hi, I am new to this forum, so hello there, but I have a question about the results after virus scanning with Avast Pro as it seems when Avast scans all my computer files etc. they are not assessable, with the scan result showing < unable to scan file/s. >
I’m not sure what to configure here so can you please help me with some advice?
My other security software is Spyware Doctor [no problem there, scans all my files]; Zone Alarm and Registry Booster.
Thanks for your advice!
You don’t give any examples of what can’t be scanned and why ?
I doubt this is for ‘all’ your files.
Many programs (usually security based ones) password protect their files for legitimate reasons such as AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy, there are others (and avast doesn’t know the password or have any way of using it even if it did know it).
When you run scans with the above programs and you delete harmful entries that they detect, a copy is kept (in quarantine/restore/backup) in case you need to reverse what you did. These are usually password protected, you should do some housekeeping and delete old backup/recovery/quarantine entries (older than two weeks or so), this will reduce the numbers of files that can’t be scanned.
By examining 1) the reason given by avast! for not being able to scan the files, 2) the location of the files, you can get an idea of what program they relate to. You may need to expand the column headings to see all the text. If you can give some examples of those file names, the locations and reason given why it can’t be scanned might help us further ?
Files that can’t be scanned are just that, not an indication they are suspicious/infected, just unable to be scanned.
David…thanks for the info, I will look into it further and if need be, get back to you…
melody828
No problem, glad I could help.
Some examples would be very helpful.
Welcome to the forums.
Hello,
I’m new to this forum. I’m experiencing a similar issue with Unable to Scan.
After a Scan, it will report not being able to scan everything from my Start Menu to My Documents, Music, Pictures etc.
I am able to expand the window, however it does not allow me to see the reason; it simply says ‘Unable to scan:t…’
I’m running Windows VistaHome Premium, 2GB RAM, with a DuoCore Processor
I’m using Avast 4.8 Home Edition version
The Avast On-Access Scanner works as it detected a virus a couple of weeks ago i dealt with the virus as ti instructed).
I have done the following to try and fix the problem:
clicked ‘Repair’ in control panel.
Uninstalled/Reinstalled the program.
Right-clicked and Run as Administrator (even though i am Administrator).
Scanned with Scan Archive Files turned off.
Selected all boxes in the ‘Scan Additional Areas’.
Any assistance with this issue would be greatly appreciated as i am unsure of what else to do to try and fix the problem.
Kind regards,
Cammo20 
You need to expand the column width, hover the mouse over the column header (separator), left click on the mouse and hlod it whilst dragging the separator to the right. This should work in most windows applications to expand the column width.
hey,
expanded the widnow, it said: Unable to Scan: The system cannot find the specified path.
I also use SPyware search and destroy.
Any suggestions as to causes would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your help:D
I take it that you mean spybot search & destroy ?
First I’m using XP Pro and not Vista so there will be differences, XP uses Documents and Settings\All Users and things hang off that folder. Where Vista would appear to use Users\Default, etc.
The folders you mention in your first post are special in that they are references that redirect to the actual folder on the HDD, now I can’t read the actual locations in the image. I also don’t know if they might be hidden to users other than the owner.
However, due to my total lack of Vista experience I can’t see why they should be reported as couldn’t be found. In XP if they were Hidden folders I could see that (excuse the pun) may have an impact but I would just unhide system files and folders, etc.
But then I can’t understand how it can recognise there is a folder there yet can’t find the specified path, unless this is to do with the special folder status and being directed to the HDD location. Are you actually able to navigate to these locations in explorer and are they hidden, etc. ?
Hopefully someone using Vista can pick this up as I’m speculating on what the problem might be.
Vista uses circular links to %Program Files% and %Users% folders.
Avast is just reporting it. You can uncheck the options for reporting soft and hard errors on the avast settings.
It was a problem, already solved (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=27330.msg223192#msg223192). Now, the only thing that rests is the reporting.
I don’t know if the option not to report soft (off by default) and hard (not sure if you would want to disable that anyway) errors works for the log of files unable to be scanned after an on-demand scan. These options are related to the creation of a report file rather than what we see after an on-demand scan.
Also the link you gave dates from March 2008 and mentions that the problem had been found and corrected for the next beta, which has been and gone. However, that link also relates to boot-time scan under Vista and this isn’t related to a boot-time scan, so we haven’t pinned down the cause or the resolution (I don’t think).
Hllo,
I apologise for the confusion; i am using Spyware Doctor (Apologise for the mixu)
If anyone is using VIsta with Avast, please let me know.
will investigate further into this matter
kind regards, and thankyou for ur assistance so far.
I am… I’ve posted before the reason… You don’t need to worry about that files.
Hey all, im new to the forums aswell and have been having the same problem…im running Vista x64 and whenever i run a scan every single file that it “scans” comes back as “Unable to scan blah blah blah” (same as above)…i only run Windows Firewall and still had the same problem even after disabling it 
my guess is that windows isn’t allowing avast to access these files. Any ideas on how to fix this would be much appriciated 
BTW: im pretty sure its not a problem with my avast because its detected multiple viruses so im leaning more towards it being Vista and its over the top security D:
Can’t you scan “any” file in your computer? Every single one is “unable to be scanned”?
yup, every single file is unable to be scanned… which is why im thinking its Vista not letting avast access my files :-\
Where? Which path are you trying to scan?
Did you try to scan your own user folder (My Documents for instance).
woa think you might have just figured it out 
if i go and just do a scan of local disks than it comes up as unable to scan, but if i specifically select a folder, like My Documents, it scans it no problem so i guess the question is now…why can’t i scan C:?
btw the pic below is the results i got when i did a thorough scan of C:
You can…
Vista uses circular links to %Program Files% and %Users% folders.
Avast is just reporting it. You can uncheck the options for reporting soft and hard errors on the avast settings.
It was a problem, already solved (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=27330.msg223192#msg223192). Now, the only thing that rests is the reporting.
Ok so atleast i kno nothings wrong (thanks :D) but like wat does all that mean in lamemens terms? you mean Avast is reporting the way vista links the folders together as an error basically? sorry im abit slow with all this technical stuff
No, avast is just reporting that folders weren’t scanned, in fact, not the folders themselves (they were scanned), but the links to them. Nothing to worry about.