VRDB iball icon doesn't consistently appear at each startup

General Topics
1

Dell Pentium III, Windows 2000 OS, current avast! program, Spybot S&D, AdAware

Though I have never chosen the “Merge with main avast!icon” on the VRDB iball icon context menu, from time to time upon restarting, the iball icon doesn’t appear in the system tray. I have seen a FAQ that said to Run the ashDisp.exe program. But when I typed the path name into Run and hit OK, nothing happened.

Since this has happened several times upon restarting, the only way I have been able to make it appear is by going into System Information (Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools), right-clicking the file path name, choosing Save as Text File, then opening the file and copying the path name. Then I copy that into Run and restart the pc. (Copying it into Run and hitting OK does nothing.)

There have been times that doing this has not brought up the iball icon in the system tray when it restarted. In which case, I have repeated the whole procedure again. Other times, it has worked.

Today when I started the pc, the iball wasn’t there. I looked into the Run area and the path name was not there though I had not removed it—I just let it stay there in the hopes that it will make the iball appear each time. So I went through the above gyration, and the iball did appear when I restarted.

  1. I want to be able to see the iball. But going through these time-consuming steps whenever it doesn’t appear is very frustrating and cuts into many other things I need to be doing on the computer and uses up valuable time. Help, please. What can possibly be causing the iball to be inconsistent in appearing?

  2. Would the VRDB still update every 3 weeks even if the iball wasn’t visible in the system tray (and not having merged it with the main icon)?

  3. And if I needed it, but it’s not showing in the system tray, what could I do? Meaning I didn’t have the time to copy/paste the path name into Run and restart the pc???

Thank you so much for any help.

2

If you’ve merged the two icons (a + i), the i will be shown only when VRDB is being generated.
I think the behavior of VRDB does not depend on the icon on system tray. It will be run each 3 weeks.
Clicking “settings” in my signature you’ll find a lot of info about avast4.ini file. There you can configure the VRDB icon as well.

3

Tech:

As I explained, I have never chosen to have the two icons (a + i) merged.

Okay, I understand from you that whether the iball shows in the system tray or not does not have any effect on the VRDB updating–that it will update every 3 weeks regardless.

I clicked on the settings link you provided. Please remember that I’m not a computer wiz! I could not find a section that gave me any information about the configuring of the VRDB icon. Could you say specifically where it is located? And what the setting would need to be to insure that it would appear each time the computer is started?

Is the avast4.ini file literally a settings file? Does all the information apply to the 4.8 version as well?

Thank you for your help and patience with me.

4

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=1647.msg10271#msg10271
Maybe
MergeIcons=1
Disabled=0

Yes and yes.

5

Tech:

  1. I can’t find the avast4.ini file. When I follow the file path you gave, the Data folder does not have this file in it that I can see. Would this be a “hidden” file?

  2. I think that “Show TaskBar Icon” is what I need to see in the VRDB settings file. But since I have never merged the two icons, how could it ever have been set to 0, which would cause it to be suppressed and not shown in the system tray??

  3. The VRDB i ball has appeared in the system tray at each daily start up since last week. But it was always there for a long time, then suddenly wasn’t, . . . as I described in my earlier post.

  4. Thanks for the links to information. How long will this post/thread be left here? How to get those links in the future for reference if it’s needed—i.e., where would it be if this post/thread is no longer here???

6

It is there you just can see it, you aren’t displaying known file types in explorer (a real mistake by MS disabling this by default, ‘known to whom, MS’).

See image, you may only see avast4 but no .ini in the Type Column you will see Configuration File.

7

DavidR:

Here is what is in my file for “C:\Program Files\ALWIL Software\Avast4\Data”:
The Data folder has these folders:
Backup
Chest
Integ
Journal
Log
Moved
report
aswBoot
Resident protection
Simple User interface
Skin

The only folder with anything in it is the “report” folder. The 3 files in it don’t have anything to do with the avast4.ini settings file, . . .

I have Windows 2000, if that has any bearing on anything.

Neither my Windows Explorer nor the Notepad looks anything like the image you sent me—meaning no “Type” column is shown and, again, I don’t have all the files in your image, specifically the avast4.ini file is not there (even without an .ini extension).

