update problem

General Topics
1

Hello fellow Avast users !
I’m new to using Avast so please bare with me .
I was using AVG, but started having troubles with it updating on several computers. So, I am trying Avast on one of them, a Emachine W3050, Windows Home, sp2.
I cannot get Avast to update. I have registered it , turned off Zone Alarm, uninstalled Zone Alarm, gritted my teeth , but cannot get Avast to update. I can connect to the internet fine. I have no pop-ups, no viruses…just can’t update.
Got any suggestions ?
The error message I get says :
Cannot connect to server.
Any and all help is much appreciated !

2

The file that has to connect is avast.setup

HTH

3

[i]@racefanofjr… I see you’re a Dale Jr. race fan but that’s not relevant…

One ‘big’ question comes to mind: how did you uninstall AVG? Did you also use the uninstaller from AVG as well as doing the uninstall from “Add/Remove”? You can do a search through these forums and find a complete ‘uninstall/install’ process… Or one of the guru’s can jump in here and help also… :)[/i]

4

Into the firewall settings, the following programs should be allowed to connect:

C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashWebSv.exe (avast! Web Scanner)
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashMaiSv.exe (avast! e-Mail Scanner Service)
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\avast.setup (avast! Update executable). This is a temporary file that just appears when an update (check) is about to launch, and disappears again afterwards.

Don’t need rights to connect:
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\aswUpdSv.exe (avast! Update Service)
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashServ.exe (avast! antivirus service). Although, ashServ.exe sends ping packets to find out if the Internet connection is alive. You can turn this off by checking the “My computer is permanently connected to the Internet” box in the avast Program Settings > Update (Connections) page.

5

I used Revo Uninstaller to uninstall AVG. I have now used it to uninstall Avast. I am now going to reinstall it from another sight. I’ll let ya know how it turns out …GO Jr. !

6

I have reinstalled Avast and still get the same error message. Please tell me how to add those exceptions to the Windows Firewall. I don’t see where Avast is being blocked but I got to try something.

7

It can’t block avast connections (outbound). It’s not the culprit.
Maybe you need use AVG Remover, download here: http://www.grisoft.com/ww.download-tools

Then I suggest an installation from the scratch:

  1. Uninstall avast from Control Panel first.
  2. Boot.
  3. Download the latest version of Avast Uninstall and use it for complete uninstallation.
  4. Boot.
  5. Install again the latest avast! version.
  6. Boot.
  7. Check and post the results.
8

Thanks for your reply. I will do all that you suggested when I get home tonight from work. We are working a lot of overtime so please be patient with me.
Thank you !

9

We generally are… this is a friendly place :wink:

10

Before I go much further, I want to add something. When I try to go to certain sites, such as avg.com, avast.com,bleepingcomputer.com…the computer won’t go to those sights, at all. It switches over to the " Live Search" page , like as if I typed the url’s in the search page bar, which I didn’t. But, when I go to msn.com,dell.com, download.com, it works perfect and goes straight to the sites. I’m really confused about that ! I went to see if the sights that I couldn’t go to were somehow listed in the computers “restricted” sites, but there were NO sites listed there at all. I went ahead and added the good sites to the “trusted” sites, but that didn’t work. I think thats why I can’t update, but I’m not sure. You ever heard of a computer that is picky about the sites that it goes to ?
Once I send this, I’m gonna do as you suggested above. Thanks a million for your help so far !!!

11

A Hosts file can do that. But it is strange that it’s sending you to Live Search.

12

Hi oldman,

A case of MessengerPlus with “the sponsors” maybe? Then you have this through lop infection, page redirect you cannot alter.
Hi racefanofJr, you can get HJT from here: http://www.filehippo.com/download_hijackthis/download/58170ee6e58bba306c943f5b6d745c99/
Attach a hijackthis logfile.txt to your next posting, then oldman and I can have a look, what it really is all about,

pol

13

Could be. The part about the sponsors is buried in the MessengerPlus EULA. Even wnen uninstalling the sponsor’s portion, the wording can be confusing.

14

Well, it turns out that I had a ROOT KIT causing the problems. After using ComboFix, all is well. Avast is updated and running fine ! The computer is back to normal.
Thank you all for your great help. I am impressed with Avast and will switch all my computers over to it, instead of AVG.
Thanks again !!!