error: cannot connect to download

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I guess this is the usual message box when one is not able to download from Avast:

  • you are not connected to the Internet.
  • your firewall does not allow the program “avast*.setup” to access the Internet; you can find details in help or read the FAQ section on avast! website.
  • your HTTP proxy settings are incorrect.
  • the server is inaccessible because of a network error or maintenance.

Home computer internet connected on dial-up, everything appears and operates and downloads normally with Outlook email and IE browser.

I stopped using zone alarm and have been using the MS Security Firewall over a month ago and things in general work better. And even though all this month I had not added Avast to the program list to access the internet, Avast was having no problem accessing and downloading updates.

A couple days ago I started getting download errors. So I checked my MS Security and added Avast to the list and rebooted. I still got the same error that it could not connect to download.

So I turned off the MS Security Firewall completely and have rebooted several times, but each time after I make the internet connection and Avast automatically tries to check and download updates, I again get the same error that it cannot connect.

I would appreciate suggestions on to do next? Do I need to reinstall Avast? And if so do you lose all your updates? Thanks.

2

Did you check these things? Into Windows Firewall settings, is the avast.setup file allowed to connect?
Are your proxy settings correct both into avast! (Update (Basic) > Details > Proxy) and your browser?

3

Using XP’s firewall doesn’t give you outbound protection, so leaves you vulnerable to trojans phoning home with your details and possibly downloading more of the same. I suggest you persevere with ZA and resolve the issue you had, you can get help here.

4

Too make a long story…I turned on Zone Alarm and it gave permission for
Avast to access the internet and the download worked as normal.

I can only guess that the MS Security Firewall caused the problem and won’t correct itself.

Thanks for all the suggestions.