Need help: Avast won't update.

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hey ladies and gents. I need help.

Avast won’t update. It’s been stuck at Initializing for about 5 days now.

I’ve tried a clean uninstall by uninstalling Avast via Add/Remove, then running the uninstall utility on safe mode, rebooted, and installed the latest setup that I just downloaded yesterday.

Info that might help:

-I’m running WinXP SP3, 1GB RAM
-Avast version 5.0.677
-Virus Definitions 100907-1
-I also have a wireless router but I doubt that is the problem since the Avast on my other notebook can update without a problem.
-I’m also running Online Armor 4.0.0.35.Free but I’ve already got all Avast services unblocked.

Any info will be highly appreciated.

Thanks!

2

Any firewall?
Did you test setting “No proxy” into avast update settings (instead of automatic detection)?

3

Just Online Armor, though I have all Avast services allowed.

I tried and it says “Access is Denied.”

4

Try deleting all the entries for avast and put OA into learning mode and try connecting/browsing, collecting mail and a manual update.

5

It’s updating! O_o

I tried what DavidR said and I think deleting all of the entries worked.

Thanks guys. :smiley:

6

I see this one seems to be sorted now.

I’m getting something similar - the notification box keeps on telling me that the last update of virus definitions failed, but when I do the update it tells me I have the latest version (100915-1). But when I press ‘OK’, it tells me that my current version is 100907-1. I’m bemused, to say the least.

7

Sorry I cannot help you briantrumpet.

Thanks again DavidR and Tech.

I’ll be back if I need help again.

/out

8

You’re welcome.

9
  • 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. This has in the past resolved this out of sync issue between reported and actual virus definitions version.

If that doesn’t resolve it immediately, just do a manual update and then reboot.

10

Thanks David - sorted.

11

No problem, glad I could help.

Welcome to the forums.

12

I have the same problem, ‘won’t update.’ Using XP and Windows Firewall (unfamilar with accessing its settings, if any are user available). Avast update was working until last week. Tried Repair, Uninstall/Reinstall, same result. Any suggestions?

13

XP firewall has zero outbound protection (really should have a firewall with outbound protection), so it isn’t that.

What is the full text of the error you are getting ?

Has anything else changes since last week ?

14

Thanks, David, for the response. The update screen goes static upon manually attempting an update reading “Updating, Step 1/2, initializing, please wait” and the overall progress bar shows an initial beginning of the yellow progress indicator. Changes since last week include installing the latest high priority Windows updates and a .net optional update from Microsoft, a registry cleanup with ccleaner, and a defrag with defraggler.

15

.Net has in the past caused problems with some software but I’m not aware of any issue with avast.

I have had the updates for XP, but I try to avoid .net like the plague as it is without doubt the worst update in the windows updates function.

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.

16

Tried Repair again, no difference. Also ran Update from that same screen in Add/Change/Remove Programs window; it appeared to connect and open a number of folders/files and reported that update was successful. However manual update attempts from the Avast app screen still freezes.

17

@ Bill44,

Since you are having so many issues and cannot update, can you please check for malware with Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware (MBAM) to see if this is causing any problems:

· Download free http://www.malwarebytes.org/ for an on-demand scanner.
· Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
· After install, click update so you have latest database before scanning.
· Under Settings:
o General: Automatically Save File After Scan Completes is checked off
o Scanner Settings: Check all boxes
o Updater: Download and install update if available is checked off
· Once the program has loaded, select “Perform FULL Scan”, then click Scan.
· The scan may take some time to finish, so please be patient.
· When the disinfection scan is complete, a log will appear in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart. (See Extra Note).
· Click the “remove selected” button to quarantine anything found. You will find the infection details under the Quarantine tab.
· The log is automatically saved by MBAM and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
· Copy & Paste the entire report in your next reply.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you.

18

Ran MBAM as suggested. No threats found. No mention of a reboot or of any items to be quarantined. Scan log text follows:

Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware 1.46
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 4649

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702

9/18/2010 8:55:28 PM
mbam-log-2010-09-18 (20-55-28).txt

Scan type: Full scan (C:|)
Objects scanned: 255307
Time elapsed: 2 hour(s), 59 minute(s), 34 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

19

Bill44,

Your MBAM log is clean…good news. How do you connect to the Internet and what is your FW?

20

Save Surf,
I connect through an ADSL modem via a router. Aside from the Windows firewall I understand that my Netgear router has a firewall, but I have never used it to my knowledge; I will dig into its configuration to see what I can learn about what it is doing.