Does Avast work when "Hide Inactive Icons" is checked?

Hi all,

I caught the “Desktop Security” bug and I feel Avast should have alerted me to it beforehand. I have — on the extremely rare occasion — followed a seemingly legit link to a Malware Site and Avast has alerted me with a popup. This time it didn’t!

However, as I like my SysTray clean, I have “Hide inactive icons” checked.

I’ve noticed that when the Avast icon is hidden, it won’t update. Even if I show the icon and attempt to manually update, I get the “System can’t find the file specified” error message. The only way to get it to behave properly is to reboot and only then will it auto update or I can manually update.

Does having the Avast icon hidden negate it’s usefulness? ???

No, “Hide inactive icons” has nothing to do with protection.
Even the icon on system tray could be missing (in some cases) and the protection is on.

As you now have more than 20 posts then please go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then Forum Profile Information then update your Signature: with information like my signature as this helps the helpers offer pertinent advice.

In Vista I have “Hide Inactive Icons” turned on and Avast is specifically set to be hidden when inactive but it’s never been hidden ever. Go to Settings>Troubleshooting and make sure “Enable avast! self-defense module” is on. If it’s off, the bug may have disable avast! and made it go inactive.

The Avast! icon should never disappear with hide inactive icons checked since it is never inactive or at least shouldn’t be.

Hi all,

I sincerely apologize for not responding sooner. I thought I had checked “Notify Me”, but I guess not.

@Dch48,

The icon does disappear after an hour or so. And, as I stated, when I unhide it to update, it won’t until I reboot. I have since unchecked the “Hide when inactive” box and it will update automatically or manually. It just will not do it when it’s hidden (on my system, anyway).

@norel,

I have XP Pro and all Shields and Self Defense are running. Always have since installing.

@YoKenny,

Done!

@Tech,

No, "Hide inactive icons" has nothing to do with protection.
OK, if that's the case, since I unchecked Hide Icons I went back to the malware site and Avast warned me. It didn't when it was hidden.
  1. You need to be sure that the Internet cache was clean (empty).
  2. You need to check if avast does not silently block the malware site.

Again, protection has nothing to do with the icon on system tray, not even if it is shown or hidden.

Hi Tech,

#1: I mainly use SeaMonkey as my browser and I have a .bat file on my Desktop that I click after every session on the web that deletes the History, Cookies, Downloads, and XUL.MFL. I also run ATF-Cleaner daily.

#2: “Show Warning Messages” is checked; but Silent\Gaming Mode is unchecked. Is this what you mean?

Anyway, when Avast is hidden and I unhide it to update, it never gets past Step 1 and there’s a message saying the Latest Update failed, along with the time of the last auto-update failure.

p.s. I found out why I didn’t get the Responses to my post — they were sent to the Spam Folder. I marked this forum as Not Spam and I’m good now.

Please, upload (attach) the avast log: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\Setup\setup.log
(or the shorter C:\Users\All Users\Alwil Software\Avast5\log\Setup.log).

If the file is too big for the forum, post the last 400-500 lines of it.

Hi Tech,

OK, the file is 3,666kb. It opens in Notepad fine, but when I try to open it in Word (so I can enter the last 400-500 lines) alls I get is 1111 pages of machine code. If I copy a line from Word and paste it into Notepad I get:
0 9 : 0 0 : 5 5 n r m / i n t S Y N C E R : T y p e : n o p r o x y
0 9 : 0 0 : 5 5 n r m / i n t S Y N C E R : A u t h : n o a u t h e n t i c a t i o n
0 9 : 0 0 : 5 5 v r b / p k g P a r t p r g _ a i s - 2 5 2 i s i n s t a l l e d
0 9 : 0 0 : 5 5 v r b / p k g P a r t v p s _ w i n 3 2 -
2 3:4 5:23 min/gen Return code: 0x00000002 [The system cannot find the file specified.]
23:45:23 min/gen Stopped: 01.10.2010, 23:45:23
And stuff like that.

