Unable to scan  certain files

system · 2006-09-02T17:51:58.000Z

I am getting a list of 216 items that avast is unable to scan.
What action am I to use?
I don’t want to make them delete or be unable to use, but I don’t want them to keep showing up on the list ?
The files are mostly for Lavasoft Ad-Aware, ePrompter(email program)and C:/Documents and Settings for a bunch of my pictures.
All these files should be safe I would think. ???

essexboy · 2006-09-02T17:55:04.000Z

All they are, are the files that Adaware has quarantined. As Adaware has password protected the files so they can’t run Avast is unable to access them. Unless you want to keep them they can be discarded. You can also set Avast not to scan those files if you are happy with the content

system · 2006-09-02T18:03:39.000Z

Thank You . I will go ahead then and delete them.

DavidR · 2006-09-02T18:25:08.000Z

Don’t delete without fully investigating why they can’t be scanned and then only use the program responsible for protecting them as for the same reason avast can’t scan them explorer might not be able to delete them.

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.

Files that can’t be scanned are just that, not an indication they are suspicious/infected, just unable to be scanned.

system · 2006-09-02T19:23:35.000Z

I tried to delete them. Half of them were unable to delete .
I ran a Quick scan instead of Thorough and this time I did not scan archives and they did not show back up . I guess if I have problems I’ll Uninstall and reinstall Ad-Aware again.I will go back and do some clean up as you suggested. I am still learning so am unsure at times.
Thank you.

system · 2006-09-02T19:34:18.000Z

Hi “My” :

 Being familar with Ad-Aware, I may be able to help !?
 First, when you run a scan, does it "detect" "Objects" ?
 If yes, what "kind" of "Objects" ( tracking cookies, etc ) ?
 Do you "quarantine" those "Objects" or do you directly
 "Delete" them ? Your answers depend on my 
 recommendations on "modifying" Avast's "Unable To Scan"
 findings. Have you ever added Ad-Aware's "Tweak SE"
"Add-On" ?

system · 2006-09-02T20:22:28.000Z

Yes it is AdAware SE.
At first I was deleting the tracking cookies ,
but realized they weren’t a threat so I don’t include them in the scan.

I hardly get anything I run Spysweeper,Spybot S&D, Ewido,Spyblaster
& Adaware . One at a time ,and alternate running Spysweeper With Ewido.
What they find I put in quarentine and then delete after 30 days.

I had a problem a month ago ,my system froze during a system restore and since that I am having this problem.
I even reinstalled Avast when I ended up having to go to last known good configuration to restore system.
Don’t know how I could have lost the original Avast program as It is all I have ever ran .
Then I came up with 2 of them , the licenced copy and a trial version. I just put the licence code onto the trial version and then got rid of the original one.

system · 2006-09-02T21:10:04.000Z

Hi “My” :

 So you have the latest Ad-Aware SE, Build 1.06r1 !?
 Is it "Personal", "Plus", or "Professional" version ? About
 how many of Avast's "Unable to Scan" are Ad-Aware's ?
 On Ad-Aware's "Preparing System Scan" page, have you
 unchecked the "Search for negligible risk entries" setting
 AND checked the "Search for low-risk threats" setting ?
 You did NOT answer my question as to if you have the
 Ad-Aware "Add-On" called "Tweak SE" !?
 When I added SpywareBlaster, my Ad-Aware scans
 STOPPED showing any "tracking cookies"; do you have
 a similar experience ?
 When asked, I mention Ad-Aware's detection of either
"tracking cookie(s)" and/or "Alexa" can be "DIRECTLY"
"Deleted"; all others should be "quarantined" FIRST, then
"investigated" as to their seriousness .

system · 2006-09-03T00:00:17.000Z

Hi SpiritSongs,
Sorry I had to go run some unexpected errands.
Here’s what you wanted to know.

AdAware SE Build 1.06r1 Personal

There were probably 160 AdAware unable to scans.
(I now had deleted most of those that would let me delete them)
it was a repetive pattern in the ones that would and wouldn’t delete.

Search for negligible risk is unchecked.
Search for low riskthreats is checked.

No I do not have the Add-On Tweak SE installed.
I just downloaded it .
Should I install it now ?

I had Spywareblaster before I ever installed AdAware
So cannot answer if Tracking cookies stopped showing.
I seldom have gotten any.

I run SpySweeper at startup everyday and it catches most of them Then I double check once a week with all the other programs. So they find very little.

I am going to run the full system Avast scan again now with archive and see what still comes up.
Will check back later .
Thanks

system · 2006-09-03T00:14:44.000Z

Same thing with me. Some files could not be scanned due to password protection of programs/files. The files that Avast! isn’t able to scan on my PC is SOME Ad-Aware and most PK-Zip Reader files. My Ad-Aware files that couldn’t be scanned are mostly skins --_-- … Yeah, they got customizable skins and such that Avast! can’t scan for some reason, and PK-Zip Reader is just program password protected.

I found this when I strechted out the top to view more text for both the reason (or was it result … ?) and program/file texts. Maybe you need to do that to figure it out yourself OR better yet, post them here for us to examine (I hope copy and paste works with the results page …) ?

system · 2006-09-03T01:13:00.000Z

Hi “My” :

  Now that you have downloaded the "Tweak SE", install
  it, reboot the computer, go to Ad-Aware's GUI, click
 "Add-ons", click "Tweak SE", go through the 3 screens &
  select anything you may want; however, on the
 "Additional Settings" screen, make sure you select the
 "Skip automated saving of 'clean' log-files". This will cut
   down the amount of log-files "saved" on your computer.
  With this in mind, go to "Search > All files and folders",
  selecting the search "term" "Ad-Aware" and when the
  list appears, look through it for any that say "log....",
  RIGHT- click on it to "Delete" it. This should cut down
  the number of Ad-Aware "Items" in Avast's "Unable To
  Scan" listing. At present, I have no Ad-Aware "Items"
  in my Avast "Unable to Scan" when I complete an
  Avast scan . Of course, I use the "default" Ad-Aware
 "Skin" .

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