Avast cannot connect to server

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Environment:
Windows Vista Ultimate 64

Avast Build 4.8.1227 (current build)

Avast will no longer connect to server for updates.

“Error: Cannot connect to server”

I just noticed that Internet Explorer will not launch either.

Currently using Firefox to go on net.

2

Check out the usual list of suspects.

What is your firewall ?
Does it allow avast.setup internet access ?

  • If it does delete the entry for it and do a manual update, this will force the firewall to ask permission again.

Do you use a proxy to connect to the internet ?
When does this happen, e.g. directly after boot, etc. ?

3

In the past I had no problems updating.

I would usually do a manual update, but the automatic update would work as well.

Now I cannot update.

Also IE no longer displays webpages.

4

FIXED!

I set the proxy to connect directly and not thru Internet Explorer.

Now if I can get IE7 to work now.

5

Which is why I asked the above questions, without answers I’m in the dark and unable to help.

OK scratch the update issue if the proxy bit has resolved that.

But the firewall is still likely to be the issue in blocking ashWebSv.exe and IE which you didn’t mention in the original post.

So what exactly is wrong with IE ?

6

I got Avast working by having the proxy connect directly to the net instead of through IE7.

IE 7 keeps giving me the error “Cannot display webpages.”

Firefox works.

IE7 (64 bit) works.

IE7 (no adds) works.

I went to the Microsoft support pages and none of their solutions worked.

I did a clean install of Vista Ultimate 64 and everything works again.

Currently only IE7 (32bit) lets you instantly watch shows on Netflicks.

Thank you for the help.

7

You’re welcome.

8

I am replying here rather than starting a new topic, because the problem is the “same”.

I recently got a little malware on my PC somehow, and since it got in, I can’t update avast any more. I assume it’s related.

The problem persists even after it’s (presumably) gone.

Similar problems though:

FireFox works fine, but IE8 doesn’t find internet. My IM programs (MSN, ICQ) have no problems connecting.

The difference here is that I have no firewall, and Windows firewall is deactivated, and this still comes up. I have tried to find settings for something regarding this, but has not been in any luck.

Edit:
After some more fiddling I realize some programs have no problems connecting to internet, while others do. IE told me “Windows cannot connect to internet”, so it must be related to that somehow. Some programs connect direct to internet, and others connect to Windows’ internet? Windows XP btw. SP3. managed to update all thing before this.

9

I just installed avast home 4.8 after uninstalling norton internet security. I can’t get update to connect.
I tried all three proxy settings, always the same error: Cannot connect to server
partial log entry:

10.12.2009 10:21:00 general: Started: 10.12.2009, 10:21:00
10.12.2009 10:21:00 general: Running setup_av_pro-558 (1368)
10.12.2009 10:21:00 system: Operating system: WindowsXP ver 5.1, build 2600, sp 3.0 [Service Pack 3]
10.12.2009 10:21:00 system: Memory: 58% load. Phys:439008/1046612K free, Page:1412588/1996732K free, Virt:2064780/2097024K free
10.12.2009 10:21:00 system: Computer WinName: GPCHOME01
10.12.2009 10:21:00 system: Windows Net User: GPCHOME01\gchrysaf
10.12.2009 10:21:00 general: Cmdline: /downloadpkgs /noreboot /updatevps /silent /progress
10.12.2009 10:21:00 general: DldSrc set to inet
10.12.2009 10:21:00 general: Operation set to INST_OP_UPDATE_GET_PACKAGES
10.12.2009 10:21:00 general: Old version: 558 (1368)
10.12.2009 10:21:00 registry: Deleted registry: Software\Alwil Software\Avast\4.0\UpdateReady
10.12.2009 10:21:00 system: Using temp: C:\DOCUME~1\gchrysaf\LOCALS~1\Temp_av_proI.tm~a01640 (87292M free)
10.12.2009 10:21:00 general: SGW32P::CheckIfInstalled set m_bAlreadyInstalled to 1
10.12.2009 10:21:00 internet: SYNCER: Agent=Syncer/4.80 (av_pro-1368;p)
10.12.2009 10:21:00 system: Computer DnsName: GPCHome01
10.12.2009 10:21:00 system: Computer Ip Addr: 192.168.1.103
10.12.2009 10:21:00 system: Installed in: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4 (87292M free)
10.12.2009 10:21:00 internet: SYNCER: Type: use IE settings
10.12.2009 10:21:00 internet: SYNCER: Auth: another authentication, use WinInet
10.12.2009 10:21:00 package: Part prg_av_pro-558 is installed
10.12.2009 10:21:00 package: Part vps-9120500 is installed
10.12.2009 10:21:00 package: Part news-53 is installed
10.12.2009 10:21:00 package: Part setup_av_pro-558 is installed
10.12.2009 10:21:00 package: Part jrog-1f6 is installed
10.12.2009 10:21:00 general: Old version: 558 (1368)
10.12.2009 10:21:00 general: GUID: 3c830822-822d-4691-88ea-10e7106ca0e9
10.12.2009 10:21:01 general: Server definition(s) loaded for ‘main’: 284 (maintenance:0)
10.12.2009 10:21:01 general: SelectCurrent: selected server ‘Download600 AVAST Server’ from ‘main’

