Help!
after the suggested computer’s restart firefox seems to be blocked
what is going wrong?
What do you mean by blocked, are you getting any errors, Avast notice/warning, etc. etc. ?
I’m using Firefox right now and have Virus definitions version 231207-4
Try a manual Update of the VPS.
It was two days ago I found the Avast update page in the link below was the only way I could update virus definitions using the 19+ tab that actually worked as the options in the interface hasnt been working nor has automatic updates. This worked quickly and did not need to reboot to activate. Two days ago I had version 231204-0 and still have that on looking just now. How often do these virus definitions get updated, seems like it is very regularly as the versions folk post here seem to change as quick as the weather.
If you’re having problems with definitions for this long, you may have to uninstall and reinstall Avast. I’m assuming you’ve tried restarting your computer and doing a repair on Avast since you have had this problem. If you haven’t though, try those first before going nuclear.
VPS updates usually happen on a daily basis and multiple updates per day 10 min a day is not an unusual occurrence.
What are your Avast Update settings ?
@DavidR, that often ah ok. My Avast settings are both set on Automatic updates and enable streaming updates is ticked on. Just now, I have gone to the link I posted for the Avast update pageand clicked update 19+ again to download updates, I will see if this updates from version 231204-0.
Right, that’s done, just ran update from the link using the 19+tab. It updated in seconds, virus definitions 231204-0 from two days ago when I done this from the update page, it is now 231208-0, release date today 8th December. Am I right in thinking maybe virus definitions set to automatic with enable streaming updates ticked on isnt updating multiple times daily. Yesterday I ran the check for updates under virus definitions in the interface and it told me I was up to date with 231204-0 from 5th December. With the multiple automatic daily updates if it’s running as it should, does the virus definition version number change with each update ?
As I only have my laptop on at around 2 hours tops a time booted up from full shut down each time, 2-3 times a day, in those 2 hours or so it is on each time, surely that’s enough time for automatic daily updates to occur.
Yes, that is in effect the default setting.
I have Program Updates set to manual (as a regular forum I know when they are released and if there anything that impacts me) that way nothing is downloaded in the background.
Note: on Automatic, the Update happens in the background (when one is available), but it needs a system restart for these changes to be applied. Then you see what you mentioned, the details on the update. You could set Program Updates to Notify (or even Manual), so you are aware one is available and then manually apply it at a time convenient to you and then do a system restart after the update.
Given you only have the laptop in use two hours at a time tops, you are definitely going to see disparities in the VPS version, but when one (depending on for how long) is available you could be playing catch up. However, Streaming VPS Updates (every few minutes) keep the virus signatures up to date until you receive the next VPS Update.
Do you have Fast Startup turned on? It’s on by default on Windows 8 and later, so unless you turned it off it is probably still on. If you’re turning your computer on and off that often, that could be having an effect on the definitions, and thus a full restart may be required. If you turn fast startup off, that will mean each time you shut down you will fully shut it down and not just put it in what is basically an advanced hibernation, ensuring an actual restart the next time you turn it on.
Try that and see if it makes a difference. The downside of this is that it will take your computer longer to turn on each time, but if you’re on a SSD the difference should negligible. And if you turn fast startup off and nothing improves, you can just turn it back on.
I presume fast start up is on as I do not recall turning it off, am on windows 10. When I shut my laptop down, I Click start that being the four black squares bottom left in task bar, then click power, then click shut down. On the screen it then says shutting down. I am sure that shuts it right down rather than a long hibernation. I dont click sleep as that I think is a long hibernation until I open the lid again.
Where would I find the fast start up on off option ?
You are incorrect. With fast startup turned on, a “Shut down” from the Start Menu doesn’t fully shut down your computer. It keeps it in a sort of deep hibernation mode, albeit with all of your tasks closed. It doesn’t refresh your kernel or drivers. Only a restart does that.
More info is here https://www.howtogeek.com/243901/the-pros-and-cons-of-windows-10s-fast-startup-mode/
Also worth pointing out that Sleep and Hibernate are similar, yet distinct functions. But that is neither here nor there.
You can do it from your power settings from Control Panel. There are instructions in that How-To Geek above.
Again, this may or may not fix your update issue, but give it a try and see if it does. If it doesn’t, you can turn Fast Startup back on.
firefox was the bad guy
“cleaned up” and it is ok again
have a nice Christmastime
@Dinobot2, I have never heard of fast start up. I am only a basic user and I do struggle with understanding the more indepth side of things, I try my best and have learnt quite a bit the last week or so sinch integrating in this forum. I thankyou for your reply.
I have now unchecked fast start up so it is turned off. I never realised that shutting down as I described with fast start up turned on was a deeper hiibernation mode rather than a complete cold shut down. I now gather from what I read in the How to Geek page in the link you provided that updates may well not happen when shutting down with fast start up enabled so this could explain why my virus definitions in my Avast premium interface is not updating automatically as I have never had the laptop set with fast start up off. I will now keep an eye on the interface and see what happens with this fast start up disabled.
