OK… I’ve used this forum before and was not pleased with my less than warm welcome and the stuck-up attitudes from the tech users here who preffered to poke fun at the age of my computer instead of actually trying to help me. But let’s give it another go shall we?
I still have to use Avast 4.8, Version 5 and 6 suck ass and won’t install because they think I am using a server, if they think that now, what will they think of the 12-Core Xeon set-up I am getting?
The main problem here is Avast randomly using 100% of my CPU and causing problems with other programs that it didn’t do before, I believe the software is attempting to brick itself and trying to make me think my computer is broken, but most annoyingly is the fact that every so often two Licensing Alert Pop-Ups appear at once and usually crash full screen applications, I haven’t been able to render video for ages now because it tends to upset Sony Vegas if it pops up whilst it is running, and it usually does.
I would urge the people at Avast to get rid of this annoying nag, instead of concentrating on making me upgrade to a bloated piece of software why not concentrate on writing some half-decent code for a change? Anybody know any work-arounds for this annoyance?
Sorry if Im coming accross a bit rude, but frankly, after how I have been treat, I believe it is justified.
The checking for servers has always been done via checking the OS version - so I find it rather unlikely that avast! 4 and 5/6 would behave differently in this aspect.
I remember the virus database updating process in avast! 4.x has been pretty CPU intensive, so that might be what you’re seeing. But honestly, whatever it is, there won’t be any 4.x program update to fix it, sorry.
Well then, there must be a programming error in the OS check then, it’s hardly difficult, Windows XP is 5.1 and Windows 2003 is 5.2, you may find it unlikely, but my old screencap says differently; http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/470/antiv0.png
Despite the remaining shortcut to Avast4, it had been uninstalled prior to that attempt. That one was taken a long time ago, but the same error still occurs.
I am not asking for an update to 4.8, I am asking if the nagging can be removed or that the Avast team actually hire some competent programmers. The database update is CPU heavy, uses almost as newer versions probably would when idle if the performance on other people’s systems is anything to go by, the CPU usage can occur when the program is NOT updating anything, usually around the time those pop-ups appear. Logic bombs and scare-ware do not appear professional, and I would advise that the Avast team do not implement such trickery in future.
Aside from this I can’t help but feel you are avoiding giving me a direct answer.
I’m not going to make up an answer for something I’m not familiar with, such as the nagscreens in avast! 4.x, so yes, I’m not answering that.
Regarding the installer… I admit the message is “slightly” confusing, but it should be understood as “The system doesn’t meet the necessary requirements. Besides, btw, this program cannot be installed on a server OS”. Since the penultimate line in the log checks the version of Internet Explorer, I’d say that’s what actually has failed (but I’m guessing according to the truncated screenshot and not knowing whether you might have uninstalled IE completely from the system, and also not knowing what exactly the installer is looking for, as it’s missing from the screenshot).
Btw, the layout of the virus database has been completely redesigned and optimized in version 5/6, so the new versions certainly use less resources than version 4.x - both in CPU and memory terms (i.e. more suitable for older systems especially). OK, the UI is probably more hungry than in v4, but the background operations (updating, scanning, …) are definitely lighter.
If you couldn’t answer my question you should have said so… well, from what I’ve seen on this forum (I do read, you know) I can not say I am surprised - this isn’t personal, I am generalising.
Less resource intensive? Not on any system I ever installed it on (I installed Avast on most of my families systems too, they don’t live in the same household so I am not violating the license.) - good for older systems? Tell that to my Pentium II system, that’s go to run ClamWin now because you don’t support 98 anymore, at least give me 4.8 for that system, I don’t care about lack of support too much, I’m an ICT Practitioner so I know what I am doing - and a friend of mine is CCNP qualified through Cisco - so you won’t get anything past me, On the P2 at least, 4.8 has got to be better than nothing… But that’s not the purpose of my thread and I have nearly derailed it with that.
I know 5/6 won’t install on Windows Server, that is apparent with the much mistaken installer that thinks I am using Windows Server, also, I once did try to install under 2003 to see what would happen, incidentally it caused a BSOD the first time, but after extracting the files manually and hoodwinking the installer into thinking I was running Windows 2000 it did not protest, I cancelled the install, as that system was running OK on ClamWin - it’s a home server, I am not running a company off of it… Avast should consider users of home servers.
I tried to hoodwink the installer the same way on this system a few times, but it did not work. Internet Explorer is Version 6, I am not updating that, you don’t list it in the requirements anyway, might want to change that - what else do I need? I didn’t know Avast were into Shovelware as well now. I wonder how long it is before you start making me install useless toolbars and such too?
As for the UI, in 5/6 it’s completely useless in my opinion. Either way, I can’t say I am impressed.
Well, I just thought that if there’s a bug in checking the requirements, it might be nice to fix that (though I’d have to know the exact line shown in the log at least).
As for the resource usage, I’m quite familiar with the scanning engine and virus database layout, so yes, it’s definitely lighter, and I’d be happy to tell it to your systems… but I guess there’s no point in trying anyway.
