Hi my desktop icons both on my laptop (Windows XP Pro) and my desktop PC (Windows home edition). However on a PC with Windows 2K Pro running Avast is fine. I have tried to set the desktop area to be excluded from scans but this does not seem to work.
Is this an Avast thing or an XP thing?. Please be aware that when I had avast installed on these 2 PCs (laptop and desktop ) it didnt do this so I am wondering if recent updates have effect avast.
What type of scan are you doing?
There are two areas you can add exclusions, Program Settings, Exclusions, for on-demand scans and Standard Shield, Customize…, Advanced.
However, I’m not sure what you mean by excluding the desktop area, are you talking the icons/programs displayed on the desktop? If so I feel that this could leave you vulnerable to infection.
Sorry for the lack of detail, I tried to exclude the desktop via the standard shield as this is the part of Avast that scans real time. I tried to just exlcude the icons and then for a test the exe that have been saved their. I made sure that the desktop directory was based on the users own area not the general desktop that is created.
I can’t understand why you would want to to this test, what is it you are trying to achieve?
By limiting the exclusions to just the user desktop only leaves the user vulnerable, not a problem unless you happen to be the user.
The desktop is a common location for downloaded files to end up (the exe file you spoke of perhaps) unless you specify a different location, so excluding it would leave you/the user vulnerable as the resident scanner wouldn’t scan new files added there.
Because the desktop keeps being refreshed I thought it was because Avast keeps scanning this area. I have only excluded the desktop and downloads are not saved to this area directly anyway. I have since taken the exclusion out because it has made no difference.
Putting this exclusion to one side for the moment. The main issue here is because the 2 PCs in question have the icons refreshed and didn’t do this when Avast was first installed before it moved up in versions. Any ideas why?
avast responds to activity, doesn’t initiate that activity.
So if something is refreshing the desktop which results in the shortcuts being accesses to display the associated icon then avast is likely to scan the file first. I have my desktop appear refresh on occasion, usually after coming out of standby, but nothing out of the ordinary would appear to be happening.
How frequently does this happen ?
When the refresh occurs I take it that the avast icon rotates, showing that files are being scanned. You could switch on ‘Show detailed info on performed action’ (standard shield, customize, Advanced. This will show what is being scanned not what program initiated the scan (probably explorer though).
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/for-dwr/ShowDetailedAction.jpg
What sensitivity are you using on standard shield, Normal (default) or High ?
The desktop seems to refresh mostly when I have closed down an application (it doesnt matter what program I use). yes Avast icon does rotate indicated that files are being scanned. I will set this option on as you have mentioned to see if it gives more insight into this. The Avast standard shield is set to normal.
I would suggest that you have a Memory problem. The display refresh rate is being affected by a process robbing memory from the desktop icon display.
Can you see any processes in Task Manager using unusually high amounts of memory usage. ???
Basically, review your Display settings.
I have the same on my pc (win XP) but… I dont exclude desktop, as some activex scripts on certain websites can download and put items on your desktop for you !!
you can see this and test it on the follwoing link
http://www.finjan.com/SecurityLab/SecurityTestingCenter/activex.asp
I know its a bit of a bind it keep refreshing them, but better safe than sorry
Seems odd that 2 PCs have a memory problem ???, one PC has 512mb (laptop) and the other desktop PC has 1gb of ram. The issue with this problem is that the amount of times it happens has lessened :o :o
No one else has reported this problem with the latest Avast! program update so I doubt that is the cause. But Hey! these things do happen 
Seems odd that 2 PCs have a memory problem Huh, one PC has 512mb (laptop) and the other desktop PC has 1gb of ram.No it's not odd that both Comps. have a memory problem, as I suspect a background process from a Program you've recently installed on both is the issue. Quite logical actually . Should narrow down the search dramatically. Quiting a game or an Imaging program or memory intensive program can often have this "refresh" effect. Have you recently installed either ? With the Standard shield set to "Show detailed info on performed action" as DavidR suggested, what have you ascertained from the details dispayed by Avast! when the Icons / Desktop is refreshing ?
The issue with this problem is that the amount of times it happens has lessened??? What do you mean? We try to help, information has to specific .
I am back with this problem again, I thought it had gone away ???. Its a very odd problem this, I switched on the show details on the standard shield and it very rairly happened. As soon as I switched it back off it keeps happenning!?!?!. This makes no sense to me.
with regards whether programs have been installed on these two machines, then as far as memory resident ones avast and vnc are the only ones. Could VNC be the problem?.
Sorry when the matter of a memory problem was mentioned I was thinking hardware not software :