I recently bought a new laptop and keep having problems that could indicate the presence of a virus, such as the system failing to restart after installations, and blue screening. I was especially concerned when I downloaded the latest Windows updates but the computer crashed at the restart stage so they never actually installed properly. I then tried to perform a scan with Symantec’s online virus detection tool, but the scan refused to run even though I had ActiveX and scripting enabled as per instructions. Is it possible that my problems are caused by a well-hidden virus that Avast fails to detect?
I use Avast! 4 anti-virus, together with ZoneAlarm as my personal firewall, both of which are updated, and run Win XP Pro SP1.
Thanks, lee. Trend Micro could not download, but I successfully ran RAV scan, which found no viruses (Phew!)
I now have the problem of finding out what else might be wrong – software conflict, perhaps?
Thanks, lee. Trend Micro could not download, but I successfully ran RAV scan, which found no viruses (Phew!)
Thats good to hear.
software conflict, perhaps?
Possibly, but i don’t know too much about software conflics, are you using more then one firewall/anti-virus at the same time?, that can cause conflics.
But i think it is best to use the scandisk/checkdisk and mabey even a defrag, this sometimes helps, they will be someware already on XP, i don’t use XP so i don’t know exsacly where.
Also have you tryed a spyware scanner such as spybot which is free to use.
If none of this works you may have to try reinstalling your OS (in your case windows XP home), but don’t do this untill someone who understands more about XP replys, they always do.
:(AVAST! did not detect a worm called WELCHIA.
It killed my mobo.It uses SVchost.exe wich will often give problems running windows 2000.
Just delete the file!
inthewildteam: my computer is an Amilo Pro V2000. Fujitsu-Siemens has such a bad reputation for technical support and customer care that I wouldn’t trust them to detect the fault. I would rather return the computer for a refund if the problems are not resolved within the next few days.
lee: I’m not running multiple anti-virus/firewalls and have tried Ad-aware/Spybot and checkdisk.
Eddy: I did try posting error logs to Microsoft but have had difficulty understanding all the technical details in its knowledgebase. I think I’ll give it another try though.
I too keep getting the svchost.exe requesting access through ZoneAlarm and allow it through otherwise I’m unable to connect to the Internet. Is it safe to allow it through? Could a virus exploit this to gain access to my computer?
Another thing that troubles me is that system info lists the RAM on my computer as being 504Mb instead of the expected 512Mb. Is this normal? (The computer has integrated graphics but I’m not sure how to check the Video RAM spec).
svchost = Application that works as a host process for services that run from dynamic link libraries.
svchost itself is not harmfull. But when it asks for permission to the net it depends on what is asking. Normally it is ok to allow it, but there are viruses/trojans that are using to svchost process for not so nice reasons. You can use this application to see what modules are used.
And personally I am more thinking of a hardware error you are having. Have you already tested the memory? (memtest86)
I run memtest86 overnight but I’m not sure I chose the right option. I set it at ‘default’ and after 12 hours it was still running! At that point I aborted as there were no errors reported that I could see, but I wonder whether I should have let it conclude. How many hours does it normally take?
Anyway, I think I’ll try reinstalling Windows today and see if that helps.
The test runs in a loop unless you specify otherwise. But that is a good thing. It does happen that a memory stick is bad and that the fault not always happen. So it may miss the fault the first, second … x-time but eventually it will be found
Let us know what happens after the clean install. Make sure you have a firewall and av installed before connecting to the net !
If you have an integrated/“on-board” video controller, in addition to its own capacity (64 meg for my Intel, if I remember correctly) about 8 megs of your RAM gets reserved for use with that and is unavailable to the rest of the system. So your figures sound about right.
Eddy, MikeBCda, thank you both. I have now re-installed Windows and the computer seems to be working fine: no hangs, blue screens or anything of the like, so I assume it must have been some software conflict causing the problems. This time I proceeded vey cautiously and step by step, which is why I took so long to reply.
Eddy: with regard to the memory test, I counted 13 passes before aborting, which is a rather good result, isn’t it?
I’ve now connected to the Internet wirelessly but have been having problems updating avast. Each time I try to update I get a message saying:
Error when updating avast! Last encountered error: Other HTTP error (302) while trying 67.15.0.83:80/iavs4x/servers.def
I forgot to add that I connected to the Internet through my university’s network. Could it be that the uni’s firewall prevents Avast in my system from getting to the servers and locating the updates?
Could it be that the uni's firewall prevents Avast in my system from getting to the servers and locating the updates?
The update locations are in the file servers.def in the Alwil folder on your system, so that is not it. But the servers Alwil is using have had some problems the last week, so it might be that. Right click on the blue ball next to your clock and choose iAVS update.
bob, I can download other files, it’s only avast updates I cannot download.
eddy, I tried the iAVS update, but it was no good either. I also tried the other link you provide but what I got was a log with info about servers, which I didn’t know how to use.
I had the same problem getting the Avast updates the last time I connected to the Internet wirelessly. However, there was no problem whatsoever when I used my dial-up connection at home. I’ll try updating through dial-up when I get home and see what happens.
I also tried the other link you provide but what I got was a log with info about servers, which I didn't know how to use.
That was just to see if you where able to get there. There's nothing you should do with it.
Untill this is solved, you should be able to manually download the updates and install them on your broadband. You can get the latest vps from HERE
It looks like somewhere there is a redirection problem. Where? I don’t know. Can be in the uni-network or on your system. HERE is information about the http-302 error.
Well, I tried to connect to the servers through my dial-up connection at home and …guess what? There was no problem at all! So, it must be a something to do with the uni network. I think I’ll give them a ring tomorrow morning and try to find out what’s going on.
Guys, thanks ever so much for your help. I don’t know what I’d have done without your support. 8)
