I am running XP (Service Pack 3) and have just installed Avast! Pro V4.8.
I have set the UPDATE (Basic) window to “Ask when update is available”…This setting doesn’t seem to work, and the program continues to update automatically. Also …the "Log Viewer\Notice Window displayes that the program was initially updated on the 5 August and that the VRDB data base was completed on the same day…but it fails to record that the virus signatures were updated yesterady ( 6 Aug) and again this morning (7 Aug)
My current VPS file is 080806-0
Any advice how I can correct the two anomalies will be appreciated…Thanks…\
There are two types of update, virus signatures and program.
They can be set individually, I would however, suggest you leave the virus signature at Auto and the Program at Ask (the default settings).
The log as far as I’m aware only records the Auto updates, since if they are on Ask, you are effectively doing a manually update and shouldn’t need a log entry for that. Note my image all are autoupdates.
The virus signature updates are incremental and are usually measured in KBs rather than MBs so it really is best to leave it on auto, the auto update also uses a trick to limit the CPU usage to 30% so it doesn’t stop you working. The Ask or Manual update has no such restriction.
Why do you wish to set it to Ask ?
If there is a problem perhaps we can help.
I have both signatures and program set to “ASK”…Your suggestions re: “automatic updates” are valid, but as this is a new install (new program to me)…I like to “see” whats going on. When I am over the settling in period…I will set things to automatic etc.
In the meantime…I have “updates” set to “ask”…but Avast continues to update automatically…and even though it is updating automatically…it is NOT logging the action.
For information…I have also installed Avast on my wifes computer…on that install the program IS “asking” before updating…and IS logging the action.
It appears (to me) there must be a “glitch” in my installation somewhere. It in itself is not serious, but I would like to “know” the install is performing as it should.
Any further advice, suggestions or comments would be appreciated please…\
Set to ask it will check for updates and notify you in the form of a pop-up at the bottom right of the screen. If you click that it will update there and then. If you don’t click the pop-up it will close after a period of time, but won’t update, unless you do a manual update.
This is certainly the procedure with the Home version, as for a long time, with dial-up I set the signature updates to ask also and that is how it worked for me.
The Pro version certainly has more options available if you have been tweaking any Pro settings. The Pro version also has push updates if you have subscribed to that, then this might be what is happening.
yo…My wife’s machine (also set to “ask”) does display the small green window on the botom right of the screen before it updates…it also makes an entry in the log…my machine is configured the same…but does NOT show the green window…it simply defaults to Update Automatically…and then…fails to make a log entry.
As I said previously…it’s not of any great significance, but for the benefit of my own learning curve…I would just like to know why this anomoly exists and if there is a corruption in my installation.
Try a repair of avast. Add Remove programs, select ‘avast! Anti-Virus,’ click the Change/Remove button and scroll down to Repair, click next and follow.
I would normally suggest a clean reinstall if that doesn’t resolve the problem. However, having the pro trial version an uninstall would be deemed a user initiated end of the trial, when you reinstall then the trial would have 6 days remaining.
Have (or did) you another AV installed in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?
I have been doing a bit of fiddling. I note that notwithstanding the program is updating automatically…the Avast Simple User Interface Window…say’s “Automatic Updates…Off”…I presume this means the program setting is set at “ASK”. If I go "Program Settings\Update"etc and change the setting to “Automatic”…the User I’face Window also changes to reflect the new setting.
I have toggled the update setting to “automatic” and “ask” a few times. It is again on “ask”. The User Interface Window records “Automatic Updates are OFF”. I will see what happens tomorrow, or whenever the next update arrives. If the program continues to update automatically…I will change the Update Setting to “manual” …and again wait to see what happens on the subsequent update.
Interestingly, I again did a VRDB update , and note this action was recorded in the “Notice” Log File.
Thanks for the continued interest. I shall update again in the next 24 or 48 hours depending on results og the next VPS update.
The “Automatic Updates are OFF” I would assume would be for both Ask and Manual as neither are automatic.
If you are using the Pro trial version I would suggest trying the Enhanced User Interface as that is where the additional configuration of the pro version is.
Nothing I do seems to be conclusive. I have tried various settings…sometimes the LOG will record the fact that there is an Update available. The LOG never records the successful install of an Update…notwithstanding the Update has been downloaded and installed.
Whether I set the program to “automatic” or “ask” or “manual” is inclusive. When set to “ask”…some days it ignores the setting, and does an automatic update. Other days…the program “asks” the question…but proceeds to update automatically before I have a chance to do anything. Setting the program to “manual” also produces varying results.
I have set the thing to “automatic”…it seems to be updating nicely. The fact that no log entry is made is of little consequence. I seem to have a “bug” somewhere, but feel I have spent enough time looking. I seem to have the virus protection I wanted and that’s the main requirement.