Wanted to ask a question

HI I was wondering if I could ask a question about Avast HOme Edition free edition.
When I did a Standard scan on my computer when the standard scan was done then the results screen came up and their was a whole bunch of files that avast said it was unable to scan these files. Should I be conerned that these files have viruses or malware in them. Should I be concerned at all that avast was unable to scan these files?
thanks

Windows Vista home edition
Avast home Edition
avast version: 4.8.1368
Virus Database:
Compilation: 11/12/2009

thanks very much for your help please

Asked many times before and the forums search function is a very useful tool in uncovering the wealth of information in the forums, it would be unusual for you to come across something for the first time ;D

So the common answer for this is that you have nothing to worry about:
Files that can’t be scanned are just that, not an indication they are suspicious/infected, just unable to be scanned.

Many programs (usually security based ones) password protect their files for legitimate reasons such as AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy, there are others (and avast doesn’t know the password or have any way of using it even if it did know it).

When you run scans with the above programs and you delete harmful entries that they detect, a copy is kept (in quarantine/restore/backup) in case you need to reverse what you did. These are usually password protected, you should do some housekeeping and delete old backup/recovery/quarantine entries (older than two weeks or so), this will reduce the numbers of files that can’t be scanned.

By examining 1) the reason given by avast! for not being able to scan the files, 2) the location of the files, you can get an idea of what program they relate to. You may need to expand the column headings to see all the text.

If you can give some examples of those file names, the locations and reason given why it can’t be scanned might help us further ?

Probably better if a screenshot could be provided ~

HI I am only an intermediate computer user I do not now how to do screen shots and I am not sure where the results log is kept in Avast to make the window bigger so I can see witch files can not be scanned by avast. I also am very afraid of deleting old back files from my computer in fear of mucking something up because any time I have tried to delete a program or anything from my computer my computer has something wrong with it. If you can help thanks. I was wondering should I check scan archived files when I do a stanard scan or thorough scan. I only had unable to scan this file several times in my results log when I had archived files enabled in avast.

If you can help thanks.

A screenshot really isn’t necessary in this case, the log isn’t retained after the scan.

All you need to know id there is nothing to worry about, so I suggest you read my post and or print it off and when you do another scan, refer to the post or the printed notes and if you have any question, make a few notes and some common examples of the files which can’t be scanned and the location of those files.

Thorough is also by its design very thorough (it scans all files) and perhaps a little overkill for routine use, were a Standard scan without archives should be adequate. Archive (zip, rar, etc.) files are by their nature are inert, you need to extract the files and then you have to run them to be a threat. Long before that happens avast’s Standard Shield should have scanned them and before an executable is run that is scanned.

I have only ever done a Through Scan with Archives once shortly after installation just to ensure a clean start state, but with XP for example avast will do a boot-time scan after installation if you select it, this I believe will be quicker and reasonably effective. Like everything in life things are a compromise.