Still can't access Homegroup! Well sometimes I can - most times I can't!

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I am so sorry I actually bought this product! Avast Internet Security with lic for 3 computers - I have never been so agitated with a product as this one!

I have 2 computers on this lic - both are running Win 7 - both are on a homegroup - #1 is directly connected to the printer and it is shared. #2 is in the homegroup and before Avast Internet Security - it had no problem using the printer …

Now it is a hit or miss. Some days if I go to Control Panel on #1 and click avast - repair … the homegroup will show up – and I #2 can print. Other days that doesn’t work unless I also restart #1 … And now I am finding some days both computers have to go through a repair and reboot and then #2 can print!!

What the heck is going on??

I did send in a ticket #MBG-623-81754 and as far as I am concerned this support is a waste of my time!!

The answer is below … (it’s long and for me it is complicated)

Actually it is hysterical –
** download and run CCcleaner … Hmm really and when I run it WTF am I looking for?? And what do I actually do with it??

Or this one - Consider running a shot of malwarebytes and then uninstall it. – OK I guess I could consider it … but I have no idea where it is nor again do I know WTF to do with it???

Now support might think I am dumb … Truthfully I did not buy Avast Internet Security because I wanted to learn how to use these other programs!! I have no desire to learn those programs … I was doing fine with Windows Firewall and Avast Free … never had a problem with communicating with the printer and each computer was able to access files on the other. I paid thinking this was a good idea and I was supporting the development of this program… That is the only dumb mistake I made!!

If I actually truly understood the directions from this support ticket … I probably wouldn’t need their help in the first place!!

Hello,

Thank you for your request.

Let’s take several preventive steps:

Check that there is no other antivirus program installed. If there was one before, make sure that it was removed using the specialized uninstall of the antivirus, not the Uninstall from the operating system.

If there is another antivirus, not only it might make your computer crash and be slow, but it might make it completely unusable.

  1. Run a boot-time scan (Avast>Security>Antivirus>Scan Now)

  2. Download and run Ccleaner from www.piriform.com , and run registry cleaner

  3. Consider running a shot of malwarebytes and then uninstall it.

  4. Make a browser cleanup from inside Avast (Browser Cleanup Tool).

If the problems persist, let me know.

If you see no improvement then try to repair Avast please.

“ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS” feature in your Windows Control Panel.
Click on “Start”, find “Control Panel” and click on it. A new window will open.
In this window you should see the icon " ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS" or “Programs and Features”.
Again, you should click on it. Then choose the “avast! Antivirus” and select “REPAIR”.

If repair doesn’t help you, I recommend to reinstall your avast! completely.
First from the Control panel via Add or remove programs and if does not help try using the uninstall utility, please:

  1. Use our uninstall utility - download it from http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (this is more reliable than uninstalling through Add/Remove Programs) and save it to your desktop. Run the utility from the safe mode (restart your pc and begin repeatedly pressing the F8 key).

  2. Clean your cookies and Internet temporary files. More information can be found here:

http://antivirus.about.com/od/securitytips/ht/iecache.htm

  1. Delete manually all avast files, that can be found in avast! folders (concerning folders C:\Program Files\AVAST Software and C:\Program Files\Alwil Software and also C:\ProgramData\Alwil Software and C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software).

  2. Restart the computer.

  3. Download the latest version of avast!
    It can be downloaded from here:
    http://www.avast.com/download-software

Please save the installation file onto your hard drive.

  1. Install avast!.
    If you have Windows 7 or Vista, either install avast! with UAC disabled (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Turn-User-Account-Control-on-or-off) or run the setup file as an administrator (right-click on the avast! setup file and from the Drop Down Menu select the “Run As Administrator” option).

  2. After you have installed avast!, locate the license file and double click on it and your license will be automatically inserted into the program. Alternatively, you can insert the license file from the avast! user interface as follows:

  1. Start avast!
  2. Select “Settings” from the left menu
  3. Choose “Subscription” from the sub-menu
  4. Click “Insert license file” and browse the files on your computer to locate License.avastlic

If you haven’t saved the license file from last time, you can download it here:
http://www.avast.com/en-us/resend-license-paid.php

If you have Free version, you can register it here:
http://www.avast.com/registration-free-antivirus.php
You can use our instruction for Free registration.
http://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB9#articleContent

Best regards,

Alejandro Monestier
Technical Support Avast!
www.avast.com

2

Hi, I had as well some trouble with avast and homegroups. For me I found a solution: in avast check if the firewall is set to “private” mode. Then go to the settings for the firewall an enable the preferences “Internet Connection Sharing Mode” and “Allow all connections with friends when in Private Mode”

Hope this helps.