Avast no longer updates

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I just upgraded to Pro from the Free version today.

However, I’ve noticed over the past few weeks that I no longer see the popup that says “Virus database has been updated.” On the Simple User Interface, it shows 12/24/09 as the last time the database was updated.

I tried clicking the flash icon to update and nothing happens. I tried clicking update from the settings/update drop-down menu and nothing happens there either.

I have Private Firewall 7.0 and just shut that off and still can’t update.

Any ideas? thanks.

2

is you computer time / day / mnd / year correct? if not adjust and restart

you can also try
For a repair of avast. Windows, Add Remove programs, select ‘avast! Anti-Virus,’ click the Change/Remove button from the pop-up window, scroll down to Repair, click next and follow.

3

Pondus,
date is correct.

I did as you suggested with the Repair and it still doesn’t update. I click the Flash icon and the mouse pointer changes to a sand timer icon for a few seconds, but nothing happens. Both Windows Firewall and Private Firewall 7.0 are turned off.

I also have SuperAntiSpyware and am unable to update that either. Any other ideas?

thank you very much

4

are you able to download update and run MBAM…?

MBAM http://filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/
update and run quick scan, click the button “remove selected” to quarantine anything found, and restart

5

@Pondus,

Jet can’t (couldn’t?) update MBAM either…
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=52660.msg446179#msg446179

@Jet,

Does that setting in IE work?

Does setting 'Direct Connection, No Proxy work?

Right click avast! tray icon → program settings → Update (connections) → Proxy → Choose 'Direct Connection (No Proxy)

6

does windows update work?

@Pondus,

Jet can’t (couldn’t?) update MBAM either…
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=52660.msg446179#msg446179


aha…then maybe posting a Hijack This or OTS log ???

7

Hello Scott,
Avast was originally set to IE connection. I had to change it to “Direct Connection, No Proxy” in order to download the upgrade to Avast Pro.

I have left it on that setting, but it doesn’t allow the virus database updates.

I will post a HijackThis log when I get home to that computer tonite, thanks for your help (and Pondus too)

8

That setting should allow the Auto updates, a manual update shouldn’t need any setting change as a connection and any proxy port would be in effect at the time. So there is something else in the mix here.

What is the full error you get when avast can’t update ?

9

Okay, this is weird, just got home and booted up the laptop and saw the popup in the lower right hand corner of the screen saying the virus database was updated.

However, when I open the Avast Simpler User Interface, click Settings/Update(Basic)/ Update Now, nothing happens. I know something SHOULD happen because when I did this with Avast on my work computer today, it opened a new window which showed names of files being downloaded. Yet when I do this on my laptop at home, nothing happens.

Also, why does the Simple User Interface still show 12/24/09 as the date for the Virus Recovery Database if it just updated itself a few minutes ago?

Here’s the Hijack Log I just posted. Keep in mind I can’t update Malwarebytes or SuperAntiSpyware either.

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 6:35:33 PM, on 1/6/2010
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Privacyware\Privatefirewall 7.0\pfsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\stsystra.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLTRAY.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxWatchTray9.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\MediaDirect\PCMService.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Pinnacle\SHARED~1\Programs\USBTip\USBTip.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe
C:\Program Files\Privacyware\Privatefirewall 7.0\PF6.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\CPSHelpRunner.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant =
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch =
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyServer = http=127.0.0.1:5555
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: Java™ Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] %ProgramFiles%\SigmaTel\C-Major Audio\WDM\stsystra.exe
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [Broadcom Wireless Manager UI] C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLTRAY.exe
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [RoxWatchTray] “C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxWatchTray9.exe”
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [PCMService] “C:\Program Files\Dell\MediaDirect\PCMService.exe”
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [USBToolTip] C:\PROGRA~1\Pinnacle\SHARED~1\Programs\USBTip\USBTip.exe
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [USB2Check] RUNDLL32.EXE “C:\WINDOWS\system32\PCLECoInst.dll”,CheckUSBController
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [avast!] C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (reboot)] “C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware\mbam.exe” /runcleanupscript
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\INSTAL~1\UPDATE~1\ISUSPM.exe -startup
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] “C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe”
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] “C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe”
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [Adobe ARM] “C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe”
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [Privatefirewall] C:\Program Files\Privacyware\Privatefirewall 7.0\PF6.exe
O4 - HKLM..\Run: [QuickTime Task] “C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe” -atboottime
O4 - HKCU..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU..\Run: [SUPERAntiSpyware] C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SUPERAntiSpyware.exe
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~3\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra ‘Tools’ menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra ‘Tools’ menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O20 - Winlogon Notify: !SASWinLogon - C:\Program Files\SUPERAntiSpyware\SASWINLO.dll
O23 - Service: avast! iAVS4 Control Service (aswUpdSv) - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Antivirus - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Mail Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe
O23 - Service: avast! Web Scanner - ALWIL Software - C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Roxio\Roxio MyDVD DE\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: Privacyware network service (PFNet) - Privacyware/PWI, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Privacyware\Privatefirewall 7.0\pfsvc.exe
O23 - Service: RoxMediaDB9 - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxMediaDB9.exe
O23 - Service: Roxio Hard Drive Watcher 9 (RoxWatch9) - Sonic Solutions - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Roxio Shared\9.0\SharedCOM\RoxWatch9.exe
O23 - Service: stllssvr - MicroVision Development, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SureThing Shared\stllssvr.exe
O23 - Service: Dell Wireless WLAN Tray Service (wltrysvc) - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE

