…
Well I’ve been trying to update on and off for the last 24 hours, so I doubt it is because the site is busy. Now I’m getting worried with having out of date definitions.
Edmuser, I am also using Win XP SP3 and Comodo Firewall, I wonder if one of those is causing the problem.
mine have VPS 100120-1 and updates fine
I had the same problem and did 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 the instructions. I then rebooted and everything seems to be o.k.
I just did a repair and then a reboot but still no success. Just before I clicked on repair there is an option to check the connection, I clicked on it but it failed to connect.
Having exactly the same prob here 
Seems like avast update is unable to connect to the server.
Running XP SP3
So others are having the same problem, my definitions are two days out of date and I will have to go back to the previous version if this isn’t sorted out soon.
Do you use any firewall?