Failed Downloads

I upgraded from Avast Free 10.4.2233 to 11.1.2245 and all downloads from Firefox stall and fail. Same results with IE and Opera. Running Windows 7 with Centurylink High Speed Internet. Ran Avast, MalwareBytes and online ESET with no issues found. Any idea what could be the issue? Reinstalled Avast and Firefox to no avail. Switched to Avira for time being with no problems downloading. Any ideas? Thanks.

Did you use the uninstall tool before installing the latest version of avast ?

No, I only used Control Panel - Programs - Uninstall A Program.

Let’s see if this is changing things.

Thank you. I will give this a try, and I very much hope it works. I’ve used Avast for three years, and it’s been great.

Yes, please give it try and take your time.

If it doesn’t solve the problem at least we have (a little) more information.

How did Sherlock Holmes said it?
Eliminate everything that is not possible and whatever is left is the truth how unlikely it may seem ?

It was something like that.
Can’t recall his exact words since I never heard him saying them
I was on holiday when he spoke them ;D

Can't recall his exact words since I never heard them
elementary Dr. Eddy ... Google ;)

http://philosiblog.com/2012/05/22/when-you-have-eliminated-the-impossible-whatever-remains-however-improbable-must-be-the-truth/

Ran the Avast Uninstall Tool in SAFE mode and reloaded the 11.1.2245 version. Tried to download a few things again using Firefox and, again, they hang up after 1-2 minutes, ultimately failing.

Interestingly, I have the old 10.4.2233 version on my laptop, and everything is fine there. Scared to upgrade to the 11.1.2245.

I did notice that Avira Free does not seem to use any Web Shield or maybe I just didn’t see it correctly. Not sure if that helps as both the 10.4.2233 and the 11.1.2245 utilize it. Any additional thoughts before I replace the Avast with Avira again?

Just to note the laptop is running Firefox and Windows 7 as well.

What version number for firefox ?
I’m using 42.0, avast 11.1.2245 and Win XP SP3 and no problems with downloads. I also use firefox in my win7 32bit netbook, but haven’t done many downloads on that with this version of avast.

I use 42.0 on the desktop with problems. I use 39.0 on the laptop with no problems.

I initially thought of upgrading the laptop to 42.0 to see if the problem started there as well, but opted to at least have one functional computer that I trusted. Instead, I tried on the desktop downloading with Internet Explorer, Opera and IceDragon - all of which failed.

If you have a failed download - what error message are you getting ?

If there is no message and the download just doesn’t happen, have you opened the firefox download function (Ctrl J) ?

If there are any listed as having failed, have you tried the Retry option ?

The Downloads section of Firefox shows download status. It will show one of four things:

  1. Where the download is at in progress.
  2. If it has finished it will show how large the file was.
  3. Whether you canceled the download.
  4. Whether the download failed.

While watching a file download it will progress for a minute or two then ultimately stalls. There is no movement on the bar. Then Firefox changes status and states “Failed”.

Depending on where you download from files may or may not restart. However, even if it does restart it ultimately crashes again.

On occasion I have had a download fail, ultimately this was after a second or so (commonly for flash player update file) clicking the Retry for me worked straight away.

I’m at a loss as to why this is happening and why it is across all browsers that you have tried.

Whilst I’m not sure if this will help, but it is worth a try, disable HTTPS scanning in avast Web Shield. Stop and restart the web shield to have it use the changed setting.

Just to make sure I understand after following these steps do I again enable HTPPS scanning or leave it off?

Doesn’t matter. Did the procedure and left HTPPS scanning off and tried two downloads. Both failed after 1-2 minutes.

What happens if you stop the web shield and try a download again ?

This is a bit weird given that you are able to browse (but not download) if it were, then I would have been thinking firewall blocking avast.

Rechecked that the HTPPS scanning was still off and it wasn’t. Apparently, turning the Web Shield back on automatically re-engaged it. Turned off the HTTPS Scanning again and have tried two downloads. So far both are running for about 20 minutes. So far so good. Will keep you posted.

Re-enabling the web shield shouldn’t have enabled the https scanning - that should have stayed off until you re-enabled https.

You aren’t running avast on a limited user account as that could have an impact on changing settings ?

Fingers crossed then on your downloads.

The downloads ultimately failed. Not sure what to try next.