Emergency Update nightmare

system · 2015-09-03T20:31:40.000Z

I have a 1Gbps LAN connection that works as a PPPOE and every single time i start the pc Avast Emergency Update kicks in and makes my entire pc freeze for at least 3 minutes searching for a connection that isn’t there yet.
Is there a way to permanently disable this awful POS? If it’s not i will just uninstall Avast, i had enough of this .

Para-Noid · 2015-09-03T21:05:00.000Z

Have you tried changing your vps updates to manual updates?
Does the streaming updates affect your system?

DavidR · 2015-09-03T22:42:13.000Z

Para-Noid post:2:

Have you tried changing your vps updates to manual updates?
Does the streaming updates affect your system?

The virus definitions update has nothing to do with the emergency update function, which is a scheduled function.

@ Azraelbuc
Since this is a scheduled task, you might be able to take steps to prevent the scheduled task being created or or block that executable internet connection in your firewall.

That said it would be handy if there was a way of manually setting the emergency update check.

Whilst this is a pain it is there for a purpose, if there is an avast issue where it can’t use the normal virus definition and engine updates, this is able to get past those issues.

system · 2015-09-04T00:21:29.000Z

Dumb question/idea.
Can OP go into the schedule task which is set for login and just chose the delay for 15 minutes ?
Wouldn’t this allow him to get his PPPOE up and then Avast update would run in background ?

system · 2015-09-05T05:43:21.000Z

Unfortunately not - i’m running XP and there is no delay option in it, it’s all or nothing. So i tried disabling and even deleted it, but it still automatically recreates itself every shutdown. It really is a complete POS that is completely outside of my control, the only thing that would made me ditch Avast.
If i could only disable it…

DavidR · 2015-09-05T14:40:35.000Z

Which is why I suggested blocking internet access in your firewall for the AvastEmUpdate.exe, have you tried that.

system · 2015-09-06T11:31:47.000Z

Yes, i tried that but it has no importance whatsoever since there is no problem when the network is up - my problem is with the program itself (AvastEmUpdate.exe), while it’s running at boot (when no connection is up) and only then. All i want is to stop this program to launch during boot, it can run with no problem whatsoever later.
BTW i have the option to load Avast services only after loading other services unchecked, do you think that checking it might present some security issues, like preventing Avast from scanning/protecting during boot?

DavidR · 2015-09-06T14:25:26.000Z

Your comment relating to the option to load Avast services only after loading other services isn’t quite correct it is ‘Load Avast services only after loading other system services.’

So I rather doubt that will make a difference to your problem, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.

essexboy · 2015-09-06T14:38:21.000Z

Select this it may give you the necessary breathing space

system · 2015-09-08T05:25:59.000Z

Yes, that did it - the Scheduled task hasn’t been recreated.
But you must admit that calling a 1 Gbps fibre optic connection a dial-up is pretty messed up.

system · 2015-09-08T12:06:54.000Z

Rename in safe mode and block with your firewall…

Vanguard_LH · 2015-09-21T20:37:29.000Z

From elsewhere I read (and noting some unwanted behaviors of Avast’s Emergency Update which is not only to retrieve signature updates but has also retrieved and installed program updates without prompting the user), I did the following:

Disable Avast’s self defense module (Settings → Troubleshooting → Enable Avast self-defense module, deselect).
Add a new firewall rule on outbound connections to block the following program:
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastEmUpdate.exe
In the C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast folder, rename
AvastEmUpdate.exe
to
AvastEmUpdate.OLD_exe
Delete the setup\EmUpdate subfolder (the one with the goofy randomly numbered updates).
Disable (not delete) the scheduled task in Task Scheduler for the Avast Emergency Update.
Reenable Avast’s self-defense module.

I did the above today and have not yet rebooted my computer to see if the scheduled task gets recreated or not. I did not delete the scheduled event but just disabled it. If Avast is rude in regenerating the scheduled event if missing, perhaps it will see the event is still defined, not notice it has been disabled, and not replace the event with an enabled one.

I’ve heard rumor that Avast will drop the Emergency Updater in November. Any substantiation of the rumor? If Avast continues to include their EmUpdate tool, they really should add a configuration setting, like under Troubleshooting, to let users enable or disable it.

bob3160 · 2015-09-21T20:48:27.000Z

There is a valid reason for having a tool like the emergency updater.
Shutting it down would defeat that purpose.

system · 2015-09-22T06:14:06.000Z

lee.hodsdon post:12:

From elsewhere I read (and noting some unwanted behaviors of Avast’s Emergency Update which is not only to retrieve signature updates but has also retrieved and installed program updates without prompting the user), I did the following:

Disable Avast’s self defense module (Settings → Troubleshooting → Enable Avast self-defense module, deselect).

Add a new firewall rule on outbound connections to block the following program:
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastEmUpdate.exe

In the C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast folder, rename
AvastEmUpdate.exe
to
AvastEmUpdate.OLD_exe

Delete the setup\EmUpdate subfolder (the one with the goofy randomly numbered updates).

Disable (not delete) the scheduled task in Task Scheduler for the Avast Emergency Update.

Reenable Avast’s self-defense module.

I did the above today and have not yet rebooted my computer to see if the scheduled task gets recreated or not. I did not delete the scheduled event but just disabled it. If Avast is rude in regenerating the scheduled event if missing, perhaps it will see the event is still defined, not notice it has been disabled, and not replace the event with an enabled one.

