New Beta version 18.5.2339

[bruceb]

The current stable release works fine on my old Dell Dimension 8200 with a P4 at 1.8Ghz and 2GB RAM … it is running XP PRO SP3 … I do not know why some have issues and some do not. Sometimes a clean install of the antivirus is best. Also clear out your temporary files and run disk defragmenter.

[Csicso]

@bruce_b post:18

A lot of us still use XP … I use XP PRO SP3 on my old Dell Dimension 8200 P4 1.8Ghz 2GB RAM machine. It is a fully legit version of XP that is installed. As to Avast discontinuing support of XP, I use only the basics from Avast Free (File Shield, Web Shield, Behavior Shield) … It has the latest stable release on it and is working fine. I would like to know how long we will still be able to auto update virus definitions after support for XP ends. Will the entire Avast Free stop installing on XP or only certain components of it, that a lot of us do not use ? ? ? What about AVG ? ? ? Will that work on XP ? ? ? Or does anyone have a good replacement that does not hog or slow down the computer if it is needed ? ? ?

A lot of us still use XP - changed windows 10 or LINUX. DELL Dimension 8200 15 years old machine (i found it) Wonder how it works

Sorry for lots OFF.

[bruceb]

For it’s age what I use it for (mainly Firefox 52.8.0ESR) and Office XP (word, excel) it does fine. It did need a new Nvidia Video card about 3 years ago when the one I ordered it with called it quits (my Dell (sony style) CRT monitor died about 3 weeks after the video card (that was replaced with a Dell S2340M monitor for $130)

[bob3160]

Time to get back on topic.

[av20]

Another XP user here and the beta is working OK.

[aharris2]

thanks - was 18.4 not working for you?

[av20]

@aharris2 post:26

thanks - was 18.4 not working for you?

I remember reporting a bug in one of the betas that was related to a change in WiFi inspector. It was fixed shortly afterward.

[system]

Hi,
The Beta version has the same problems as 18.4 version on my Windows XP SP3:

• when starting UI → error “UI Failed to load”
• when starting definitions/program update → error “RPC server not available”
• Avast Antivirus service not starting automatically,
  when trying to start it → error 1053 “service does not replay to signal…”

Windows system services seem to work OK.
What else can I check?

[bruceb]

That sure sounds like a corrupt install. I would run Avast Clear to uninstall Avast (first backup your exclusions list), then be sure all program folders from Avast (including in the Docs & Settings folders) are removed. You may want to run a Registry Cleaner to be sure all old Avast Registry keys are gone. Then reboot and run the Full Off Line Installer of Avast … reboot again and see if all is good.

[aharris2]

I did all those things and more for 18.4 without effect (see previous posts).

“Using XP SP3 - no problems for many years with Avast Free Antivirus until this latest - UI does not load. Some postings indicate that fixes have been made, at least for Win10. However, on XP (SP3), version 18.4.3895.0 still has the problem. I have uninstalled, reinstalled, rebooted, and repaired. I have made all the suggested tweaks to “Services” (background intelligent transfer service; terminal services; remote desktop service), but the problem remains.”

My XP works flawlessly in all other programs, and has worked on all previous versions of Avast through 18.3.

This is seems to be an issue introduced with 18.4 and has not been addressed in the beta 18.5. As others have noted, it apparently does not occur in some XP installations, but affects others. Probably some minor registry setting?

[bruceb]

That is why I suggested a full removal using the removal tool and a registry cleaner to get rid of any unwanted reg keys that may still be in the system.

[aharris2]

yep, did that too.

[av20]

@andy_wa post:28

Hi,
The Beta version has the same problems as 18.4 version on my Windows XP SP3:

• when starting UI → error “UI Failed to load”
• when starting definitions/program update → error “RPC server not available”
• Avast Antivirus service not starting automatically,
  when trying to start it → error 1053 “service does not replay to signal…”

Windows system services seem to work OK.
What else can I check?

Perhaps try a custom install with only file system shield enabled. If that works, enable one thing at a time. Use Avastclear from safemode prior to this install as well. Another thought is that there is a XP service disabled that Avast is depending on, search the net for default XP service startups.

[system]

@aharris2 post:32

yep, did that too.

Aharris2,

Thank you for letting us know that whatever error the May 17th download introduced, it has not been fixed by this Beta download. What all these helpful posters with their helpful suggestions do not appreciate is that nothing suddenly went wrong with all of our systems. The error was introduced by Avast. The error is not with our XP systems.

[Vitdom]

I experienced a serious error in this Beta today. Avast logs: https://www.dropbox.com/s/bbobjo7r5m5kgmx/avastreport.zip?dl=1

After having scanned a folder through the Explorer context entry, Avast reported the Scan as Complete and No issues found!
Seconds later, an alert appeared from Avast that a file I scanned, had been identified as Win64:Malware-gen and has been moved to the Virus Chest.

I highly suspect this file is a false positive so I clicked “Report as false positive” but nothing happened, so I opened the Virus Chest and it was empty.
The file is gone and I can’t find it.

Until this issue is fixed, I am disabling Avast Beta Shields and only use Windows Defender. I can’t risk losing data. Fortunately the file that disappeared wasn’t important and I can download it again as part of a software bundle.