Also, even if I could find the avast4 file in Windows Explorer, how can I open it in Notepad from there? (I know this is probably a dumb question, but I said I’m no computer wiz, just someone trying to slog my way through and figure out my pc problems.)

Thanks.

???

8

The avast4.ini isn’t a folder but a ‘file’ within the Data folder, it has to be there as avast wouldn’t function without it and I don’t think it would be in a different location in win2k. There was no notepad image, that was just a view in explorer without the folders shown.

There might be some differences in how the columns are named or ordered in win2k but the content should be what counts. You may be able to right click on the column with the titles and that should drop down a list of other columns that you can include in the view, I’m working blind as I have never used win2k but these options were in win9x and XP so I’m hoping they would also be in win2k.

Try just doing a search for avast4.ini in windows explorer and see if it can be found.
Once you find its location, just right click on it and select open with, select notepad.

9

DavidR:

I have looked in Windows Explorer and via the Run>Search to find the avast4.ini file. I looked in Windows Explorer again just now. As I listed in the last post, those are the only files that show up under DATA.

When I started the computer this morning, the VRDB i ball icon did not appear in the system tray; i.e., the problem is still there. I have not touched anything to do with the avast or i ball icons merging, and I sure haven’t been able to get into the avast4.ini file to change anything cause I can’t find it. I know that it has to be there else avast wouldn’t work, but,. . .

I had to do this again to get the i ball to appear in the system tray:

“the only way I have been able to make it appear is by going into System Information (Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools), right-clicking the file path name, choosing Save as Text File, then opening the file and copying the path name. Then I copy that into Run and restart the pc. (Copying it into Run and hitting OK does nothing.)”

I am getting desperate to find the answer to this problem. Having to go through the above gyration takes up time that is already stretched too thin.

Also, though I know this is not specific to this thread, whenever I (as mentioned above) type anything into the “Run” box and hit okay or Enter, nothing happens—meaning a file path that’s typed in has no effect, nothing opens, Windows Explorer doesn’t pop up, nothing. If you have any idea why this could be and what could remedy it, I would sure be appreciative. I have so many computer issues that I am flailing around wildly, so please forgive me if I should not ask that in this forum.

Thanks.

10

Well the VRDB icon issue is a) relatively minor but b) the apparent missing avast4.ini is much more strange as it is an essential part of avast and if missing I would have thought generate a warning/error.

I don’t know if your other problem re Run isn’t something that might have an impact on avast or not. Again I have zero win2k experience and really don’t know where to start, in XP I may try running a system file check sfc /scannow (however that would mean you would need to open a command window, by typing cmd into the ‘Run’ window which you are having problems with) you would also need your win2k CD I believe.

There has just been a new program update so back to the original issue of the missing VRDB and avast4.ini, I would say it would be best to try a clean reinstall with the new version 4.8.1282.

Download the latest version of avast http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again. Use that when you reinstall.

Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, find it here and save it to your HDD.

  1. Now uninstall (using add remove programs, if you can’t do that start from the next step), reboot.
  2. run the avast! Uninstall Utility, reboot. If step 1 failed it may be necessary to run this from safe mode, once complete reboot into normal mode.
  3. install the latest version, reboot.
11

DavidR:
Your reply has me in tears.

It is a very long story, but I have a Dell Pentium III that I bought from a company four years ago that was selling their older pcs. The Win2K CD that was in the CD-ROM (I don’t have the ability to write to CDs) seems to be a mystery to the two people who have looked at it, meaning that they are not sure if or how to use it for reinstalling Windows 2000. I sure don’t know how to use it for that.

I have a dial-up connection—anything I do takes a looonnnggg time. (I am giving this background info to explain that in addition to having limited computer expertise, I have a “limited” system.)

I could probably call up a command window (I’m thinking that this is the same as the Run box, but instead it comes up as a black-background popup window, so to speak??, but wouldn’t that just give a list of all the files (I’m just guessing that from the name of the command), which is what is wanted, right? Why would a Windows 2K CD be needed for that?

But what I am most in tears over is that there’s another avast update, and the only way to obtain it is to go through the time-consuming trauma of uninstalling and reinstalling, . . .

