Messy thread, but in response to the title, if you have update problems, sometimes you can try to Open Avast!>>Settings>>Updates>>Proxy Settings>>Check “Direct Connection, No Proxy”
Tried this, didn’t help unfortunately.
Try a repair of Avast,
Close out of all Windows. Wait Several Seconds
Open Control Panel
Select Add/Remove Programs.
Find Avast in the list. When you click, Remove, you will get a dialog box with three options.
Select Repair from that list.
Follow any prompts.
Wait several seconds, close out of everything and reboot. Hope that helps!
Jack
first of all, thanks for your interest and for your posts.
unfortunatelly those tricks did nothing good, ive read the forum (ok some of it 8), and tried all the obvious methods including the ones you guys recommended for no avail.
the problem is probably not the internet settings anyway - updating in add/remove programs with the same settings works.
g
It sounds like most of you have tried the usual things to fix this problem, but what I haven’t seen is anyone uninstalling and doing a clean install of a different version of Avast to see if this fixes the problem. There are pre-release versions available that are bug-fixes; might I suggest installing version 6.0.1044.
- Save a copy of Avast and save it to your HDD.
[b]Free AV: http://files.avast.com/files/beta/6.0.1044/setup_av_free.exe[/b] - Download the Avast Uninstall Utility http://files.avast.com/files/eng/aswclear6.exe and save it to your HDD (this is a new Uninstaller Tool).
- Disconnect from the Internet at this time.
- Go to Control Panel and uninstall Avast through Add/Remove Programs if possible and reboot.
- If Step 4 fails, boot into Safe Mode (hit F8 repeatedly) and run the Avast Uninstall Tool. Uninstall ALL previous versions and products of Avast at this time.
- Reboot.
- Install the newest version of Avast and reboot.
- Get Internet access and register your copy for Free.
Free – http://www.avast.com/registration-free-antivirus.php - Update the Avast definitions.
Let us know if this fixes your problems. Thank you.
thanks for your post,
it didnt work for me.
was good idea though, i wasnt even aware of open betas…
g
@ galocza,
So I can get all your information in one place:
- What is your OS, 32 or 64-bit?
- What version of Avast do you have installed?
- What product of Avast did you install? Free, Pro, AIS?
- [b]What other security software do you currently have or did you have in the past on this machine including:
- Antivirus (AV)
- Firewall (FW)
- Trial versions of AV, FW and other security programs
- Other security software[/b]
- If they were in the past, how did you remove them (the vendor’s uninstaller’s tool or another way)?
lets summarize it:
- windows xp pro, x64 (curiously enough, i think all? people with this problem have some kind of 64 bit os)
- 6.0.1044
- free
- i only have spybot search&destroy with only sdhelper active, no teatimer. no firewall, not even the windows one, no other security sw. its a relatively new install, a month old, installed win, avast, avast updated itself to 6.xx, bam, update problem (i had an 5.xx installer). 5.xx updated ok with the old op sys.
i think i mentioned before, but its interesting so i write it again: through add/remove programs updating works, same internet settings as in the program settings - so it doesnt seem that it is some communication problem.
When you uninstalled and did a clean install of Avast, did you also uninstall v.5.0 in Safe Mode with the Avast Uninstaller tool that I gave you the link for?
yes, i strictly followed every step. i always used the removal tool + i searched for every remaining avast and alvil directories after uninstalling and delete them.
Have you tried uninstalling Spyboot completely to see if this resolves your problem?
FYI – I would turn on your Windows firewall (FW) for some protection.
not until now. unfortunately it doesnt.
SB won’t uninstall? I just need to clarify what you wrote. I’m suggesting that you uninstall as a test to see if this is causing your problem; you can always reinstall should there be no problem.
Try this again:
Uninstall Spybot S&D with Teatimer: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/howto/uninstall.html.
- How to disable Spybot-S&D (temporarily). http://www.safer-networking.org/en/howto/disable.html . Even though it says temporarily, the resident parts of SpyBot Search & Destroy must be enabled manually if disabled in this manner. TeaTimer doesn’t load into memory at all when disabled.
Remember to reboot after you uninstall. Let me know how this goes. Thank you.
sorry that i wasnt clear.
i uninstalled sb comletely (not only disabled when offered that option), rebooted and still nothing.
Sometimes it is a malware related issue.
It did solve problems on someone else’s thread when he scanned with Malwarebytes Antimalware. See here: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=74980.msg621810#msg621810
Please try that.
MBAM Quick Scan is sufficient.
Just to make sure it’s not malware that prevents the update.
i did it already (i read about it here in the forum), but now i run it again. nothing unexpected:
4/3/2011 8:47:11 AM
mbam-log-2011-04-03 (08-47-05).txt
Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 152461
Time elapsed: 1 minute(s), 8 second(s)
Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 1
Registry Data Items Infected: 4
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:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ForceClassicControlPanel (Hijack.ControlPanelStyle) → Value: ForceClassicControlPanel → No action taken.
Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Start_ShowHelp (PUM.Hijack.StartMenu) → Bad: (0) Good: (1) → No action taken.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Start_ShowSearch (PUM.Hijack.StartMenu) → Bad: (0) Good: (1) → No action taken.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoSMHelp (PUM.Hijack.Help) → Bad: (1) Good: (0) → No action taken.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\StartMenuLogoff (PUM.Hijack.StartMenu) → Bad: (1) Good: (0) → No action taken.
Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
You have a problem…you are infected but you “took no action” when you ran the MBAM scan. You need to put the infected items into quarantine when you run the MBAM scan.
Also, you did not give me the complete MBAM log. When you cut and paste, I need the complete log from the very top so I know the version of MBAM you are using, the complete fingerprints included, etc. (so I know if you updated prior to scanning).
So now after you ran MBAM, you are still infected. What you need to do is update MBAM again, then Click the “remove selected” button to quarantine anything found." Then post your complete MBAM log. Thank you.
it is solved. i searched for this kind of problem in general, and i found a hint to check the temp folder environment variables.
user variables were ok but to my surprise system variables were set to f:\something\win_temp (i think something was temp, so it was f:\temp\win_temp). f: is a dvddrive, so avast could not download to it. i guess avast uses a different method (or user temp variable) to download via the add/remove programs method, so using that i succeeded updating.
for all of those who have the same problem, go to:
start menu/settings/control panel/system/advanced tab/environment variables
and check variables “tmp” and “temp” in both user and system variables. by default they should point to c:\windows\temp (although they might contain other variables like %systemroot%).
and let me add:
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME AND EFFORT TO HELP US WITH THIS ELUSIVE PROBLEM!
btw in the meantime i ran a few malware detectors none of them found anything.
the “infected” values mbab found are intentional to keep my winxp the way it is (not to show start menu items help and search, force classic control panel etc).
im not sure how i managed to get the system temp variables mixed up, but im happy that its solved, and hope that the others in this topic have the same source of the problem so it can be fixed this easy.
i really missed the few first lines of the log, here is a new one:
Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware 1.50.1.1100
www.malwarebytes.org
Database version: 6253
Windows 5.2.3790 Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702
4/3/2011 1:01:56 PM
mbam-log-2011-04-03 (13-01-51).txt
Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 152149
Time elapsed: 50 second(s)
Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 1
Registry Data Items Infected: 4
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:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ForceClassicControlPanel (Hijack.ControlPanelStyle) → Value: ForceClassicControlPanel → No action taken.
Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Start_ShowHelp (PUM.Hijack.StartMenu) → Bad: (0) Good: (1) → No action taken.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Start_ShowSearch (PUM.Hijack.StartMenu) → Bad: (0) Good: (1) → No action taken.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoSMHelp (PUM.Hijack.Help) → Bad: (1) Good: (0) → No action taken.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\StartMenuLogoff (PUM.Hijack.StartMenu) → Bad: (1) Good: (0) → No action taken.
Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
You still took no action!
Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ForceClassicControlPanel (Hijack.ControlPanelStyle) → Value: ForceClassicControlPanel → No action taken.Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Start_ShowHelp (PUM.Hijack.StartMenu) → Bad: (0) Good: (1) → No action taken.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Start_ShowSearch (PUM.Hijack.StartMenu) → Bad: (0) Good: (1) → No action taken.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoSMHelp (PUM.Hijack.Help) → Bad: (1) Good: (0) → No action taken.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\StartMenuLogoff (PUM.Hijack.StartMenu) → Bad: (1) Good: (0) → No action taken.
You need to do as SafeSurf says
Click the “remove selected” button to quarantine anything found."
@ YoKenny, I mentioned this to the OP already, but I will comment again. Thanks.
@ galocza,
If you claim that you need the items that MBAM is flagging as “infected” malware for an international setting and you are absolutely certain this is not malware (infection), then you should enter these item(s) in MBAM under the tab labelled “Ignore List” so it is not flagged again in future scans. However, I must admit, I’ve never heard of such international settings.
Are the items that MBAM flagged ever picked up in Avast scans?
Also, I noticed that you are using XP SP2. You really should update to SP3 since there are many security holes by not updating and this puts you at great risk for getting malware and SP is no longer supported. Go to MS/Windows Updates to update your machine and any other patches from MS.
You may also want to do a free Secunia scan http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/ to see if any of your software is out of date as well. This site will give you the direct vendor’s download link if you need to upgrade. Many of us here scan our machines weekly since software changes so often, and having out of date software also puts you at risk.
What are you using for a firewall (FW)? If you are using the XP FW, this only provides 1-way protection and not 2-way protection, which is recommended. We can give you a list of compatible FW’s with Avast if needed or use Avast IS (AIS).
I’m glad you were finally able to install Avast. I don’t know how or why it tried to install on your F:/drive instead of your HDD, but at least that is resolved.
Report back on the other questions I posted above. Thanks. 