I am new to Avast and I am looking for a users manual.
Is there one available?
Also, I am trying to setup a scan schedule but I can not find where this task can be at.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
Free current version
Windows XP SP3
If you are using the free home version there is no schedule scan, this is one of the restrictions in the home version along with a number of convenience, interactive input requirements. There have to be some differences from the Pro version and Alwil have chosen not to limit the protection functionality as some other AVs have.
Personally I don’t feel this is a great hardship as I do a regular weekly system maintenance where I also do an on-demand scan as part of that weekly set of tasks.
Check this work around out - HOWTO: Scheduled Automatic Scans avast! Home Version!
The major disadvantage with the task scheduler trick of using ashquick.exe is, it will scan every file of the hdd, partition, folder or file that you set it to scan; even those files not considered a potential threat, this can take a long time. It is possible to add certain folders to the exclusions list for say your media files, etc. Care should be taken with the paths you want to exclude as this could leave you vulnerable if that folder got infected as it wouldn’t be scanned by the on-demand scanner as you have excluded it. However, should you access any infected file in a Folder in the Program Settings, Exclusions, the on-access scanner (Standard Shield) should detect it provided you haven’t put the exclusions in there.
The Pro version gives a lot more flexibility and the scan would follow the settings and exclusions, etc. of the regular scan.
With the different levels of protection (Web Shield, Internet Mail, P2P and Instant Messaging) and the fall back of the Standard Shield, I find the need for daily scheduled scans lessened. I prefer to do a manual scan with my regular weekly maintenance tasks.
Thanks.
I did find the How to link. Thanks
I tried to schedule a scan but I am getting an error in the Task scheduler.
It says: “The new task has been created, but may not run because the account information could not be set.
The specific error is:
0x800700005:Access is denied.
Try using the Task page Browse button to locate the application.”
This happens when it asks for log in and a password.
Unless there is a fix or a work around for this I will do what you do.
Do it manually.
Personally I don’t use so haven’t experienced that problem but I know there are many that do and they aren’t reporting that problem, being asked for a password when it really isn’t necessary. I don’t know if that might be an OS issue, possibly haveing something to do with trying to run it from a limited user account ???
I know some time ago that some experienced this problem, so perhaps another forums search on the error.
I also only do a Standard Scan without archives and it only takes me 12 minutes, but I don’t have a huge amount of data to be scanned.
Sounds good to me.
That’s what I’LL do.
FYI
As for the account is limited. It is not.
I am not going to really worry about it.
I just tried to download an exe file from a reliable source and it came up
saying it is or was a malware.
Had to turn off it for a moment.
Pause the Web Shield, that will allow you to download it (don’t run it), the Standard Shield will also alert, select no action (this won’t allow the executable to be run/executed).
You could also check the offending/suspect file at: VirusTotal - Multi engine on-line virus scanner and report the findings here. You can’t do this with the file securely in the chest, you need to extract it to a temporary (not original) location first, see below.
Create a folder called Suspect in the C:\ drive, e.g. C:\Suspect. Now exclude that folder in the Standard Shield, Customize, Advanced, Add, type (or copy and paste) C:\Suspect* That will stop the standard shield scanning any file you put in that folder. You should now be able to export any file in the chest to this folder and upload it to VirusTotal without avast alerting.
Oops, welcome to the forums.
Thanks for the info.
If I have another questions I will post them.
No problem, someone will be here ;D