Hello There,
I seem to have a problem with this particular software although never used to.
My avast would update itself regularly and now does not also when switched on it will not let me access the internet or let me use outlook express.
This only seems to have happened last month since I had some updates from microsoft.
Anyone got any ideas…driving me nuts 
What is your OS ?
What is your firewall ?
Does it allow access for ashWebSv.exe (web shield) and ashMaiSv.exe (email scanner) ?
At the moment i only have the windows firewall running.
And even when I switch that off and try and get on the internet it still won’t let me and still won’t update.
The programme has just tried to update again and I got this:
connection terminated,retrying…
Is there an entry for those providers in the exceptions tab of windows firewall (even if it is disabled for test) ?
Have you tried a manual update, what happens (errors/warnings, etc.) ?
Well that connection terminated doesn’t sound like anything related to avast, but a poor connection, what type of connection do you use, dial-up/broadband, etc. ?
Try a repair of avast. Add Remove programs, select ‘avast! Anti-Virus,’ click the Change/Remove button and scroll down to Repair, click next and follow. You need to be on-line to do this.
If that doesn’t work try, uninstall, reboot, install, reboot. Ensure that your firewall is active at the time.
Any malware that manages to get past your defences will have free reign to connect to the internet to either download more of the same, pass your personal data (user names, passwords, keylogger retrieved data, etc.) or open a backdoor to your computer, so outbound protection is essential and this isn’t available in XP’s firewall.
There are others, Comodo, Jetico, Sunbelt Kerio, etc.
See some firewall tests for comparison, some are freeware but many are paid for versions http://www.firewallleaktester.com/tests.php. Also see http://www.thefreecountry.com/security/firewalls.shtml
Hello there,
I have avast in my exceptions.
Have tried a manual update and get errors, this one in particular ‘servers.def.dpu error 0x000004C7’
I have a ntl broadband connection.the thing is when I turn on avast why does it stop me from using the internet and when I turn it off I can get on the internet?
Thanks for your help so far.
Hi Donk :
Sounds like your problem started by installing some
Microsoft updates; I have heard on other forums that at
least 1 of them is causing problems, namely KB 911280 .
Do you have this one ? If you cannot connect to the net,
how are you posting these messages !?
And after being asked, you still have NOT told us the name
of your Operating System ! If it is Win XP, we should know
if it is SP1 or SP2 .
What antiSPYWARE program(s) do you have on the
"problem" computer ?
You can download servers.def from here: http://download1.avast.com/iavs4x/servers.def
Save it to C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\setup folder
Start the update again.
Ok.
I am operating Wndows XP SP 2
I have just downloaded the update which is KB911280 which has been revised since it was introduced in june.
I can get on the net because I have switched off my avast. It is when I switch it on that I cannot get on the net or use my email account
I have downloaded the servers.def and it still won’t let me update.
Hope this info helps. I have no spyware on my pc as such.
Seems a firewall blocking…
Any firewall besides the Windows internal one?
I only have the windows XP firewall switched on.
Is there anyway I can check if there is another form of firewall running.
Even with my avast switched off it still won’t let me update. This only started happening from the beginning of june every was fine before then. It would update as soon as I turned it on etc access to the net was fine.
I just don’t know what has happened. Could it be a virus of some sort?
With avast switched off I don’t know if it would work, or that you would want to be unprotected whilst you are on-line trying to update. I doubt that it would be a virus that is only targeting the avast updates and your internet connection.
Just in case, belt and braces. If you haven’t already got this software (freeware), download, install, update and run it, preferably in safe mode Ewido anti-spyware.
I think you should try the repair or uninstall, reinstall I mentioned previously.
Ok, downloaded the spyware ran it and cleared everything that was in it.
I have uninstalled…reboot…installed…reboot…and this still has not solved the problem…tried updating someother stuff and it seems it won’t let me up date anything including avast.
Will I have to reboot the whole system…I hope not.
There would appear to be something wrong with your connection but what I’m at a loss to suggest what it might be.
Try - Start, Run, type ‘netsh winsock reset’ without the quotes this should at least ensure your winsock connection is correct. However, if you are able to connect to the internet and browse, post on the forums, etc. but not update avast and other things (someother stuff), it is weird.
Re the “connection terminated,retrying…” is that the full text or can you post a screenshot of the error ?
Hi Donk :
Are you using or ever have used NTL's "Netguard" ?
Have you tried using their "Medic" Support Tool ?
I looked around their site a bit & cannot tell if your
"service" includes some form of a firewall !?
If you cannot update other programs besides Avast, it appears
one or more of the Microsoft Updates are causing a
problem !? If that is true, I recommend you ask the
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional(s), a highly trained
volunteer group "certified" by Microsoft, on the forums
at www.aumha.net for their help .
Tried to download the medic support tool only to be told ‘could not commicate to the network server error 26’.
Phoned up the ntl broadband support which were as useful as a choccy fireguard and got told it is because my security is too high and needs to be lowered on port 80?
Anyone know about this?