(Sure, if you’re running Win9x, you’re out of luck… but I’m afraid we can’t be stuck with ancient development tools forever, as it would limit the possibility of new features for newer OSes - and anything produced by any newer MS compilers simply doesn’t load on Win9x due to some stupid dependencies in their runtime).
But yes, I probably can’t help you with avast! 4.8, sorry.
Pretty poor attitude to take if you ask me. You can’t just state something like that, it comes accross as a demand or an order, and I don’t take orders, you should probably justify what you are saying if you want me to pay any attention to it in future. Perhaps you might also try researching the situation and making some suggestions that you can back up with solid fact next time too.
I understand that you can’t help with Win9X, as I said, I’m not bothered by the lack of support with that. I should probably elaborate that I collect old computers and games, so that is why I own machines like the Pentium 2, that is the only old system that connects to the internet though, I guess I could make a compromise and just be careful with that (e.g. Install ClamWin and only turn it on and connect to the network when needed, as ClamWin is VERY resource intensive).
I’m never going to agree with you on the lighter resource usage I am affraid, but I’ll leave that debate alone.
I will get another log if you want to know what is actually in the log file, I believe that last line was exactly the same as the error message though, and that the registry key was “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\CurrentVersion” (REG_SZ) the value of which is “5.1”.
high treason has probably updated to version 6.0.1203, which causes an unusual instability for win xp, xp pro, and server 2003 users.
though I would like to know if his computer works normal if it is booted into Directory Services Repair mode, to see if it’s probably a process or service causing the issue.
@Pondus; I know… Doesn’t matter about my 98 system anyway, like I said, I have a solution for that, thanks for trying to help though, as some other users have been rather rude…
@jadinolf; …Speaking of which, I believe this is an open forum, so get used to it or GTFO, customer feedback should be a high priority, especially for companies like Alwil at a time when their product is not competing as well as it once did and during the ecenomic downturn, but if you feel differently, good luck finding a job in this ecenomic climate. Try being constructive next time… Example; Perhaps you should not use internet forums because(the because is the part you and DBone missed) you can’t accept constructive criticism.
@JRM75; Nope, still using 4.8, but it is interesting you should mention stability, I have a spare Athlon XP that needed a clean install of Windows XP (With SP3) sorting out, just did that and decided to play with Avast 6 on there, the installer does not protest, but since installing my system freezes for random intervals and every single app I attempt to launch presents an error “The Application failed to initialize properly…” - Even the uninstall process for Avast, thanks for bricking a perfectly good Windows install, now I’ve got to spend another hour re-formatting and setting up Windows again, if anyone wants screencaps and such, ask me quick before I re-format, you have about 12 hours to do so because I need sleep now.
Oh, and if my Windows won’t activate, someone is going to have to answer for me paying out for another Windows XP license.
Get off your soap box. You came here with a terrible attitude today, and I for one, wouldn’t help you if I were paid, much less as a favor. You should be thankful that there are people on here that are willing to help you. Next time you want help, maybe you’ll approach the situation appropriately. Good luck to you.
Now… That’s a little better, at least you gave some reasons this time, but I don’t think there was any need for that attitude, just the same as you last post, you might want to think about sorting that out, I used to lose my temper a lot when I was a teenager and it didn’t get me very far at all and by the time I became a mature adult, I had learned that manners get you a lot further than demands. I fail to see where I have had a poor attitude, but I value your opinion anyway, if I keep posting I will bare what you said in mind.
On a last note to you, I believe there is an old saying here that may be apporpriate, it’s my life motto and you can learn a lot from it, it goes like this “Do as you would be done by.” - hopefully you understand what it means and take the time to think about it before being all keyboard warrior again.
so your real problem is upgrading to version 5 or 6. Have your tried, updating your systems to the latest service packs. Usually I have this same problem, when I use pirated versions of Windows (not saying that you do) because certain registry tweaks are applied during install that makes system act as if it were a server instead. So if everything is legit with your installation, I would try updating the system (don’t worry about drivers) the most you can, and don’t worry about system “security” updates (especially on Windows Vista and 7, they cause more problems than fixes).
Also, if you have licensing problems you have to do the slow reformat every time.
My system is up to date, as I stated in an earlier thread when I first ran into problems, my systems do run on a domain and I believe this could be part of the problem.
My Windows is legit and I only ever use the full format, quick formatting is just a way of opening yourself up for all kinds of problems… In fact I still low-level format when I feel it is needed, not many people do that anymore.
funny thing is i ran into this same problem as you but with only version 5, though i don’t remember which build specifically. When a build works for me I usually set Avast to never download program updates, I turn off program update notices, and password protect the the update section.
Have you tried Installing Avast! in safemode DSREPAIR under a new Administrator account set as a member of a Workgroup? Worked for me in these settings.
If not, have you tried renaming the system OS name version to XP Home Edition in the registry, to temporarily make Avast! assume it’s not a server at all? Also, you must immediately undo this in the registry to avoid app. & system update conflicts.
