So, I got Avast a few weeks ago, and I don’t really understand VRDB (I’ve been reading the help files and having a nooch around the forum, but I still don’t get it). VRDB doesn’t seem to generate automatically when my computer’s idle, unless at the beginning of the session I check “Generate VRDB now!”, then uncheck it a few seconds later…after that all seems well and the VRDB icon appears in the system tray when I’m not using the mouse or keyboard. When I first got the program, I didn’t have to do this…it was after a few days that I had to “remind” VRDB to generate itself.
I’ve been reading that I ought not to generate VRDB so often (or “update” it…is this the same thing?). It says on the main Avast screen that VRDB was last created four days ago, and I’m not sure if this is because I’ve been forcing it to generate or because it’s just doing what it should. I hope this makes sense and that someone can help. Hoping there’s nothing wrong and that it’s just me being silly
Thanks a lot - am very impressed with the program.
When you click the Generate VRDB now another icon i should start to spin on the system tray, the first time you generate the VRDB it may take some time and unticking the option may stop it before it has completed.
There are several options that will do it automatically, choose one after the completion of manual generation, this may take some time do it when you aren’t going to use the computer for a little while. By default the VRDB will run every three weeks after that.
For me my VRDB generation takes about 7 minutes for manual generation on subsequent generations. The other options, screen saver or when idle may take longer as if there is any mouse activity it will stop until either the computer is idle or the screen saver starts again.
I have the option “generate VRDB when computer is idle” checked, but it doesn’t seem to work until I’ve generated VRDB manually. Is this because it generated four days ago and doesn’t need to?
This is from WHAT IS AVAST! VRDB ? section… you just had to chose that option by rightclicking the avast! icon in system tray / then chose VRDB, and then chose appropriate option:
VRDB
VRDB stands for “Virus Recovery Database”; it was known as “Integrity Database” in previous avast! versions. The aim of VRDB is to help when, despite all the security measures, a virus gets inside the computer and the files are infected. With the help of VRDB, it is possible to repair infected files (return them exactly to their original state). VRBD is announced by an icon with the letter “i” in the system tray (next to the clock). If the icon is animated, the database is being created right now.
VRDB PRINCIPLE
avast! creates an integrity database, i.e. it stores information about the actual state of the files, doing it three versions back for each file. The database creation/maintenance is performed either when the computer is idle, or when the screen-saver is running (any screen-saver, not only the avast! one). This database, once it is created, is updated each three weeks (this value may be changed by editing avast4.ini).
If any file is infected by a virus, it is possible to repair it, i.e. turn it to its original state. If there are multiple versions of the file in the database, you can choose which version you want to restore.
SETTINGS
The settings of VRBD can be changed by clicking on the icon in the system tray with the right mouse button. There are three options:
Generate VRDB when computer is idle. avast! will create its database only when the computer is idle, i.e. when it is not being used.
Generate VRDB only when screen-saver is running. avast! will create its database during the time screen-saver is running. It may be any screen-saver, not only the one included in avast!
Disable VRDB generation. avast! will neither create, nor update the database. If you select this option, it will not be possible to repair virus infected files in the future!
If you have generated it manually and it completed then not I don’t think it will start the next generation until it is due, by default 3 weeks, then the process will start each time your computer is idle (no mouse activity) and pause when not idle and resume when idle again. This will obviously take longer than a manual generation unless you have long period of inactivity.