I have spent the entire year trying to recover and protect from malware. I have spent an inordinate amount of time learning what I could about each virus and spyware program to be able to use them. Everyone of them has had some kind of problem that has extended my effort into weeks. In addition, many of the Microsoft and Windows updates are not installing, I have issues with my Office program, I need to uninstall and install AdAware, which I will only be able to do after slogging through their forum and getting the specifics, I have printer issues, . . . These are only the highlights.

I spent weeks dealing with avast and Spybot, etc. And now avast has to be uninstalled and reinstalled!!!

I am in desperate need of a job, and that needs to be my priority. But to handle that, I need the computer to be working relatively problem-free, not only because I need it to aid in the finding of a job, but once I get a job, I will not have much time at all to deal with unending pc issues that entail constant uninstalling and reinstalling and seeking answers. I explain again that I am just a person trying to have a computer that works well and is safe. I don’t have the time or wherewithal for the computer to be the top priority of my life.

Did I mention that I don’t have flashdrives because I can’t afford them, and thus, I don’t have a viable means of doing backups? I haven’t even had a chance to use floppies to back up my document files.

Can you tell me if it is really necessary to have the avast update? And why isn’t it possible to run an update without uninstalling the current version? And how often will updates be arriving?

As you say, the VRDB iball icon not always appearing in the system tray and necessitating a copying of it’s file path’s name into the Run box and a restart is relatively minor (I guess, . . but what if it were needed on the spot, and it could only be gotten at by a restart if it were one of those “not there” times?).

I have at most one more week to finish all that I must do on the computer. I was already pressured and panicked. Now I find out that I also have to deal with avast again or I won’t have a safe antivirus program???

I despair.

Please know that I realize you are only trying to help—I greatly appreciate it—and that you’re giving me good advice. But the things that have to be done to get a “credible, working pc” are beyond the pale for a non-computer wiz. How are people who don’t have the proficiency or time able to keep up?

Thank you.

P.S. Will this post/thread be here indefinitely? I ask because of the links you’ve supplied that could be needed eventually.

12

P.P.S.—Would it help if I:

My Computer>Tools>Folder Options>View tab>Advanced Settings

Then enabled – Show hidden files and folders
And disabled – Hide extentions for known file types

So that I could see the avast4.ini file??

The return the settings as they were??

13

I would suggest you find a friend with broadband who could download avast and burn it to CD, but at a little over 26MB the avast setup file isn’t that horrendous, I’m a dial-up user too.

I had a friend download XP SP3 (356MB) so if you know someone with broadband that can help it would be best to try a clean reinstall to try and resolve the avast issues. If the avast update is working you could use the avast update process to update the program which would be a much smaller download. However that wouldn’t resolve the issue with avast4.ini not being found which is why I prefer the clean reinstall option. Program updates aren’t that frequent.

The win2k CD is needed for when/if you are able to run the sfc /scannow command, that is a system file checker and it is checking the integrity of system files, if it finds one that is broken it will replace it with one on the original CD. You don’t need to be able to write to a CD to do this but you do nee to read from the win2k CD.

With the additional issues on your OS, windows updates not installing, etc. However, I seriously doubt there are any windows updates for win2k and the Office updates might be the same depending on what version you have (I’m still using Office 97 no updates for that), if you have a later version of Office then it is possible that the windows/office update process on your system won’t work with the later office update process.

I also fear this may possibly be associated to the other problems and could well be file corruption of being missing. This could possibly be down to the constant fight with infection, etc. The one thing for sure the fight won’t get any easier with an old OS that is effectively no longer supported by MS. That is unfortunately a fact and it will take time, but I don’t really know what else to suggest.

The avast4.ini isn’t a hidden file, but I would recommend that everyone has show hidden files and folders, etc. that you mention as a matter of course.

The topics stay for a very long time, I have been on the forums for a little over four and a half years and none have been removed to my knowledge.

14

DavidR:

Thanks so very much for sticking with me.

As far as the uninstalling/installing of programs go, it’s not just the time involved of letting the un/in stuff run, it’s also the head’s up research to make sure I’m aware of what I need to be, and then running into “issues” after the un/in procedures that is so time-consuming and frustrating. If it was simply a straight shot of un/in and everything working ok, then it wouldn’t be so bad.

What do you mean when you say, “I had a friend download XP SP3”? Are you referring to a friend that downloaded it for you on a CD so you wouldn’t have to download via the internet, thus saving time?

