I have two XP machines on a DSL router. The router is not left on all the time. It is powered-up when either machine is started. One machine boots before the DSL Router/Modem establishes an Internet connection.
Frequently this results in an "avast4! Update error’ red box. Avast doesn’t seem to try again for a long time. Probably 4 hours.
Any ideas short of ignoring the error or using it as a cue to do a manual update?
Thanks,
fidmas
To delay the update of avast into a permanent internet connection (DSL) you can change the value AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds into avast4.ini file. Details on ‘Settings’ in my signature.
Change (or add) AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds value into the [InetWD] section of avast4.ini file.
You could set the number of seconds to wait before attempting to update. The default is 30 but it may not be enough in some DSL systems. In this case, you can try increasing this e.g. to 120 (2 minutes). That should be enough.
More details here: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1647
Cool. I assume it’s the Avast4.ini in “C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA”, correct? It has no AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds yet. Just:
[InetWD]
UseRAS=0
AssumeAlwaysConnected=0
I’ll add “AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120” since it sometomes takes over 70 seconds for the modem to connect. Anyway, waiting another minute for an update won’t hurt, and will give everything else a chance to get statred.
I’ll let you know what happens in a couple days…
Thanks
Don’t forget to setup the Update settings for ‘Permanent connected’ and not dial-up into avast Program settings.
Neither box was checked. You want ‘Permanent connected’ checked?
Yes it is best yo have the type of connection you actually use checked. The both options unchecked is a default setting because during installation avast doesn’t know what type of connection you have.
With both unchecked it would check both means of connection to see if you have a connection established. So best to identify your actual method of connection.
Yes, as you use DSL router to connect…
I see. Thanks to both of you. Just got back. Will do. 
In a case like this there is an advantage of leaving the connection type unchecked.
If you tell avast that you have a permanent connection then it will assume (30 seconds after system startup) that the permanent connection is there and proceed to try to connect to the avast servers.
If you leave the connection type unchecked then avast will delay itself checking for the presence of connection until one is available - then it will perform the update without needing to edit the avast4.ini file to add the delay.
But that’s the way I started. Neither box checked, and no edit to Avast4.ini. It tried to update before the Internet connection was established, because a DSL Router always “looks” connected. There is no way to check for an actual connection on a DSL Router.
So are we saying “go back and uncheck ‘Permanent connected’”, or we don’t know?
I was not suggesting that you change what is now working for you.
When no connection type is set avast performs pings out to the network to establish the presence of a connection. Unless avast gets back positive responses from the server in the network it should not proceed with the update. The presence or absence of a router should have nothing to do with it.
Probably not necessary to go back and investigate this further if the delay edit is taking care of it.
That’s what I would have hoped, but the “Internet” LED was still out or blinking, when avast gave the red error box. The delay alone fixed it, today anyway. It would be nice to tell avast ‘Permanent connected’, but not if it makes it ignore my AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120 delay.
Both boxes are off right now. Looks good. I’ll try turning on ‘Permanent connected’ in a couple days and report.
/fidmas
avast will not ignore the AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds value when you have “My computer is permanently connected to the Internet” checked. Those are the conditions I have set on one of my XP systems here and they work just fine together.
But is your router “Always On” already?
Your precious statement:
If you tell avast that you have a permanent connection then it will assume (30 seconds after system startup) that the permanent connection is there and proceed to try to connect to the avast servers.
Made me assume avast would assume “always connected” and try after 30 seconds regardless.
Anyway, no dig deal, I’ll try both ways.
/fidmas
Not regardless… 30 seconds is the default, if you set AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds to a different value, it will override the 30 seconds default one.
OK. Makes sense. Misunderstanding.
Working fine now with AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds set and neither box checked. I"ll check the “Permanently connected” box in a couple days, to prove you’re right. And, report back if not <couldn’t happen>. :-}
Thanks again,
fidmas