Here’s from when I had it hidden:
23:45:20 min/gen Started: 01.10.2010, 23:45:20
23:45:20 min/gen Running setup_ais-252 (594)
23:45:20 nrm/sys Operating system: WindowsXP ver 5.1, build 2600, sp 2.0 [Service Pack 2]
23:45:20 nrm/sys Memory: 16% load. Phys:1740756/2096620K free, Page:4194303/4194303K free, Virt:2070460/2097024K free
23:45:20 vrb/sys Computer WinName: JPCHRIS
23:45:20 min/sys Windows Net User: SYSTEM
23:45:20 min/gen Cmdline: /downloadpkgs /noreboot /updatevps /silent /session “6”
23:45:20 vrb/gen DldSrc set to inet
23:45:20 vrb/gen Operation set to INST_OP_UPDATE_GET_PACKAGES
23:45:20 min/gen Old version: 252 (594)
23:45:20 vrb/reg Deleted registry: Software\Alwil Software\Avast\5.0\UpdateReady
23:45:20 nrm/sys Using temp: C:\WINDOWS\TEMP_asw_aisI.tm~a02656 (4266M free)
23:45:20 nrm/gen SGW32AIS::CheckIfInstalled set m_bAlreadyInstalled to 1
23:45:20 nrm/int SYNCER: Agent=Syncer/5.00 (ais-594;p)
23:45:20 vrb/sys Computer DnsName: jpchris
23:45:20 vrb/sys Computer Ip Addr: 192.168.1.68
23:45:20 nrm/sys Installed in: D:\AntiVirus (16449M free)
23:45:20 nrm/int SYNCER: Type: no proxy
23:45:20 nrm/int SYNCER: Auth: no authentication
23:45:20 vrb/pkg Part prg_ais-252 is installed
23:45:20 vrb/pkg Part vps_win32-10100100 is installed
23:45:20 vrb/pkg Part setup_ais-252 is installed
23:45:20 vrb/pkg Part jrog-a7 is installed
23:45:20 vrb/pkg Part jrog2-47 is installed
23:45:20 vrb/gen LoadState: Edition=1
23:45:20 min/gen Old version: 252 (594)
23:45:20 vrb/fil skipped CPackageEngine_File::SetExistingFilesBitmap
23:45:20 min/gen GUID: a1a11148-8cbe-4802-87c9-e003bfe60180
23:45:21 nrm/gen Server definition(s) loaded for ‘main’: 373 (maintenance:0)
23:45:21 nrm/gen SelectCurrent: selected server ‘Download755 AVAST5 Server’ from ‘main’
23:45:21 nrm/int SYNCER: Type: no proxy
23:45:21 nrm/int SYNCER: Auth: no authentication
23:45:21 dbg/gen Entered SetupProcessAIS::Do( INST_OP_UPDATE_GET_PACKAGES )
23:45:21 dbg/gen Entered SetupProcessWin32Avast::Do( INST_OP_UPDATE_GET_PACKAGES )
23:45:21 dbg/gen Entered SetupProcessWin32::Do( INST_OP_UPDATE_GET_PACKAGES )
23:45:21 dbg/gen Entered SetupProcess::Do( INST_OP_UPDATE_GET_PACKAGES )
23:45:21 nrm/int SYNCER: Agent=Syncer/5.00 (ais-594;p)
23:45:21 nrm/int HttpGetWinsock(http://download755.avast.com/iavs5x/servers.def.vpx)
23:45:21 nrm/int Used server: http://download755.avast.com/iavs5x
23:45:21 min/fil GetFileWithRetry: servers.def.vpx downloaded .
23:45:21 min/fil servers.def.vpx not changed, 1285429007
23:45:22 nrm/gen Server definition(s) loaded for ‘main’: 373 (maintenance:0)
23:45:22 nrm/gen SelectCurrent: selected server ‘Download516 AVAST5 Server’ from ‘main’
23:45:22 nrm/int SYNCER: Type: no proxy
23:45:22 nrm/int SYNCER: Auth: no authentication
23:45:22 nrm/int HttpGetWinsock(http://75.125.43.210/iavs5x/prod-ais.vpx)
23:45:23 nrm/int Used server: http://75.125.43.210/iavs5x
23:45:23 min/fil GetFileWithRetry: prod-ais.vpx downloaded .
23:45:23 min/fil GetNewerStampedFile:buf.st_size == 0 on C:\WINDOWS\TEMP_asw_aisI.tm~a02656\onefile
23:45:23 min/pkg Tried to download prod-ais.vpx but failed with error 0x00000002
23:45:23 min/pkg LoadAllDefs failed 0x00000002
23:45:23 min/gen Error:The system cannot find the file specified.
23:45:23 nrm/pkg Transferred: files 2, bytes 0, time 453 ms
23:45:23 nrm/pkg Retries: total 0, files 0, servers 2
23:45:23 min/gen szKey: A1C82F0F-13AF-4942-B49B-B70179A64816
23:45:23 vrb/int Sending stats ‘http://75.125.43.210/cgi-bin/iavs4stats.cgi’: 00000000 204
23:45:23 vrb/fil NeedReboot=false
23:45:23 min/gen Return code: 0x00000002 [The system cannot find the file specified.]
23:45:23 min/gen Stopped: 01.10.2010, 23:45:23