So, I can use the avast program update “button” to get the latest program updates without having to uninstall and install? You are just suggesting that in order to clear up the VRDB i ball issue of it not always appearing in the system tray I could uninstall and install the latest version?

The Windows updates I’m referring to that fail are definitely for Windows 2000. Going to the Microsoft update website engenders a scan of your system to see what is needed, and the resulting updates are for your system. I have Office 2003. The Windows update that has failed is one for Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 (I don’t know what that is, just that I already have a 1.0. etc., version). I have read that it may be necessary to uninstall the NET framework versions you have, then reinstall them and install the 2.0. Yikes, here we go again with the un/in thing!

But the Office 2003 updates that are failing I’m not sure about. Some of them may be tied to the NET thing somehow, and one of them is the Office 2003 SP3. They tell you that if you wanted to remove this service pack—or maybe any of the service packs—you have to remove the entire Office program and reinstall. Scream.

Well, guess what? My Windows 2000 Tools>Folder Options>Advanced settings reads like this:
Hidden
NOHIDDEN
SHOWALL
Hide file extensions for known file types

The NOHIDDEN and the Hide file extensions for known file types were checked, so I unchecked them and checked SHOWALL.

Then I went to Search and keyed in “avast4.ini,” and it did cough up the file! (It still couldn’t be found by going into Windows Explorer though!) So I opened it. The contents didn’t look at all like what Tech showed in his link in the Reply #3 on November 8. Here is the section that seemed to relate to the iball:

ResidentBalloonShown=1
VRDBBalloonShown=1
ShellExtensionIcon=1
ShowSpecialTasks=0
StartWithSkin=1
AutoDelete=-1
[WebScanner]
AutoRedirect=1
HttpRedirectPort=80
LoadIsapiFilters=1
ISAPIFilter1=ashWsFtr.dll
IgnoreAddress=
IgnoreLocalhost=1
[Simple]
TimeOfLastScan=1226802541
ShowHelpCheckList=0
SkinUseLayeredWindows=0
[AAVM]
EventLogAnalysed=1
StartupRootkitScan=1
CheckFloppies=1
CheckCDRom=1
CheckRemovables=1
ShowTaskbarIcon=1
AnimateIcon=1
CheckFullScreenApps=0
[MailScanner]
PopRedirectPort=110
SmtpRedirectPort=25
ImapRedirectPort=143
NntpRedirectPort=119
IgnoreAddress=
IgnoreLocalhost=1
AutoRedirect=1
[VRDB]
LastFile=
FullComplete=1225748333
Disabled=0
ScreenSaverOnly=0
[Splash]
KeyUsage=1
[Scanner]
RawBootTimeScan=1
SkipSignatureChecks=0
[SelfDefense]
SelfDefenseEnabled=1
[Chest]
MaxSize=256
[InetWD]
UseRAS=1
AssumeAlwaysConnected=0
[Quick]
EnableSkins=0
InfectionExitApp=0
ShowResults=0

I can see a Show Task Bar Icon that has a 1, but it is under the AAVM section and not the VRDB section. Please look at this and tell me if you can see a setting for the VRDB iball that would indicate the Task Bar icon is to be shown.

Again, DavidR, thank you for slogging through these things with me. I appreciate your answers and help. I hope you’ll touch on all the things I’ve mentioned in this post as well.

15

P.S.–Is there a way to be notified via my email when there’s a reply to my post in the avast forum?

16

Yes. Set it into your forum profile settings :wink:

17

Unfortunately there are times when having tried virtually everything an uninstall/install is the only option left and in the majority of cases that works, but like anything in life no guarantee.

I didn’t have them download SP3 to save time but like yourself as a dial-up user trying to download 365MB is totally out of the question. You are complaining about having to download the new version at a little over 26MB, so if you know someone with broadband it wouldn’t be as onerous a task, nothing more not about saving time as unless they live very close it could be longer by the time you get it. 26MB on my dial-up would take about 104 minutes, about 4 minutes per MB is a rough rule of thumb I use on a good day 3min 20sec per MB about 87 minutes, so it really isn’t that bad.

