New Avast causes problem with Excel

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

10 days ago I updated Avast Free Anti-virus to version 10.3.2223.

Since then Excel 2000 has repeatedly given me this error message:
Document saved successfully. Cannot reopen the saved document due to low memory.

If I disable Avast the problem is gone and Excel works properly.

I’ve run Avast boot scan and full scan + MBAM scan so I’m confident there’s no virus involved.

I’ve been using Avast for many years - no problems with Excel before.

This computer is running Windows XP Pro, SP3.

Anyone have a solution? Anyone encountering same problem?

2

What version of MBAM are you using free or Premium ?

I have been experiencing the same issue in MS Excel, not only that but also some system lockups whilst browsing. This with MBAM Premium 2.1.8.1057 on an XP Pro SP3 system (configuration in signature).

Also see https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=174229.0.

I took the lesser action of disabling MBAM Premium and stopping it running on windows startup, so far that has been working.

3

The problem for me is defiinitely caused by Avast Anti-virus Free version 10.3.2223 and not by MBAM:

  • Avast - with Avast running the problem is easily repeated; without Avast there is no problem.

  • MBAM - whether MBAM Free latest version is installed (ver 2.1.8.1057) or not installed makes no difference.

Both Avast and MBAM were updated at about same time and a bit before problems started with Excel so uninstalling MBAM was one of my several trouble-shooting steps. That didn’t resolve the problem but disabling Avast definitely eliminates the Excel error.

As your link indicates some people are also experiencing an Avast & MBAM conflict but this is not the same problem as mine.

Addenda to my original post
I should have stated also that this system has 3 GB of RAM. It has no problem running Excel, loading large Excel files even with Avast running.

The problem only occurs at the point when I try to save the file. I can save once but then get the error message.

4

Yes interesting development, using Excel again with MBAM disabled from windows start, whilst I didn’t get a lock up I got an error displayed whilst saving.

The message was basically the document has been saved, but insufficient memory to reopen the document. Checking task manager tons of available memory only 1.6gb used out of 4gb.

I tried to capture a screenshot but that was blocked, got other errors relating to my snagit screen capture and that eventually crashed.

Whilst I don’t think it will change anything (as this issue doesn’t appear to feature in the list) I’m about to update to the latest avast free version 2015 10.3.2225 (not a beta) - https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=173591.

5

My latest tests confirm that the newest versions of Avast Free Antivirus (10.3.2223 and higher) are the source of the problem:

[ol]- I updated to Avast Free Antivirus 10.3.2225.1172. The “low memory” problem remains.

  • I uninstalled Avast using Revo Uninstaller. The problem was completely gone.
  • I reinstalled Avast Free Antivirus 10.3.2225.1172. The problem returned.[/ol]
6

This problem persists for me as long as I have Avast installed.

The only two work-arounds that I’ve found from my own testing are very sub-optimal:
1) I can switch back to an earlier version of Avast and refuse all updates.
2) I can uninstall Avast and switch back to AVG (or another AV prg).

Does anyone have a good solution?

I’d really like to stay with Avast and the latest version but I also need Excel to work.

7

I am experiencing the exact same issue as EmeraldAutumn and have also filtered the issue down to the latest Avast update. Please help us both out in offering what options we have. Thanks!

8

The latest version of Avast Free (10.4.2233) still does not fix the problem.

Although I am using an old version of Excel on an older version of Windows, Avast is also causing problems with newest Excel (Office 365) on newest Windows (Win10) for some people. (See Avast 2015 (10.3.2225) kills Office 2013 https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=175144.0.)

It’s unclear whether the two problems are the same or different.