Avast are obviously in total chaos over this and it seems the only sensible info is on this forum. Despite sending two emails and 3 screenshots I got a total ‘head in sand’ response to simply re-install and then to get a new licence key. Pretty insulting really to those who have a technical background when so many real problems exist with Windows 8 and Avast. Obviously this did not work which means I just wasted my time until I look on here and find the true problems.
I have an HP laptop with Windows 8 Pro. My problem manifests itself after about an hour of running in a loss of network and Web access although not total. Strangely stuff like Downloads, Gmail and Facebook continue to work but I cannot access most other websites nor my local router.
Additionally, when I look at Avast it reports that it is no longer licenced despite showing a licence file that is valid until July 2013. On one occasion it said it was no longer protecting the PC. If I disable Avast totally then I regain access to my local network and all websites. A reboot also clears the problem for an hour or two until it returns.
I will continue to debug in the absence of any Avast technical help (although it would be appreciated!). If anyone else has narrowed the problems better that I or has workarounds then it would be appreciated.
I did liek Avast until this and it would be a shame to go back to Kaspersky now!
is this a brand new computer…was it delivered with a preinstalled trail version antivirus?
what antivirus did you use before installing avast?
did you uninstall it before installing avast?
did you run the vendors removal tool to clear any leftover files that may conflict?
As said in previous message Avast was a licenced version bought and installed in July 2012 and which expires in July 2013. Avast worked perfectly on Windows 7 - never a problem. I installed Windows 8 a month ago and initially all was fine. Problems began around a week ago. The start of the Avast problems ‘appeared’ to tie in with a Windows 8 update although this is just supposition
Have done a complete Avast remove (using tool) and a total re-install. Have also obtained and installed new licence file. Still have same problems.
…and just to answer your question if not already clear - no other Anti Virus used. Just Avast - initially free version and then paid version from July 2012
I have just bought new laptop with Windows 8 pre-installed. Having been delighted with the free avast on my previous PC, I bought the Pro version for the new one. Shortly after installation, some of the Windows8 Apps (Skype, Store, photos etc) stopped working (they opened by hung on the “loading” screen. I wasn’t sure if it was avast that had caused this but uninstalled it anyway and the apps came back to life. I sent a message to avast support via their website two weeks ago and have not even received an automated “thanks, we’ll get round to it sometime” response. Until I hear something positive, I think I will just depend on Defender to ward of the evils of the internet.
I do believe there is much work to be done on compatibility with Windows 8 and the paid versions of Avast( seems Avast Free works best).
Now this is simply based on reading the number of issues being reported I’m pretty sure the team is addressing the Windows8 issues in the upcoming Version 8 of Avast.
While there are Windows8 users with apparently no issues I get the sense they are in the minority.
I’ve had the same problem for the past two weeks. The internet access comes to a halt after couple hours of heavy network use (i.e., downloading several linux distros at a high speed). The weird thing is the downloading continues to work while any attempt for internet browsing fails with any browser.
As soon as I disable the network shield in Avast, everything comes back to normal. I’ve tried updating the system files as suggested in other posts without any success.
After many days of hari pulling frustrations, I just switched the antivirus program. Hope Avast resolves this issue soon as I really want to use Avast.
Still no joy. Support are no use at all - I guess because they don’t now what the problem is!
What I do find annoying is that I bother to send screen shots, copious specific information and I get treated like a fool.
Sequence so far:
1. Give them screen shots + loads of information describing environment and problem
2. Get told to do remove/install
3. Doesn't work (What a surprise)
4. Tell them it doesn't work - get asked what problem is again!
5. Get told to download new licence file
6. Same as 3.
7. Get asked what problem is again!!
8. I Give up wasting my time and decide to wait till they decide to sneak out the fix (without anyone noticing LOL)
Surely any decent support team needs info from people like myself - I may not know Avast but I have more debugging and programming experience than their entire support team I’d guess.
Like most people here, I do like Avast and am just disappointed they have descended into such a shambles.
I am also running Windows 8 64bit and Avast 7.0.1474
The problem occurs after a few hours running and stops me from accessing most websites although GMAIL, FB and Downloads continue to function.
For me the web access problem is removed by stopping the Web and Network shields whereupon I can again access all website (although unprotected!). NB Prior to this point Avast seems to have already ‘crashed’ in that it reports my ‘trial update’ has expired despite displaying a 'licenced to date of Mid 2013. Also if I then try and re-start the two stopped shields Avast say it cannot.
The only way I then have of getting to a working (and protected) system is to reboot - this buys me a couple of hours.
Having the same exacts problems are u are having under windows 8 64 bit. avast pro.
Every few days, web browsing stops working in any browser and email clients but everything else continues to work such as torrents. Disabling shields correct this. And or every couple days, says trial version even though my license is showing expiring next year. A reboot corrects this.
Did get bsod couple of times. But none since using emergency update patch.
Anways, clean install, all device drivers updated, makes no difference.
Standing by for program update before i get fed up and leave.
This cannot be that hard - multiple users are experiencing the same thing and the simple fact is that Avast itself is expiring and erroneously blocking perfectly safe web traffic.
Even if you don’t have the solution yet surely you can give your paid users an update to let them know you are working on it.
A fix date would be even nicer…we have after all paid for your services to protect our PCs and we are mostly running at risk with shields down!
We are trying to detect the problem, but as somebody mentioned here before, the Windows 8 is new system and we are not able to reproduce the problem here in testlab.
Can you check if you have to disable shields completely to restore browsers functionality or is enough only to restart shields?
