updates notifications are gone

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
21
Keep in mind that the last "official" version release was 6.1.000 (if I'm keeping track correctly), while all the other versions in between were pre-release versions until we got to 6.0.1091. If you have the settings in the GUI set to "ask" for the program update, you would need to check the GUI for the update, which would appear in red, with the words "update" to the right of it for you to click on it.

A little confused,

Isn’t the latest official release 6.0.1091? Which was released like 1-2 weeks ago? That’s the version that the GUI told me about and that I updated to on in the GUI. I know that Beta’s and Release Candidates do not count in offical release builds, so those are always “evaluate and test for bugs models.” It’s best to uninstall any Beta builds before applying official builds for best results.

I don’t think there is a 6.1 out in general release yet.

I think I am gonna try what the OP suggested. Not updating through the GUI when the next release comes out just to see how long it takes the New version pop-up notice to show up. Obviously, this will be contingent on my currently installed version 6.0,1091 working well, whereas the GUI update I would only apply in the event of some bug showing up with this version. But if all is OK, I am kind of curious myself as to how long it takes between a new release build and the pop-up notification.

It will be a good test for those who want to study this. Obviously the results are not very scientific with only a small number of us active on the forums. However, it is a good beginning, and the programmers might be able to use this data to make suggestions and comment about future improvements for the program update notification pop-up as needed.

Jack

22

According to the official version history, 6.1.1091 is an official stable version, not just another “beta” or RC" or “something in between”.
As I said, I’ve been tracking this for several months, and when 6.0.1091 was updated in the official changelog history just a few days after the release, I “knew” it was more than enough time to study this issue for so many official stable updates.

If you have the settings in the GUI set to “ask” for the program update, you would need to check the GUI for the update, which would appear in red, with the words “update” to the right of it for you to click on it.

Yes, since I (we) have been experiencing this issue, I’ll have to update to the current latest stable, but that’s not what the meaning of “ask” is. Or were you simply writing the instructions?

For those reading this topic and not completely understanding what’s all this about; in this context, “ask” means "don’t do program’s updates automatically without asking me first, but “ASK” me by showing me a tray notification. The third option available means “change your status, show it in the main UI (if you want to), but don’t even think about bothering me with this program updates tray notifications” :slight_smile: :stuck_out_tongue: Well, of course that all this issue is because I indeed want that tray notification, but it’s not being displayed.

For THIS time, I’m going to do it absolutely manually. In fact, I’ll always want to do it manually. Just, please, notify me using the tray that there is a new release available, instead of just “saving that news for the UI only” :).

About the bug ticket report, in this particular case I think of this message as my report. I sincerely think that in some situations it is really needed, indispensable; but IMHO I think that Avast Team (or the Evang.) are more than capable of evaluating if this topic is worth a ticket so to track it down.

@ ady4um,

I meant no disrespect in instructing you how to close the thread when you were ready. I think you misunderstood me and thought you were to close it now, as I know you were not ready to close it now. You can leave it open forever, but others will continue to add on to it (for years), and only you, the original poster (OP) will be able to close it…when you are ready. :wink: Continue with the thread as long as you feel you need to.


I did NOT take it as disrespect, and I apologize if I have sounded unappreciative or rude. Please believe my intentions are only good, not to complain or “fight”. The discussions are only contributing to users and to Avast. And is more than clear to me that users are only trying to help.

I might have sound not as polite as I would like, maybe/possibly because in the past I also received similar expressions of “clean and start over” and “set this topic as resolved”, when no real “solving” was involved.

But, to the point, I certainly will gladly set this topic as resolved if we can crack the issue. It would only mean that my patience all these months was not worthless :slight_smile: 8).

@Jack1000, I hope there are more users out there taking your steps to collaborate with Avast. I agree that I wouldn’t expect simply “waiting” for the notification if there is another more important (security) issue. Thanks for the support, no matter the specific result of our testings.

BTW, an off-topic. Am I the only that has so many problems writing in the message box? After several lines, it keeps moving and I can’t see what I’m writing, not to say editing.

23
BTW, an off-topic. Am I the only that has so many problems writing in the message box? After several lines, it keeps moving and I can't see what I'm writing, not to say editing.

I got a fix for that! (At least for IE 8.) I had the same issues with the “moving reply” box. and just clicked the Compatibility Mode button in IE 8. Now the box doesn’t move like it’s haunted! LOL! ;D

Jack

24

I can confirm the issue with the missing pop-up notifications for new official (not beta) versions of Avast! on several PC’s and laptops (all those that I’m working with myself or for customers). The new updates are only available manually on selecting Update → Program, there seems to be no notification anymore as it used to be. All of these machines are set to “Ask when update is available”. The update of the database works fine on all of them.
I didn’t wait with the program updates for a couple of months, so I can’t judge if a notification would have popped up after many weeks after the release, but notifications were regularly displayed a year ago or so. I’m not quite sure when this started, but it must be a few months now. ???

25

Ultimately Pop-up notifications are controlled by Windows regardless of the program.

Maybe the OP has a Windows related problem in this area :o

26

Even when it is set to automatic, the program does not update… unless I need to wait that much… Meanwhile, the virus definitions are updated, no problem.
Something is different in avast behavior…

27

If this helps anyone in their research,

The last update pop-up notice that I ever got was to go to version 5.1. (From 5.0.something.) However, for version 6, I have been checking manually, and updating through the GUI. I mentioned to the OP in this thread, barring a need for a program update due to a bug, I was going to try to hold off on any Avast Program Update Notifications manually, just to see how long it would take between the time the GUI said a new version is ready, and a pop-up notice says it is available.

