newbie question - where do alerts go?

system · 2017-01-04T11:22:12.000Z

I apologize for asking this here, but I cannot find the answer in searches.

Recently, my laptop has been shutting down more than usual.
This may be caused by overheating (she’s an old beast), but oftentimes I get an Avast popup that it has blocked access to some application, just before a power-off.
I want to see what this application is, to see if this could be some weird virus-thing, but I can’t find the Avast log.

Googling first gave me lots of answers on “how to turn off avast alerts”, and next sent me to C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\log, which also doesn’t really tell me what I want to know.

In case you’re interested, I did recently do a full system scan, which turned up empty in the virus-thing department.
Any support would be appreciated.

Asyn · 2017-01-04T11:36:17.000Z

XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\AVAST Software\Avast\report
Vista and newer: C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\report

Eddy · 2017-01-04T11:38:08.000Z

It depends on the OS where the log files are.

C:\Documents And Settings\All Users\Application Data\Avast Software\Avast\Log
C:\ProgramData\Avast Software\Avast\Log. Some may also be in the respective \Report folder.
C:\Users\All Users\AVAST Software\Avast\log

What will be in them depend on the settings you have made for logging.

I suggest you also check the Windows log files to see if they show anything that could be related to the problem.

As for the shutting down, I suggest you give the laptop a good cleanup.
Removing all dust (outside as well as inside) as well as removing all not needed (temp and otherwise) files.
Also never put a laptop on a flat surface.
Air need to be able to flow underneath a laptop as well as over it.

Asyn · 2017-01-04T12:34:05.000Z

Eddy post:3:

Also never put a laptop on a flat surface.

So, where should one put a laptop…!? ??? ;D

Eddy · 2017-01-04T12:44:59.000Z

Put a laptop cooler underneath it or something so they air can flow underneath it

Asyn · 2017-01-04T12:54:11.000Z

Eddy post:5:

Put a laptop cooler underneath it or something so they air can flow underneath it

A bit far fetched IMO, but OK…
Still, a brand laptop should work without such gimmicks.

system · 2017-01-04T13:15:57.000Z

Thank you for your replies, I appreciate it!

But I’m afraid I have to repeat my question somewhat, because I wonder what the program is that was blocked just before my laptop powers down (I don’t get enough time to write down the info from the Avast pop-up). The report and log folders give me loads of txt files, do any of these contain such information? Because the ones I checked didn’t.
If it depends on my settings, I wouldn’t know where to change it; nothing in the settings of Avast seems to deal with logs as far as I can tell.

Of course, finding out what the malicious program is offers no guarantee I can solve it (or even that it is the main cause of the issue). Overheating has been a recurring issue with this laptop, an Acer Aspire 7738G, which is a horror to open up, yet I’ve had to do so often. I cleaned my laptop inside and out not so long ago, even changed the cooling paste. This really helped and it went well for a while afterwards, but then these new and fairly frequent power-offs started to happen, in conjunction with this pop-up.
Not the most unbiased place to ask this of course, but could Avast Cleanup be of any use?

Asyn · 2017-01-04T13:19:54.000Z

If you need a check, start a new topic in V&W and post your logs there: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?action=post;board=4
Instructions: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=194892.0

DavidR · 2017-01-04T14:25:03.000Z

Asyn post:4:

Eddy post:3:

Also never put a laptop on a flat surface.

So, where should one put a laptop…!? ??? ;D

Eddy post:5:

Put a laptop cooler underneath it or something so they air can flow underneath it

That’s what the little stubby feet are for when it is on a flat surface, not to mention that a laptop cooler is a flat surface. And what is to say those fans are blowing (not sucking) air in, which could have dust and other debris.

I like my new laptop makes almost no noise and is very cool, much of that is down to my primary drive being a 256GB SDD. It spends time on my knees, a laptop cooler (fans off) and a laptop cushioned pad for on your knees.

bob3160 · 2017-01-04T17:13:51.000Z

The proof of the wisdom of a cooling fan or the use of elevation of the laptop will only show up
after you’ve had the computer fore some time.
Heat is the worth enemy of a laptop. Anything you can do to keep it cool helps to prolong the life of that laptop.

Pondus · 2017-01-04T17:53:45.000Z

The Best Laptop Coolers of 2017 > http://www.toptenreviews.com/computers/peripherals/best-laptop-coolers/

system · 2017-01-04T19:27:59.000Z

I appreciate the overheating tips and laptop cooler discussion, I too am a user of such devices and methods (sadly) and am happy to see I am not alone.
The difference between the current issue and the overheating issues that I had in the past, is the pop-up right before power-offs.

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