Well here is another problem in Version 5 (Internet Security Ver 5.0.394) that doesn’t exist in Version 4.8 It is happening on two different computers both running Vista 32-bit and the latest IE8. Downloading a pdf file for viewing within certain web sites (two examples: groups.Yahoo.com and www.caesarstone.com) results in being able to view the file within IE8 but as soon as the document appears - IE8 hangs (freezes). Ending the task with the Task Manager terminates the “not responding” process however if in the IE8 restart process one selects the option “Restore your last session”, the previously hung pdf document comes back with full functionality. After this, viewing any other pdf documents runs without hanging IE8. I think leaving the site and coming back in results in IE8 hanging again when viewing/downloading a pdf file. This doesn’t happen on two other Internet sites, my own web page and the local ski club’s web page - viewing pdf files within these sites isn’t a problem - as soon as the pdf document appears, IE8 continues to respond properly. Since this seemed to be a web site specific problem, I began to suspect Version 5 and sure enough installing Version 4.8 doesn’t produce the hung IE8 problem. The two computers use different pdf programs, Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro and the free downloaded Adobe Reader 9. I went through a number of standard IE8 solutions like resetting the IE8 settings to its default settings all to no avail (Tools → Internet Settings → Advanced). Installing Version 4.8 was the only repeatable solution to the problem.
I have nearly the same problem, except on a fully patched WinXP machine (SP3 & ie8) with Acrobat 7 (not the reader)… I have installed Avast Free version 5.0.396 and I was trying to view a 10meg PDF file onine… it completely locked up my machine, except for the mouse pointer, I could move it, but nothing would respond. I had to power off the machine and try again… and again…
After several attempts, I downloaded the file from the website and opened it on my local machine with Acrobat… and again, after a minute or so, my machine responded exactly the same… pointer moves, but nothing responds… the little orange “a” ball stopped spinning half-way rotated…
I know it’s an Avast problem as I went to “shields control” and disabled Avast for 10 minutes… and then it would let me view the file just fine, all 80 pages…
Here is the link to the file I was viewing:
http://www.kwva.org/graybeards/gb_10/gb_1002/gb_1002_draft_r0.pdf
I have used Avast v4xx since “forever”, using nothing but Avast since about March 2005… I’m a BIG fan!
JimD
Once I experienced the problem, I reverted one of my computers back to 4.8 and left the other with 5. I made a mistake in the earlier post that I just reverified, it happens on all web sites not just specific sites. I must have terminated the hung IE8 and selected “restore your last session” which clears up the hung IE8 and avoids the problem as long as IE8 is open.