Here’s from when I unhid and had it stay resident in systray:
23:49:36 min/gen Started: 12.10.2010, 23:49:36
23:49:36 min/gen Running setup_ais-252 (594)
23:49:36 nrm/sys Operating system: WindowsXP ver 5.1, build 2600, sp 2.0 [Service Pack 2]
23:49:36 nrm/sys Memory: 15% load. Phys:1769920/2096620K free, Page:4194303/4194303K free, Virt:2070460/2097024K free
23:49:36 vrb/sys Computer WinName: JPCHRIS
23:49:36 min/sys Windows Net User: SYSTEM
23:49:36 min/gen Cmdline: /checkupdate /verysilent
23:49:36 vrb/gen DldSrc set to inet
23:49:36 vrb/gen Operation set to INST_OP_CHECK_UPDATE
23:49:36 min/gen Old version: 252 (594)
23:49:36 vrb/reg Deleted registry: Software\Alwil Software\Avast\5.0\UpdateReady
23:49:36 nrm/sys Using temp: C:\WINDOWS\TEMP_asw_aisI.tm~a02572 (4244M free)
23:49:36 nrm/gen SGW32AIS::CheckIfInstalled set m_bAlreadyInstalled to 1
23:49:36 nrm/int SYNCER: Agent=Syncer/5.00 (ais-594;p)
23:49:36 vrb/sys Computer DnsName: jpchris
23:49:36 vrb/sys Computer Ip Addr: 192.168.1.68
23:49:36 nrm/sys Installed in: D:\AntiVirus (13609M free)
23:49:36 nrm/int SYNCER: Type: no proxy
23:49:36 nrm/int SYNCER: Auth: no authentication
23:49:36 vrb/pkg Part prg_ais-252 is installed
23:49:36 vrb/pkg Part vps_win32-10101201 is installed
23:49:36 vrb/pkg Part setup_ais-252 is installed
23:49:36 vrb/pkg Part jrog-a7 is installed
23:49:36 vrb/pkg Part jrog2-5e is installed
23:49:36 vrb/gen LoadState: Edition=1
23:49:36 min/gen Old version: 252 (594)
23:49:37 vrb/fil SetExistingFilesBitmap: 406->87->87
23:49:37 min/gen GUID: a1a11148-8cbe-4802-87c9-e003bfe60180
23:49:38 nrm/gen Server definition(s) loaded for ‘main’: 330 (maintenance:0)
23:49:38 nrm/gen SelectCurrent: selected server ‘Download611 AVAST5 Server’ from ‘main’
23:49:38 nrm/int SYNCER: Type: no proxy
23:49:38 nrm/int SYNCER: Auth: no authentication
23:49:38 nrm/int HttpGetWinsock(http://download611.avast.com/iavs5x/servers.def.vpx)
23:49:38 nrm/int Used server: http://download611.avast.com/iavs5x
23:49:38 min/fil GetFileWithRetry: servers.def.vpx downloaded .
23:49:38 min/fil servers.def.vpx not changed, 1286899093
23:49:39 nrm/gen Server definition(s) loaded for ‘main’: 330 (maintenance:0)
23:49:39 nrm/gen SelectCurrent: selected server ‘Download708 AVAST5 Server’ from ‘main’
23:49:39 nrm/int SYNCER: Type: no proxy
23:49:39 nrm/int SYNCER: Auth: no authentication
