pukunui, sorry if I insist, maybe running the uninstaller again and double check for remains.
Sometimes, avast must be uninstalled first to the proper running of McAfee uninstaller.
I suggest, after that, an installation from scratch.
@doktornotor: My ISP service hasn’t been an issue before.
@Tech: That’s how I did it. I uninstalled avast, ran the McAfee uninstaller, then reinstalled Avast. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled Avast at least once since then as well. Doesn’t seem to help. Every “fix” so far has only been temporary. The problem keeps coming back every other day or so. Yesterday it went away on its own - when I started up the computer, I could access the internet just fine. Today, though, it had come back - when I started up the computer, I had to first disable the Web Shield before I could access the internet.
EDIT: Also, for the record, I already had Win 7 SP1 installed on this machine prior to downloading and installing Avast. So my case isn’t like some of the others’ where Avast 6 was working fine until they installed SP1.
Well, ISP has not been an issue but it happens just every other day or so, also you say your machine is perfectly sane but it happens just every other day or so and when you install a different antivirus it crashes all the time. I kinda do not buy that the OS is in sane state.
I don’t think the ISP has anything to do with it. I’m not having any trouble downloading my e-mail in Outlook, nor am I having any trouble accessing webpages on my laptop (Win XP SP3). The only problem I’m having on both machines is updating the virus definition files. Avast seems to be having trouble connecting to the server on both machines.
The main problem I’m having on my Win 7 desktop is that Avast’s Web Shield is intermittently blocking access to webpages. The only permanent fix I’ve been able to find so far is to simply turn off Avast’s Web Shield. But that’s obviously not a very good solution. Also, for the record, I’ve found that turning the Web Shield off and then back on again doesn’t seem to help, like it has for other posters on this site. When this problem exhibits itself, it happens whenever the Web Shield is active, no matter how many times I’ve turned it off and back on again.
Like I said before, this is a Dell machine. It came with Windows 7 preinstalled on it. The computer has worked like a dream up till now. I’ve never had any problems. It’s the most stable, crash-free computer I’ve ever had, and that’s saying quite a lot. So I’m sorry but I am extremely hesitant to declare my computer “insane” just because two programs I downloaded for free off the internet appear to have some compatibility issues. :
Set “no proxy” into avast update settings to test.
Did you change the default WebShield settings?
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OK.
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I tried toggling some of them once or twice, but it never seemed to make any difference, so I’ve just left them all on the default.
Oh, I have tried ticking the “load avast only after other system services” option under Troubleshooting, which was a solution I saw in another thread, but I haven’t tested it to see if that helps or not yet.
It doesn’t look like this would be a solution since your browser connection fails without rebooting even after it has been working. Worth a try though.
Yeah, I’m not convinced it’ll make a difference, but as you say, it’s worth a try. At this point, just about anything is worth a try. I want to be loyal to Avast. I’ve been using it on my laptop for several years now (although I’m thinking maybe I shouldn’t have updated to v6 on my laptop because it seems like it’s not working perfectly on that machine either, since it can’t seem to connect to the virus definition file update server).
Have you actually bothered trying what has been suggested multiple times?
- Uninstall Avast.
- Re-run the McAfee removal tool.
- Re-install Avast.
I would then suggest updating the definitions straight away after installing and running a full scan.
For good measure, run a scan using a separate Malware removal program too - personally I prefer MalwareBytes.
If none of the above makes any difference, apparently doing this helped some users too.
Have you actually bothered reading the entire thread? :
In response to your comments:
- Yes, I have actually bothered to do that.
- Yes, when it lets me update the definitions. One of the problems is that it can’t always connect to the update server.
- Yes, we’ve just been talking about how I tried the solution in that other thread. I don’t know if it’s solved my problem yet or not.
EDIT: OK, so after a restart (with the “load avast after other programs” option ticked), I am able to access the internet with the Web Shield running, but I’m back to not being able to connect to the definitions update server. I’ll let you know what happens when I start up the computer tomorrow morning (it’ll probably go back to blocking the internet again).
This is odd.
I would recommend a Malwarebytes Antimalware scan, just to make sure there is no bad stuff causing this.
If you have done so already, please disregard this post (I scanned over the thread and I think this was recommended before but I did not see you confirming the Malwarebytes scan has been done)
Cheers
Zyndstoff
No, I haven’t tried a malwarebytes scan. I’ll try it tomorrow.
EDIT: I left my computer idling while I went out for dinner earlier this evening, and when I got back, the Web Shield was blocking webpage access again! >:(
What gives?! This really is crazy! This morning when I turned on the computer, the Web Shield was blocking webpages. So I ticked “load avast after other programs” and then restarted. After I’d restarted, Web Shield was not blocking webpage access and I was able to do stuff on the internet for an hour or so. Then, after leaving the computer to idle for about an hour and a half, it spontaneously decides to go and block webpage access again! Sigh …
You have spent 10 days troubleshooting something… now ask yourself how long would an OS reinstall take. I consider this thread pretty much closed, nothing productive will come out of it.
Dude! I’m not rebuilding my whole computer just because one program is having issues! That’s what’s insane! You can consider this thread “closed” all you want, but I’ll keep posting in it until I resolve the issue or until I give up and move on to some other antivirus software.
Good luck then. You have tried 3 AVs so far and apparently none worked for you (McAfee uninstalled, Avast! blocks and does not update, Comodo AV just crashes.) Meanwhile, 10 days wasted with no result and you keep calling the computer is perfectly sane. Reinstall would take about half a day. But maybe your computer just hates antivirus applications. 
McAfee worked fine. I only uninstalled it because the subscription expired and I didn’t want to have to pay to renew it. Plus, we all know McAfee’s not actually that good at its job.
As for the rest of it: I wouldn’t call it 10 days wasted. It’s not like I’ve been giving this my full attention during that time - which is what I would have to do if I were to rebuild my computer. And I’m not sure I can devote my full attention to something like that, even for “only” half a day, especially when I’m not convinced that it’s going to help. So thanks but no thanks. I’ll keep trying other things and leave rebuilding my computer as an absolute last resort.
I suggest you two stop arguing.
pukuni, have that Malwarebytes scan done first. No use shooting in the dark now. If the scan turns out clean, we’ll have to look for something else.
look, it normally - normally - shouldn’t take more than a few hours maximum to solve almost any issue on any computer, and in your case a supposed to be Avast issue. Avast works fine, some setup break, but mostly a clean install works. If it doesn’t on your system after 10 days like Dok said, then either your whole Windows setup is fucked up, either there’s something else installed that conflicts, something you don’t want to talk about.
No idea why you’re taking now that threatening tone, ie switch to another AV etc…: dude, that’s your PC. Do whatever you wanna do with it, that’s your problem 
There’s gonna be only one person posting in this thread in the end: you. Have fun ;D
It certainly doesn’t look like it is. And aside from this one problem, it’s not acting like it is either.
either there's something else installed that conflicts, something you don't want to talk about.LOL. Yes, I'm deliberately keeping something from you guys because I don't actually want to fix my computer.
No idea why you're taking now that threatening tone, ie switch to another AV etc...: dude, that's your PC. Do whatever you wanna do with it, that's your problem ;) There's gonna be only one person posting in this thread in the end: you. Have fun ;DSorry. It wasn't meant to sound threatening. I'm just frustrated with doktornotor.
@pukunui there’s one thing that you can’t expect from anyone on any forum, it’s managing your computer. People can help, but there are limits. Dok like most of us here is a user, he owes you nothing. We do not work for Avast and we do not represent them. If after several days of “investigation” at user support level you estimate that the issue is on Avast side, then contact Avast