Running XP Home SP3 2GB RAM P4 2.8 Avast! 6.0.1203.
Have Avast! set to notify me when an installer or executable tries to modify a protected service or program.
This is an optional task, but one that offers more granularity and control over processes that may be running ATM.
Default setting w/o this setting is ‘Allow’.
I had about twenty or more alerts re a change to a service protocol. (Not using the computer ATM as below will explain.) Each dialog box indicated a .TMP file was trying to run and was trying to modify the service program XP uses to start needed services. I clicked ‘allow’ in each case.
When the XP updates were finished, I restarted the machine as asked.
Machine failed to complete restart and stalled when Secunia PSI was loading. Desktop and explorer were running but system hang was evident after ten minutes, as mouse was busy the entire time.
Force shutdown and reboot did bring everything back to somewhat normal, but still sluggish.
The following programs were affected:
- Avast!
- TrendMicro RUBotted
- COMODO Internet Security v 5.5 Firewall only
- Microsoft Windows Defender
- Secunia PSI loaded but failed to connect to the Internet
- Firefox 5.0
There were more than that listed above, but all were flagged by COMODO Defense + as either unknown or untrusted programs, and were sandboxed as partially limited, especially when Internet access was requested.
System file dates were changed from date of install to then current date of 8/10/2011 when I looked at file properties of these files. I have been running XP since February of 2010 without running into this sort of problem.
I have changed permissions for each of the above to trusted, but still getting flags thrown by COMODO. Programs are no longer sandboxed.
There was a brief power surge that occurred when .NET update was downloading, but I have an USP power supply that prevented the computer from shutting down or rebooting when this happened. Lights in my house flickered rapidly for about a second or so, then power resumed.
Any ideas?
mchain