–
End of file - 6902 bytes

Thanks again, you guys are great.

10

An update check should happen at the very least, and you should see confirmation even if an update wasn’t available, see image.

The easiest location to run the check from is - right click the avast ‘a’ icon, select Updating, iAVS Update.

Your OS is way out of date, SP3 has been out for 18 months, whilst this should have nothing to do with the ability to run a manual update, it is about security. I would also suggest a visit to this site, which scans your system for out of date programs that have patches to close vulnerabilities, http://secunia.com/software_inspector/.

Try this, as strange as it may seem, it could have an effect:

  • Menu, Display Remnants, Log Viewer Remnants, Graphics glitches, etc.
  • Edit the C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\avast4.ini using Notepad [Common] section, add the following line to the section SunbeltKPFHack=2, save the file, you will be prompted by the avast! Self-defence module if this is OK answer Yes. Whilst this is primarily for Sunbelt or Kerio Personal Firewalls it may well work even if you don’t use either of these firewalls. You may need to reboot to have the changes in the avast4.ini file to come into effect.

Also see http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=37609.msg315764#msg315764 - Also see, http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=40840.msg342656#msg342656 which mentions a similar issue relating to McAfee Site Advisor and remnants of menus, etc.

11

Thank you David, tried that little fix and it didn’t help.

Even when I right-click the avast “a” icon in the system tray, nothing happens. The mouse pointer just changes to a sandtimer for a few seconds but I no longer get that window which you show.

I’m kind of caught in a vicious cycle with this computer as far as updating because in order to download XP SP3, it says I need to have IE5 on my computer. But I can’t even upgrade to IE5 because something happened to IE a few months ago when I got a wicked virus and it won’t go online anymore with the free wireless connection I’m using in my neighborhood. (I’m using Firefox to access the net). I run the connection diagnostic program and it says “Windows is not currently managing your wireless network. To diagnose, Windows needs to be managing your wireless network, etc.” I have no idea what this means.

I’m going to see if I can download SP3 and IE5 from a different computer. Any other ideas on the Avast update issue in the meanwhile?
thanks

12

It is somewhat strange that the auto update works but a manual one doesn’t as that implies that the firewall isn’t blocking avast.setup (what actually does the update).

XP comes with IE6, so you already have higher than IE5.

You could try manually downloading the complete SP3 stand alone service pack, that is what I did on my other system (got a friend with broadband as it is 360MB or there about) and doesn’t require that you have IE at all. This is a link that I used some time ago, http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en.

You could also try downloading IE7 or IE8 (not sure if there is any SP restriction on this one).

So aside from this you have other issues and I don’t know if this may be in anyway related.

13

David,
I checked and I actually have IE8 on this laptop, so not sure why I was getting that message. I’ve seen that link you posted but I’ve been reluctant to download because it says it for IT pros installing multiple copies on a network. It says if you want to download a copy for a single computer, go to microsoft updates but every time I go there, I can’t seem to find XP SP3, it’s like they’re hiding it or making it deliberately difficult to find.

When the laptop updated Avast automatically last nite on boot up, that was literally the first time its happened in weeks. I booted up this morning and it didn’t happen. And the virus database still shows 12/24/09 so not sure exactly what happened.

14

It is just a means of installing the update off-line nothing special, without having to use IE and windows update.

  • You might want to try - Program Settings, Troubleshooting, ‘Delay loading of avast! services after other system services.’