Maleas, from our tests it looks like the Internet Explorer settings are not taken in account when running under system account - according to my colleague it seems like there is no download of WPAD file. Oh my. :-\
Is Windows Update running on such a machine without any additional settings?
I can feel for kubecj (and the gang here) actually: interesting problems do tend to attract sysadmins/developers like honey attracts bears 
Thanks for checking this mate! So the issue is confirmed.
Is Windows Update running on such a machine without any additional settings?Yes, perfectly (and I do presume you are talking about the automatic windows update, the one showing up as the globe/yellow shield in the system tray when running).
Still, I believe you’ll tackle the problem in no time, considering that this used to work just fine some months ago.
PS: I do have a newbie and a bit off-topic question, being a non-coder (at least for the last 10 years). Where does one change the way a Windows 2000/XP system connect to the Internet, when a SYSTEM (or other special Windows service) account is used? I mean, when in my account I set auto-proxy, or proxy script or manually specify proxy address and port, obviously that affects programs running under my own account, not the programs running under the SYSTEM (or other special service) account is used.
Extending the previous thought, avast gives the user the option to specify the way to connect to the internet. I presume though that whatever is entered there, is used regardless of the currently logged in user. For example if user abcd configures avast to use proxy xxxx:ppp, then user efgh will also see the same proxy selected in avast config. A systemwide setting, for that matter. What happens though when the “Use IE settings” is selected? I always presumed it meant “Use my account’s IE settings”. Or does it mean (or it should mean) “Use System internet options settings”? Sorry if I managed to confuse you, this is not clear to me as well
I think your questions are perfectly legal and if we’d know the reply, we’d solve the issue quickly.
The problem is that we don’t know and we can’t find it in the docs :-\
The avast’s proxy settings are definitely global.
IE settings are most probably per-user - they reside in HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
What settings are used while running under local system account - don’t know (yet).
kubecj, perhaps the following MS KB article might be of help, although I admit I didn’t have time to read it, so it may not be relevant at all: How the Windows Update client determines which proxy server to use to connect to the Windows Update Web site
Read it, found nothing interesting.
We’re now sure problem lies in Wininet library using .DEFAULT user’s settings while running under local system account, whereas user’s internet settings are saved in user’s profile. We’ll make some additional hocus pocus regarding that autoscript setting.
Good hunting! And feel free to PM me (or just reply here, auto-notification is enabled for this thread) if I can help with extra data, or some sort of beta-testing
I have been using Avast for more that 3 years and this is the first time I have ever had problems updating. I deleted the old program, uploaded a new one and even with the box checked in my firewall center, I still cannot update. I even try to manually update and still get the same error message - that it cannot contact my server. Since I am on cable Internet service, I don’t understand this. Can anyone help???
Shay
Hello all (and a happy new year to the avast team )
Any update perhaps on the issue?
Which firewall do you use? Is avast.setup allowed to connect?
Which is exactly your problem now?
The same problem I had last year of course The issue is unresolved. That is, autoupdate with avast configured with proxy information (ip & port) works, whereas autoupdate with avast configured to automatically find the proxy, does not…
EDIT: Corrected text above
Whell,
It’s about the same here 
What happened?
Why avast (apparently) is not auto updating anymore?
I’m quite unhappy with it now after such a long reliable operation.
Please revert to previous friendly interface, ok?
HNY to the TEAM!
Silva
It is updating…
Including nowadays…
Hi, Tech (Ola’)
Thanks for confirmation 
I did it twice manually.
It stopped giving the usual report about the successful updating (time, size, previous and actual versions, etc.): Is this new? I was happier with the report…
Obgº
ze’ Silva
Check Program settings > Update (Basic) > Details
if you uncheck ‘Show update progress’ or you’ve set ‘Silent mode’.
Yes, everything was conform!
But the report is/was not appearing
tks
ze’ Silva
Are you using Vista?
If so, could be an UAC issue, i.e., the update summary is not shown due to UAC.
UAC? ???
No VISTA (fortunately?) :o
In this old PC… still running WinMe :-X
ze’ Silva
Exactly same problem as maleas, and I have it since before this thread has been started. Using wpad, update works fine if launched manually (user account, user IE settings). No dice for automatic updates (system account, whatever IE settings it uses).
My solution was to add some aliases to the proxy’s hosts file. Something like this:
A.B.C.D download1.avast.com download2.avast.com download3.avast.com ...
E.F.G.H download11.avast.com download12.avast.com download13.avast.com ...
...
And explicitely allow those addressess on the firewall (no proxying for them). However the update servers are now using high numbers, such as download863.avast.com, which makes my “solution” almost impossible now.
Still waiting for a final solution for this.
Thanks.
Ditto with update problem: “cannot connect to server”.
Updating set to manual on latest version of Avast Home on XPHome SP2.
Problem exists with and without firewall.
Was updating fine until about 7 days ago. Has been working fine for several years.