23:49:39 nrm/int HttpGetWinsock(http://174.133.2.42/iavs5x/prod-ais.vpx)
23:49:39 nrm/int Used server: http://174.133.2.42/iavs5x
23:49:39 min/fil GetFileWithRetry: prod-ais.vpx downloaded .
23:49:39 min/fil prod-ais.vpx not changed, 1286923284
23:49:39 min/pkg LoadProductVpu: D:\AntiVirus\Setup\prod-ais.vpx
23:49:39 vrb/pkg LoadPartInfo: jrog = jrog-a7 returned 00000000
23:49:39 vrb/pkg LoadPartInfo: jrog2 = jrog2-5e returned 00000000
23:49:39 vrb/pkg LoadPartInfo: program = prg_ais-2a5 returned 00000000
23:49:39 vrb/pkg LoadPartInfo: setup = setup_ais-2a5 returned 00000000
23:49:39 vrb/pkg LoadPartInfo: vps = vps_win32-10101201 returned 00000000
23:49:39 min/pkg LoadProductVpu: D:\AntiVirus\Setup\prod-ais.vpx ended with 00000000
23:49:39 vrb/reg Set registry: Software\Alwil Software\Avast\5.0\Label=Jan2010
23:49:39 vrb/reg Set registry: Software\Alwil Software\Avast\5.0\DataFolder=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Alwil Software\Avast5
23:49:39 vrb/reg Set registry: Software\Alwil Software\Avast\5.0\Version=5.0
23:49:39 vrb/reg Set registry: Software\Alwil Software\Avast\5.0\VersionShort=5.0
23:49:39 vrb/reg Set registry: Software\Alwil Software\Avast\5.0\SetupVersion=594
23:49:39 vrb/reg Set registry: Software\Alwil Software\Avast\5.0\ProgramFolder=D:\AntiVirus
23:49:39 vrb/reg Set registry: Software\Alwil Software\Avast\5.0\Product=ais
23:49:40 nrm/pkg Transferred: files 2, bytes 0, time 546 ms
23:49:40 nrm/pkg Retries: total 0, files 0, servers 2
23:49:40 vrb/fil NeedReboot=false
23:49:40 min/gen Return code: 0x20000000 [Something done]
23:49:40 min/gen Stopped: 12.10.2010, 23:49:40

The limit for attachments is 200kb.

You can have hide inactive icons selected but set the Avast! Icon to always show–then it will never disappear. That’s how mine is set up.

Tried to download prod-ais.vpx but failed with error 0x00000002.
Return code: 0x00000002 [The system cannot find the file specified.
Tried to download servers.def but failed with error 0x20000004.

Seems connections errors. Any other security program that could interfere? IP blocker? Hosts file?

Edit.

Nvm.

@ Dch48,

I’ve unhidden it and it’s now resident in the SysTray.

@ Tech,

Seems connections errors. Any other security program that could interfere? IP blocker? Hosts file?
Not that I'm aware of. The only Host file I've 127'ed is "ads.doubleclick.net".