Thanks for any help,

10

me again. running windows XP, firewall is disabled, IE8

11

anyone have any ideas? thnx

12

Make sure all remnants of Norton are gone, it can be a pig to get rid of:
A link worth looking at, which is a program removal tool that can remove the remnants of a number of different Norton Programs:
Removing your Norton program using SymNRT
Or ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe

13

I know it’s been awhile since this problem was reported, but I just ran into it today as well. My problem was fixed pretty easily, just go to lan connection settings in IE and make sure that the “Use Proxy Server” isn’t selected (unless you have it set to do normally, in which case verify the link).

14

Hi guys new here. Iam having problems as well updating my avast anitvirus. I know it has something to do with the proxy server setting. As i have had it come up in a scan. How do i fix this? Thanks

15
16

I think it would be preferred if you guys didn’t bump 2 year old topics.
I’m not even certain how you came across this thread, considering how old it is.

17

Hello apex809 and welcome to the forum. :slight_smile:

It would have been preferable if you started your own thread, as was pointed out, rather than add to a 2-year old thread because yours got lost here.

Anyway, lets help you out. I need to get some information from you:

  1. What is your OS, 32 or 64-bit?
  2. What version of Avast did you install? 5.0.677?
  3. What product of Avast did you install? Free, Pro, AIS?
  4. What other security software do you currently have or did you have in the past on this machine including antivirus (AV), firewall (FW), and other security programs? If they were in the past, how did you remove them (the vendor’s uninstaller’s tool or another way)?
  5. Is your FW blocking anything related to Avast?
  6. How do you connect to the Internet normally? Proxy, Broadband/DSL, other way?

If you open the Avast GUI > Settings > Updates > Details > Update Parameters…do you have anything checked off under these settings (“I only connect to the Internet using a dial up modem” or " My computer is permanently connected to the Internet")? What is checked if anything?

If you open the Avast GUI > Settings > Updates > Proxy Settings > do you have anything checked off here (“Direct connection/no proxy” or is “Auto Detect/Use IE Settings”)? What is checked if anything?

Did you change any other settings?

18

Hi

Sorry to bump this but i had a similar problem and eventually solved it- I am posting my solution here given that this is the first listed by google.

I was presented with an XP pc that could get emails but couldn’t connect to the internet.

I ran a whole slew of programs such as malware antibytes (MBAM.exe).

They deleted a whole load of things but i still had no IE access.

I deselected the proxy settings in IE but still no change.

I ran WINSOCKXPFIX- now IE was working.

I installed Avast but it could not connect to the servers to update.

I ran MBAM again and it found a malicious proxy setting in the registry- I deleted it but Avast would still not update so I opened Avast.
Then I opened Settings>Updates>proxy settings and then selected NO PROXY (DIRECT CONNECTION)

NOW IT UPDATES!!!

It wasn’t a problem with Avast but rather an out of date reference to a bad proxy hijack.

19

Thanks for the feedback, glad that it is now working correctly.

20

Just ran into this problem on a customer’s computer. The Direct Connection setting change was the answer on this one too. Thanks for the post.