You are far from being alone. I didn’t learn about fast startup until about two years ago when a friend of mine casually mentioned it to me while helping me fix a computer problem over the phone.
As mentioned before, definitions and signature updates don’t require a restart from Avast, only program updates do. That being said, Fast Startup has been the cause of some installation issues for people, and unless I’m misreading what you wrote, I get the impression that you’re able to update the definitions manually with the file from Avast, and then when you turn the computer back on you’ll see they’re failing again. So I suggested it as a “this can’t hurt to try” sort of measure. Given how often you turn your computer on and off, that probably can’t be good for the long term health of your computer.
For program updates, I usually get a pop up box informing me the system needs to be retstarted for changes to take effect. I am able to update virus definitions manually from the Avast update page as the Avast interface set to Automatically update my virus definitions doesnt seem to work, I’m presuming this as the version number stays the same unless I update it manually. Should the version number change regularly if the automatic updates is working or does the version number only change when there is a program update. What started happening recently was every so often the Avast task bar icon would have a red cross saying I’m unprotected, I’d run check for updates form the interface and that would update, it was saying I was up toi date when it was clearly not and I would stay with the unprotected notice, then when I foud the Avast update page to do it manually, that then updated it.
So turning my laptop on and off each time I’ve done with it. What would be a good routine for it’s health then, in the morning I put it on to check my e mails and get on facebook while I’m having my coffe, then shut dow when I need to go in my workshop, same at lunch, turn it n, do what I need then shut it down then same in the evening then maybe i will watch some you tube stuff ior a documentary, I do not own a TV so I do use the laptop for a bit of streaming in the evenings, then I shut it down when I go to bed. Is it best to put it on sleep when I’ve done with it during the day then shut down last thing at night so it only does full start up and shut down once a day. I’ve had this HP pavillion 17" screen for 7 years trouble free.
The version number doesn’t change regularly, so clicking “Check for Updates” won’t change that. That doesn’t mean you aren’t up to date. But I thought issue was you were getting the red warning saying they aren’t up to date? Are you familiar with the streaming updates and how those work?
Either sleep mode or just leave it on, I would suggest. If you only turned it on and off once a day, that would be one thing, but doing it several times a day isn’t great, especially if you’re still on a HDD.
Dinobot2. Thanks for your reply. Yes the issue was the red warning sign saying the virus definitions were not up to date, this has happened 3 times in the last two weeks. When I get the red warning, running check for updates in the interface did not give me any updates and it did not rectify it automatically. I have the interface set to Automatically update my virus definitions but as I get the red cross on the Avast icon in task bar, it stays there with the warning in the interface even after running check for updates, this does not seem to be working. I had the red warning saying I am not protected again today so I manually updated it from the Avast download updates page in the link, this is the only way I can update them. Today I got a different version number to yesterday when I done this. I am going to leave it now and see how long it takes to get another red warning saying virus definitions are out of date then I’ll know the interface automatic updates isnt working as it should. I have fast start up disabled and when I fully shut down latop earlier then powered up from cold, no automatic updates happened and I still got the red warning.
https://www.avast.com/download-update#pc
I have streaming updates ticked green so that is enabled but I am not familiar with them and how they work.
My Laptop is HDD. I will start using sleep during the day as there is a few hours between each time I need to use it and only fully shut it down at the start and the end of the day. It only takes a minute to boot up with fast start up diasbled.
So I take it disabling fast startup hasn’t fixed your issue with definitions update?
Have you tried just uninstalling and re-installing Avast? You shouldn’t be having issues with keeping your definitions up to date like this.
Yes, in the last two weeks I have completelky uninstalled Avast Premium and reinstalled and still the same problem exists. Each time after awhile I red a red warning on the task bar icon saying my laptoo is unprotected and then when I look in the interface Menu > settings > updates, it tells me my virus definitions are out of date. Then I ran check for updates in the interface which has not fixed it. After running this check for updates, it tells me they are up to date but I still have the notice in red telling me they are not. Hence I searched on line and found the Avast download updates in the link I’ve added to do it manually that way and that works. Someone else here has been having the same problem so it isnt just me. I am going to leave off manually updating even when there is no red notice and see how long it takes to see if I get a notice to say virus definitions are out of date and will leave fast start up disabled and if I get a red warning then I will know that hasnt made a difference.
Try running a repair from Apps & features, and see if that fixes it, and then even after a repair try not manually updating. Perhaps something will be fixed in the next update.
Otherwise, I would consider cancelling your Premium subscription and using another AV or just rolling with Windows Defender. At this point I don’t know what’s wrong with your computer that is preventing you from getting updates properly. You can try running an elevated command prompt and running a DISM Restore health command and then an sfc /scannow command (you can google those to see what they are and how to do them), but otherwise you might be better off just not using Avast.