Yes you can do a manual program update without having to uninstall, but as I said after the update nothing will have changed other than you have the latest version, which is why I plumbed for the clean reinstall. However, now you have found the avast4.ini, you might get away with it but I don’t know if that will have resolved the VRDB icon.

Tech’s link won’t look anything like the avast4.ini file as it isn’t the avast4.ini file but an explanation of the various configurations that can be mad to the avast4.ini file

Your list, an extract of the VRDB section is below,

[VRDB] LastFile= FullComplete=1225748333 Disabled=0 ScreenSaverOnly=0 [Splash]

It is in that section that you have to create a new line for the MergeIcons=1 that is misssing from your VRDB section so it looks like the one below.

[VRDB]
LastFile=
FullComplete=1225748333
Disabled=0
MergeIcons=1
ScreenSaverOnly=0
[Splash]

Save the changes, answer Yes to the self-defence question and your done. Now the two icons should be merged into 1, now right click the avast ‘a’ icon, and that should now have a VRDB menu item.

You shouldn’t have to uninstall .net framework 1.0 to install 2.0, on my old system the .net updates failed with monotonous regularity, so I believe that is down to flaky .net update rather than your system. Though I can’t say for any other win2k updates not having used win2k.

The file settings you now have should help a lot in trying to find files using windows explorer.

By default your profile should send an email to the email you used to sign-up to the forums, unless you changed that when you originally signed up, unfortunately you can’t change any profile settings until you have 20 posts (not long).

18

DavidR:

I’m not sure we’re aiming toward the same goal in the VRDB iball matter.

I want the two separate icons in the system tray—both the avast aball icon and the VRDB iball icon.

I have never chosen to merge them.

They both appear at start up each time, then suddenly after a while the VRDB iball icon doesn’t appear at a startup. Then I have to:

“the only way I have been able to make it appear is by going into System Information (Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools), right-clicking the file path name, choosing Save as Text File, then opening the file and copying the path name. Then I copy that into Run and restart the pc. (Copying it into Run and hitting OK does nothing.)”

On Reply #15 of 11/3 of Tech’s explanation of avast4.ini, there is a line for “Show Task Bar Icon” under the VRDB section, and a “1” denotes that it will show in the system tray.

Isn’t that the line that I should add under the “Disabled” line in order to have the VRDB iball show up?

If I key in “MergeIcons=1,” well, . . . I don’t want the icons merged—do I? Or are you thinking that if the VRDB iball is merged with the avast aball that since the aball comes up each time, and I can access the VRDB via it, I won’t have a problem?

And if I should type in the “MergeIcons=1” line, I definitely should put it between the “Disabled” and the “Screen Saver Only” lines? I.e., it doesn’t have to be in the same order as Tech’s explanation list (before the “Last File” line?)?

And if the “Show Task Bar Icon=1” line should be typed in instead, where specifically should it be typed in?

So, by typing in lines I am not going to mess anything up in this file?

You said:
“You shouldn’t have to uninstall .net framework 1.0 to install 2.0, on my old system the .net updates failed with monotonous regularity, so I believe that is down to flaky .net update rather than your system. Though I can’t say for any other win2k updates not having used win2k.”

I wouldn’t think you should have to uninstall 1.0 to install 2.0 either, but I read that in the labyrinth of Microsoft’s forums/Knowledge Base maze. So how did you get the Net updates on your system if they kept failing—repeatedly trying them?

I’ve asked some pointed questions. I hope that I have been clear and that I made myself understood. Please let me know if I didn’t.

Thank you.

19

First we have to get somewhere and that somewhere is having a link on the avast icon menu for VRDB, because currently you have no way to access the VRDB without either, the icon or a menu entry to access it.

From there split the icons again if you wish, but personally I think that is both a waste of time and space on the system tray, the VRDB runs once every 21 days when it rotates for many minutes and is done. So for almost 21 days it sits there doing nothing, just taking up real estate, my idea of a waste of space.

I managed to get .net 1.0, 1.1 and then 2.0 on my old system after many failures and repeated attempts, I have never managed to get any of the later .net updates installed.

On this new system I have only got .net 1.1 and strangely windows update no longer tries to offer me .net updates. I have one program on my system (Drive Image) that requires at least .net 1.0 or I wouldn’t have .net on my system at all. One day I will update to a newer Drive Image back-up software and .net is history on my system.

20

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