Jack

28

Jack, thank you for the tip. I am not experiencing the problem with “short” messages, but only with “long” ones. I’m going to try your suggestion next time I see this moving box problem. Thanks again.

29

It seems it is not “just my problem”, but it is being recognized by several other users too.

So, in case we have a problem with our Windows settings, could you please point us to the appropriate setting that could potentially change the notifications behaviour?

In other words, could you explain what exactly you meant with “notifications are controlled by Windows regardless of the program”?

TIA.

30
OT: Jack, thank you for the tip. I am not experiencing the problem with "short" messages, but only with "long" ones. I'm going to try your suggestion next time I see this moving box problem. Thanks again.

OT

Sure,

One thing however that you want to do is click the Compatibility Mode button in IE 8, BEFORE you type your message. If you do it during the typing of your message, you will lose the message when IE switches to Compatibility Mode for the web page you are viewing.

To continue with the OP, what do you guys all think about the issue that many are having that Avast Program Update Pop-Up notifications have not been showing up for many users, even after a long time when a new version is ready in the GUI?

Jack

31

I have no problems using various OS’s on multiple machines through several years with Avast.

32

SafeSurf, I’ve been using Avast for a long time too. If I may, I think what Jack is asking about, is for opinions/experiences/seen behaviours, from experienced users, just like you, about the specific program updates tray notification not being displayed. If I understood correctly, I think his intention is to find out if other users are seeing the notification message in the tray area “some time” after a new release is out, or maybe “never”. “How much time after a new release, for the tray notification to appear, is adequate/acceptable”.

In my mind, at least for now I already have my answer, and this seems to be a problem for several users since several releases ago, and I hope I can set this topic as “resolved” right after the next stable release.

What I don’t know (yet) is, if this issue can be tested during the upcoming beta (sometime in the future), or we have to wait specifically for the next stable.

33

There is one other solution.
Accept that the virus data base always gets updated on a regular basis
and simply update the program manually when you see that a new version is available. :slight_smile:

34

Sure Bob,

That will work for people like us who are familiar with the program updates and the responsibilities of what to do. However, as previously stated, there are potentially thousands to millions of Avast users who only open the GUI on a very rare basis. I think most just want a realistic time-frame between the update notice inside the GUI, and the pop-up Program Update notice in the System Tray, and many users are not getting that. Like I said, the last time I got a System Tray Avast program update was from like 5.0 to 5.1.

Jack

35
SafeSurf, I've been using Avast for a long time too. If I may, I think what Jack is asking about, is for opinions/experiences/seen behaviours, from experienced users, just like you, about the specific program updates tray notification not being displayed. If I understood correctly, I think his intention is to find out if other users are seeing the notification message in the tray area "some time" after a new release is out, or maybe "never". "How much time after a new release, for the tray notification to appear, is adequate/acceptable".

In my mind, at least for now I already have my answer, and this seems to be a problem for several users since several releases ago, and I hope I can set this topic as “resolved” right after the next stable release.

What I don’t know (yet) is, if this issue can be tested during the upcoming beta (sometime in the future), or we have to wait specifically for the next stable.

Yes,

The above are exactly my points.

Jack

36

We usually hear about the problems here on the forum. People who do not have problems do not report them in general. Given that this is not a common issue, I would recommend that on the next “unstable” release (not the current version), you submit a mini-dump file to Avast to analyze while you are having the problem so they can analyze it to see what is the problem.

Here is additional information on how to invoke a memory dump file: http://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=71.

Please, zip and upload the C:\Windows\Memory.dmp file to this anonymous ftp server and name it uniquely: ftp.avast.com/incoming. Avast will analyze it and respond back to you in the new thread you create or to your email.

37

Yesterday I was doing some other stuff on a friends PC when all of a sudden the “New program version available” pop up appeared.

He had the 6.0.1044 free installed and the pop up for 6.0.1091 showed yesterday.

So my conclusion: it works (for v6 at least), but it may take a very long time…

38
We usually hear about the problems here on the forum. People who do not have problems do not report them in general. Given that this is not a common issue, I would recommend that on the next "unstable" release (not the current version), you submit a mini-dump file to Avast to analyze while you are having the problem so they can analyze it to see what is the problem.

Here is additional information on how to invoke a memory dump file: http://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=71.

Please, zip and upload the C:\Windows\Memory.dmp file to this anonymous ftp server and name it uniquely: ftp.avast.com/incoming. Avast will analyze it and respond back to you in the new thread you create or to your email.

Did a search for about a year or so ago, when I got help for doing a memory dump and was nervous about going into Reg Edit. I think Vlk told me to do these steps, and they worked: Reg Edit is not something that most computer people should mess around with unless they really know what they are doing:

This is what Vlk told me a while back when I had Avast 5.0.

Jack, we tried to reproduce the issue on multiple computers but weren’t able to do so. To help us analyse the problem, it would be useful if you could create a dump file of the AvastUi.exe process.

How To Upload An Avast Memory Dump File

The steps are as follows:

  1. disable avast self defense module (settings → troubleshooting page)
  2. download the following program http://public.avast.com/~vlk/hangrep.exe
  3. run the hangrep.exe program, select AvastUi.exe in the list and create a memory dump (save it somewhere) - the file will be 5-30MB big.
  4. re-enable avast self-defense disabled in step 1
  5. compress the dump file and upload it to ftp.avast.com/incoming (please note that you will only have write access to the ftp site, not read, so you won’t be able to see even the item you uploaded.)

Thanks.

Vlk

Would those steps still work?

Jack

39

I think that is still okay. Please note that the correct adress is ftp://ftp.avast.com/incoming - without the “http://”

40

Thanks! Corrected it in the steps above (I hope!)

Jack