I’ve heard rumor that Avast will drop the Emergency Updater in November. Any substantiation of the rumor? If Avast continues to include their EmUpdate tool, they really should add a configuration setting, like under Troubleshooting, to let users enable or disable it.

I tried renaming it, but the moment i would reenable the self-defence module it would have started to scream bloody murder about files being corrupted and pc compromised. Fortunately i have discovered that if you disable it from Scheduled Tasks it will not be reenabled until after the next boot, so this somewhat works, but it has to be done every single time before i shutdown the pc. Hopefully in a future built i will be able to do it once and for all. Hopefully this build will come sooner than expected because the latest one has come with his own set of worrying problems/bugs.

bob3160 post:13:

There is a valid reason for having a tool like the emergency updater.
Shutting it down would defeat that purpose.

I rather have a pc that boots swiftly and smoothly than having malware definitions that come 30 minutes earlier.
So yea, there might be a reason for that tool but it’s implementation is abysmal.

DavidR · 2015-09-22T14:31:22.000Z

@ Azraelbuc
The emergency update has nothing to do with virus definitions updates, they continue as normal.

The whole point of the emergency update function is to check if one is present, if not it should close. The kind of emergency updates it does is if there is a serious issue that means that you can’t use the ordinary updates (broken) this can resolve that. The various scanning engines can also be updated in the regular engines and virus definitions update. But if the updates aren’t working that can’t be done, this is where the emergency update comes in.

By its nature an emergency update shouldn’t be a regular occurrence, more checking for the presence of one and close if not present.

system · 2015-09-23T06:11:09.000Z

DavidR post:15:

@ Azraelbuc
By its nature an emergency update shouldn’t be a regular occurrence, more checking for the presence of one and close if not present.

And that’s exactly my problem: it is a regular occurrence, at every boot, and even reboot, and a pain in the derrière. There is no logical reason why it shouldn’t be possible to permanently disable it or at least delay its action significantly - let’s say only after 10 minutes of failed attempts at updating and only if a network connection is present. Because let’s be honest here: trying to contact the update servers when no internet connection is present is dumb and a sign of bad coding that was not present a few years ago. And i must say that signs like this are starting to get more common as times and versions progress, your team has started to slip up.

bob3160 · 2015-09-23T13:24:10.000Z

If you aren’t always connected to the internet, most people are, then change your settings:

http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1443014444878-82339.png

See if that works for you.

DavidR · 2015-09-23T14:52:32.000Z

Azraelbuc post:16:

DavidR post:15:

@ Azraelbuc
By its nature an emergency update shouldn’t be a regular occurrence, more checking for the presence of one and close if not present.

And that’s exactly my problem: it is a regular occurrence, at every boot, and even reboot, and a pain in the derrière. There is no logical reason why it shouldn’t be possible to permanently disable it or at least delay its action significantly - let’s say only after 10 minutes of failed attempts at updating and only if a network connection is present. Because let’s be honest here: trying to contact the update servers when no internet connection is present is dumb and a sign of bad coding that was not present a few years ago. And i must say that signs like this are starting to get more common as times and versions progress, your team has started to slip up.

Sorry but you misunderstand me - the checking for an emergency is a regular occurrence (as is shown in the windows scheduled task).

What is unusual is that there is actually an emergency update that needs to be applied. Otherwise the emergency update check should be just that a quick check/confirmation if anything else needs to be done.

From what you are saying my guess you are confused with the auto update for the avast engines and virus definitions.

You can do as Bob suggests and change the setting and see if that makes any difference.

system · 2015-09-23T15:24:53.000Z

bob3160 post:17:

If you aren’t always connected to the internet, most people are, then change your settings:

http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1443014444878-82339.png

See if that works for you.

That has been the absolute first thing that i tried, no effect whatsoever.

DavidR post:18:

Sorry but you misunderstand me - the checking for an emergency is a regular occurrence (as is shown in the windows scheduled task).
What is unusual is that there is actually an emergency update that needs to be applied. Otherwise the emergency update check should be just that a quick check/confirmation if anything else needs to be done.
From what you are saying my guess you are confused with the auto update for the avast engines and virus definitions.
You can do as Bob suggests and change the setting and see if that makes any difference.

No, it has absolutely nothing to do with the regular updates, those happen just nicely in the background immediately after the boot process and that blasted crap of an utility ends, and during normal use of the pc (usually once or twice daily)and i only notice them when the popup appears. Well, i used to notice them, because after this last update that popup has vanished completely. My problem happens only the Avast Emergency Update program is up and running immediately after boot - if i could i would post a screenshot of my Task Manager, but i can’t, the pc is completely frozen and unresponsive till that POS program shuts down by itself.
It is absolutely irritating that something that really shouldn’t exist (if you can’t update the definitions there are far more serious problems than what this abysmal failure of an utility is designed to fix) is causing me so much grief. So until you can come up with a sure way to completely eliminate that useless POS i will continue to simply disable it from Scheduled Tasks before every shutdown and curse your incompetent team every time i discover during boot that i forgot to do that the last time i closed the pc.
Or if that continues for much longer i will simply move on and abandon Avast after 16 years of complete fidelity to your product.

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