So I decided, since “R2” was out, to update my Avast 2014 to 2015. Update went pretty well (it did fail to import one of my custom scans but other than that all good). However, I immediately noticed something downloading pretty big files. Looked at Software Updater → It had already downloaded and installed the latest Java (in the wrong place so I ended-up with 2 Java installations) and was in the process of downloading updated versions of other things.
Why do I explain all this? Well the setting for “Silently download and install” was NOT checked! I tried checking it then un-checking it, disabling Software Updater, re-enabling it, un-installing AVAST completely, re-installing from scratch, all to no avail; I was unable to find a way to disable silent updates in a predictable manner (this means that throughout my 2 hours of testing, I did manage to disable silent updates, twice, but how, I do not know, so I can not trust it). Some AVAST process also crashed twice when I toggled or accessed the Software Updater settings (accessed memory it did not own, but no process name; just "instructions at $1234 illegally accessed memory at $1234).
This is very disappointing. For various reasons, I prefer to install software updates myself, but the AVAST Software Updater is always the first one to notify me that updates are available so I love it! Can someone do some testing on this and confirm this bug please?
Nope, did not use clean-up tool, but I did delete all AVAST related folders (e.g. c:\programdata.…).
I didn’t bother cleaning-up the registry tho; maybe I will try later…
It should still be working fine tho, even on an upgrade. So you can toggle that setting and it starts to download, then you toggle it back and it stops and shows a UPDATE button next to software with updates? For me, 90% of the time it still starts to download updates, even if the Silent Update is not checked
I was really hoping to see several people with the same problem; finding the cause is going to be hard if it’s just me…
Uninstall Avast by control panel [If you don’t have Avast in control Panel go to #3]
Uninstall in safe mode using Avastclear. [Running Avastclear is normal mode will give a prompt to go into Safe Mode]
Check : Once uninstalled check in device manager>view>show hidden devices if there is anything related to avast with a yellow triangle… if so, uninstall it and reboot.
Install the version you downloaded.
Reboot.
Free: If you have the Free version, register the product for free for a year from the avast! UI.
Paid: If you have a paid license, insert the license key/activation code after the reboot at stage 6.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. It’s better to ask than make a mistake and start over again with the process.
Well, it gives you the most recent version first. Secondly, sometimes the offline installer gives issues (SFX problem) so that’s why I always recommend the online install.
Well, I gave it a try, I installed Avast R2 on a “virgin” image (where no A/V had ever been installed) → Same issue.
Upon install, Software Updater is set to silent updates, and you can see it downloading things right away (no need for WireShark, a simple tool like DU Meter, and a look at the Avast_Ash folder in %temp% is enough). Un-Checking the Silent Update setting right then would not do it, Avast kept “preparing” downloads. Disabling the Software Updater completely and re-enabling it at this point appeared to work (no more “preparing” but a “update” button next to old software), but I could see it still downloading things. Toggling the Software Updater on/off several times, I ended-up with several programs pre-downloaded in Avast_Ash, with an “Install” button (greyed-out) next to those old programs → which disappeared 30 seconds later as the software was auto-updated, and still Silent Updates was un-checked all this time. It’s just buggy. And I again managed to crash a process (which I assume belongs to Avast) while testing; this time I noted the name: MFTUTIL.EXE.
I will wait for Avast 2016, hopefully the Software Updater will be debugged by then. I cannot afford to test more, it takes hours, and each time I manage to forget to “ignore” some software I do not want updated, which I then have to uninstall and re-install the older version of, taking yet more time.
I encourage anyone with this issue to reply here; I cannot be the only one, it does this to me on an almost virgin W7 install.
Thanks for the tip, I always do a custom install; thing is, I want the Software Updater, it’s better at telling me there is a new version of Flash than Flash itself (for example) - I just don’t want it updating programs by itself (Flash is fine, but there are other programs I prefer to do manually, like Java). There’s no rush, I don’t use “DeepScan” so the difference between v2014 and v2015 is minimal for me. In fact v2015 is slightly annoying: the Software Updater for instance is no longer in the Tools section, you have to select it on the home page or you’ll never get to it - but the settings for it are still in a section called Tools; the new UI is inconsistent. Anyway, I can wait for the next version.
