Problem Scanning Locked Files

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi,
I am currently using Avast Home Edition 4.8…Satisfied with performance except one thing…
It cannot scan some locked files… ??? At the end of the scan a pop up opens up and displays that the files are locked and Avast couldn’t scan it… :-[
I have tried it in normal thorough scan as well as the boot time system scan…
So is there any way in which I can scan these locked file?
If not, then I would request the Avast team to come with a new scanner in the next version (probably the Version 5) which will able to scan each and every file in the Hard Disk whether Locked or not…
Also I would like to add one more point, i.e., in the next version plz come up with a faster scanner coz, my hard disk is 160GB out of which only 55GB is filled and rest is empty and Avast takes almost 1 and half hours to complete the scan…Thats pretty long I think…

Thanks and Regards
Suvadeep.

2

That’s not possible - some files are locked by the operating system and simply not accessible.
So, the only “solution” would be not to report this fact.

3

Avast! got a good speed scan so yeah i think they alway try to make the scanner speed better i think :smiley: i can tell you that :slight_smile:

Look at AV-Comparative u can see how mush Avast! is really good for scanning speed :slight_smile:

4

I suggest you read this as it gives many legitimate reasons why avast can’t scan files and these are beyond avast’s control as Igor mentioned.

See http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=35347.msg297170#msg297170 this topic for more information on why files can’t be scanned.

Files that can’t be scanned are just that, not an indication they are suspicious/infected, just unable to be scanned.

5

Thanks All… ;D

6

it is normal for some files to be “locked” and so to not be scanned by antivirus programs… it is the same with all antivirus programs, except that, these days, some antivirus programs do not show a log of the locked files that could not be scanned…

7

You’re welcome.

Yes it entirely depends on why they are locked, and if that is the same as Igor mentioned it is the same for all AVs. The same is true of the other reasons given in the link I provided, the only difference as you surmise is the reporting of files (or not) that can’t be scanned by other AVs.

8

Hi :slight_smile:

Firstly!
If you don’t bother scanning ( un-tick ) Archived Files …
Then you shouldn’t get the box at the end of a scan - With all the things that Avast couldn’t scan :wink:
Archived Files scanning is Not ticked by default anyway.
Maybe for this reason ::slight_smile:

Secondly!
My 500 GB Hard Drive
About 50 GB Of Stuff On It
Avast Thorough Scan ( Archive Files Un-Ticked ) = Approx 45 Minutes
Avast Thorough Scan ( Archive Files Ticked ) = Approx 55 Minutes

Not sure why your scans are taking so long :-\

Note!
I’ve never done a Boot Scan
But I believe they do take a long time :wink:

AVG … Has a ton of stuff that it can’t scan … But it just doesn’t tell you!
Then you do an AVG scan in safe mode one day … It tells you a massive list it couldn’t scan … And obviously you’re - :o

9

@suva_paul:

usually those locked files are not infected and are clean and no need to scan them, but if you BELIEVE those are infected and need to scan, you may use live (bootable) AV disk that can scan computer without boot windows. there are some here:

Avira AntiVir Rescue System (it’s free): http://www.avira.com/en/support/support_downloads.html
avast! BART CD (NOT Free): http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_bart_cd.html

10

Or use free avast scan at boot time… just schedule it :wink:

11

yes, you are right, it’s easier than boot via a bootable disc, those bootable disc can be helpful if windows is not able to boot or use to set avast! for boot time scan, or using a bootable disc from another company can give a chance to find the virus if avast! fail to find the virus (that I hope never happen) :slight_smile: