i read here on the forum that 120 minutes is the lowest update interval that avast 5 free edition can use
well, i set it to 120 minutes, but it still check for updates every 240 minutes
here are the settings I use under ‘Updates’ :
Engine and Virus definitions : Automatic Update
Program : Manual update
I have ticked “my computer is permanently connected to the internet”
Auto-update interval : 120 minutes
any ideas ?
avast 5.0.545 free antivirus, windows 7 64 bit
The minimum intervals currently are like this:
Free AV: 120 minutes ( = 2 hours)
Pro AV, IS: 15 minutes
can anyone confirm that 120 minutes actually works in avast 5 free? because it does not here
Go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then Forum Profile Information then Please select your country: then Signature: and put information about your system just like my signature about your system just like my signature so that the helpers can offer pertinent advice.
120 minutes actually works in avast 5 free for me.
Isn’t avast updating at all?
Does manually work?
Did you test setting the proxy to “none”?
it updates every 4 hours. it seems to ignore the fact that I have set it to 120 minutes. the way I know this is because of the “last update attempt” indicator under Maintenance–>update.
manually works yes
proxy is at default (auto detect, use internet explorer settings)
I can, confirm that avast checks for updates every 120 minutes that I have it set to, though there won’t be an update available on many of these occasions. How do you know it isn’t checking every 120 minutes, e.g. where are you looking ?
Good point … there’s no notification (nor any need for one, that I can see) if it’s checked and nothing new is available.
For whatever reason (probably at least partly my rather skimpy RAM), nearly everything slows down on my system when avast.setup is doing its thing, and in the case of such a slowdown I can usually assume an update check is in progress, or even double-check that with Process Explorer.
If PE (or the default process manager, or whatever) had an option to keep a log of process events, you could check the log to see how often setup was active. Admittedly, the log would grow very rapidly to an incredible size, given the nature of computers, and I sure wouldn’t want it.
this is where I see how often it auto-updates : open avast, click Maintenance tab–>update. → “last update attempt” indicator.
the number changes every 4 hours (I leave computer running 24/7)
for those with avast 5 free who says it does check for updates every 120 minutes, where are YOU checking? 
Well that is where I generally check and I don’t sit watching it all the time, but on the occasions I do check it the last update check is usually within the two hour time frame, occasionally more as I’m not on-line all the time (dial-up) and then there will normally be a check shortly after I connect.
There is also the setup.log that you can check or if you want to sit with the task manager open watching for avast.setup to kick off.
But for me it generally works close to the two hour time frame I have it set to check.
See image1, last update check over two hours ago; then I went on line and I have my update check delayed for 10 minutes after connection. See image2, where after the 10 minutes delay on the dial-up connection whilst typing this a check was carried out.
I just opened setup.log, and I can now confirm that setting 120 minutes does not work,…on two computers!
it checks for updates every 4 hours according to the log file.
Unless I return from sleep mode or reboot my computer, of course it check for updates then…but I leave the computers on 24\7
Well I can only go on what mine is doing and that appears to be following the two hour update check on my system. So I don’t know why it isn’t on yours.
It is only recently that I lowered it from 4 hours as I never though it necessary, on 4.8 as a dila-up user it checked every time I connected, so the 4 hour issue wasn’t there and was one of the reasons why I delayed the update check by 10 minutes, so I could go quickly on-line collect email brows and disconnect without being in the middle of a check, triggering an error.
Now avast 5.0 is a little smarter as it doesn’t check every time I connect and generally follows the two hour interval for update checks (bearing in mind my self imposed 10 delay).
@ fnukyguy
As you choose not to show your country nor keep your signature up to date like DavidR who is a 6 star avast! Technical helper it is hard to offer pertinent advice.
yokenny, i dont want to reveal my location, im in scandinavia
It actually works for me, too!
First I had the same problem.
You have to change the default settings to “No proxy”.
After that it works for me.
Try it! 
Maybe you are covered by the Iceland volcano effects and can not see clearly ???
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/10226891.stm
Confirming that…!!
asyn
I see it in my firewall logs.
asyn
this fixed the problem ! now it updates every 120 minutes. thank you
Great, Congratulations!
Wish you and all others a nice weekend… 