Hi, I am using the older Outpost firewall 4.0 with Avast and had been using Avast 4.x for quite some time (years?) with Outpost (on Windows XP 32-bit).
Now after upgrading to Avast 6.0 I get occasional freeze-ups on startup, where it’s obviously clashing with something in Outpost 4.0
When it freezes, only thing I am able to do is hit control-alt-delete and logout, then log back in, and then everything works - both Avast and Outpost load and operate properly.
I am an advanced user so any registry setting instructions are fine, I just don’t know what to look for. Maybe Avast needs to be taught to not touch the old Outpost processes, but it never asks me anything.
I tried changing Outpost from /service to /waitservice but no change in behavior.
I think basically it’s Avast not recognizing older Outpost even though it supposedly works great with newer Outpost.
Upgrading Outpost is not an option, they removed features I need/want from newer versions
Avast doesn’t have to concern itself with the Outpost version number as it doesn’t have any particular reason to as it doesn’t behave differently.
More likely the problem is what modules you have in outpost 4.0, which for a security program should be updated. Agnitum are offering some deals right now life time license for less than a years single system license. http://www.agnitum.com/purchase/outpost/.
If you can’t afford to renew your existing license or purchase a lifetime one, use the outpost free suite, when installed it detects avast and won’t install/activate the antivirus, anti-spyware or web control modules.
Or you can install the latest version of Outpost Security Suite Free v7.1.1 http://free.agnitum.com/
Just install the firewall & HIPS only without installing the antivirus, antispyware and safe web surfing, IF you can’t afford the 3 PC lifetime license
I run Outpost 2009 (free), but did use 4 before that. Nice firewall. Perhaps it is the order of startup. Does process explorer tell you which one loads first? Or perhaps you need to uninstall avast completely, then reinstall it from scratch, thus guaranteeing Outpost loads first (I think).
When the boot-up is in deadlock and I can only press control-alt-delete to get the logoff/taskmanager menu - if I keep hitting the downarrow key on the keyboard, apparently the rest of the system continues to load!
Then when I hit escape to cancel the menu and it shows what is underneath the system is loaded.
Impractical but interesting.
I think what is happening is the Outpost change warning pops up underneath and cannot be seen but it takes keyboard input somehow.
Since your problem is at booting time only, try in Avast 6 main GUI → settings → troubleshooting → load Avast service only after loading other system services. Save and reboot to test.
av4me,
I think your hunch about alerts in the background might be it, but I don’t know.
ProcessExplorer is too late. Check LoadOrder, there might be clues there that the experts here might help you with http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897416
[Incidentally, Outpost firewall 7.1 is the FIRST one that works for me and doesn’t crash when coming out of standby! To each his own. I couldn’t resist a 3-pc key lifetime <$40, ages ago.]
I can’t remember if OP4 have a way to exclude Avast?
But Avast can exclude the entire Outpost directory from scanning. Whether exclusions help bootup, I doubt it, but it’s worth trying.
Might also be that your favorite plugins in OP are in conflict with the variety of things Avast now does, and, likely duplicates. That might show up in LoadOrder as well.
OT: I very much like the open-minded tone of helps on this forum. Nobody is really preaching 'you must install our (Avast suite?) security program. Nice
