Avast scan is stopping at the same point every time.

I have tried to find a solution on your site. My old brain struggles a bit with this and I admire some of you. I need to do things a step at a time. There are similar posts but I can point to a particular folder on the internal HD and on a plug in HD.

I used avast in my old computor for about 6months with no problem. There have been no problems with my new computor for 2 months. This week avast stops scanning at the same spot each time. No cpu activity and no hd activity. Stop the scan and it sits. Close program takes about 30 sec. No programs have been added since the previous good scan. Scans about 2Gb /min

Installed
Avast 4.8 Definitions 090917-0 09/17
Windows XP sp3 home instal
AMD Sempron 1250 cpu
2gb ddr-800 memory.

Switched on the log and tried manually scanning the files. I am using zonelab but it is not stopping on those files.
When scanning the folders, the program folder completes scan; then recycler; then system volume; and stops before WINDOWS.

A piece of the log

“C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zl_priv.htm [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zonealarm.exe [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\NPZONESB.DLL [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\SPYBLOCK.DLL [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\Z4HIGHIN.EXE [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\Z4PLUGIN.DLL [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\Z4POPBLK.DLL [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\Z4SPYBLK.DLL [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\Settings\prevcfg2.htm [+] is OK
C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1409082233-1547161642-1801674531-1004\Dc19.htm [+] is OK
C:\System Volume Information\MountPointManagerRemoteDatabase [+] is OK”

Stops at this point.

Selecting the folders manually results in no stopping. I couldn’t find the volume folder but finally realised that system folders are hidden.
Now I can select all folders. I can now get a full scan by selecting C; and deselecting system volume info folder.

A piece of the log

“C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zauninst.exe\KLIF.INF [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zauninst.exe [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlavscan.dll [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zl_priv.htm [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zonealarm.exe [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\NPZONESB.DLL [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\SPYBLOCK.DLL [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\Z4HIGHIN.EXE [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\Z4PLUGIN.DLL [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\Z4POPBLK.DLL [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\1.bin\Z4SPYBLK.DLL [+] is OK
C:\Program Files\ZoneAlarmSB\bar\Settings\prevcfg2.htm [+] is OK
C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1409082233-1547161642-1801674531-1004\Dc19.htm [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$NtUninstallKB898461$\spuninst\spuninst.exe [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$NtUninstallKB898461$\spuninst\spuninst.inf [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$NtUninstallKB898461$\spuninst\updspapi.dll [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB898461\spmsg.dll [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB898461\spuninst.exe [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB898461\spupdsvc.exe [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB898461\update\branches.inf [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB898461\update\spcustom.dll [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB898461\update\update.exe [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB898461\update\updatebr.inf [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB898461\update\update_SP2QFE.inf [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB898461\update\updspapi.dll [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB923561\SP3QFE\mswrd8.wpc [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB923561\SP3QFE\wordpad.exe [+] is OK
C:\WINDOWS$hf_mig$\KB923561\SP3QFE\xpsp4res.dll [+] is OK”

I do not know if this is a problem with avast or some other program.

I also have an ext HD for backup. Program folder is not on this disc just my doc and a few other files. The scan stopped at the same point on it as well.
It turns out that the last file on HD is system volume and the scan will not go past it. I don’t know how it got there or if I should remove it.
Deselecting this folder allows the scan to complete and program shows finished scan. It appears that something in this folder is the problem.
Cannot see what is in it because access is denied.

I will continue using the manual select folders and miss this one folder out - just a bit of a nuisance …what is wrong is beyond my knowledge.

Hi Walter70,

Have you visit this thread: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=1647.msg15960#msg15960

As I know, avast and ZA has a kind of conflict.

Thanks but no Zone alarm files are on the external HD so I do not see how they can stop the scan.
The link you gave me is a bit too technical for me to follow. I believe it concerns scanning while downloading from the net.
I cannot see what is in the offending folder but am guessing it could be the second file in that folder causing the problem. I cannot open the folder.

Thanks for such a quick response.

I’m just a common user like you. Few years ago, I found avast conflicting with ZA, so stop using ZA and changing to some others firewall.

Could be your HD have a bad sector? I only can guess. Simple way to check by using “right click” on the drive and chose “property”, there should be a “tool” tab where you can check for errors by using one of its menu.

Well, there are lot of people more experienced than us. Just wait their responses :slight_smile:

ZoneAlarm has become the Symantec of the firewall applications.

Use Outpost or PC Tools as they work well with avast!

Agree, I use Outpost Firewall 2009 Free :slight_smile: PC Tools is nice too.

Indeed I wonder if this problem caused by conflict between avast and ZA, or something else ???

walter70 how long ago did you install ZA? I mean how many times did you use ZA and avast together?

Do you mean bloatware? ;D

You are the translator so find a better word.

(blōt´wãr) (n.) jargon Software that has lots of features and requires considerable disk space and RAM. As the cost of RAM and disk storage has decreased, there has been a growing trend among software developers to disregard the size of applications. Some people refer to this trend as [i]creeping featuritis[/i]. If creeping featuritis is the symptom, bloatware is the disease.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/B/bloatware.html

Thanks. I used avast and zonelab for about 8months on my old comp and for 2 months on this comp. Never had any problems with either despite reading of the problems other people seem to have at times.
I would do a full scan about twice a week. Remind you that no ZL files are on the ext HD and avast stops at the same folder on that disc. To check ZL I just uninstalled ZL and the avast scan stopped at the same folder again on both discs so reinstalled again. I tried to copy and paste the folder but it will not work. Thought I would try scanning the folder by right clicking and scanning. It is full of restore files close to 400,000 of them. The folder properties will not tell me how big it is. I presume they are small ref files and log type files. Lots of .dll files, I believe these are often what make things work. It did complete the scan with no problem. Just hope I havn’t done the wrong thing and upset something in the restore dept. Avast must skip all these files when scanning because on a scan I have about 150.000 max. Not sure what to check from here. Maybe there are ZL restore files here but rhe above scan completed. It can only be when it leaves the folder but I am only guessing. Hey I don’t know how these things work.
Look forward to some more info. Thanks. I will investigate the other firewalls.

Try downloading Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware (MBAM) then install it then update it and run a Quick scan:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Post its log here.

Go to Secunia Online Software Inspector then run it to see what other applications are vulnerable:
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online

Hi I think I have found the problem in a previous post. Misssed it when went thru before.

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=45720.0

It mentions a ZL file in the system volume folder and will go through it in detail. Will give it a go and see what happens.
Thanks.

I hope « Reply #3 on: September 16, 2009, 04:42:55 AM affirms what I say about ZoneAlarm and if you insist on using ZoneAlarm then I hope you have a fast system to prevent massive slowdowns it causes.

Fixed it .Thanks and I will certainly look at the other firewalls mentioned. Will certainly spend more time looking at this forum.Thanks again.