I finally upgraded from Windows 98 to Windows XP Home SP2 (latest security patches). I had no problem running scans with avast! version 4.7 Home Edition before the upgrade, but now, every time I attempt to run a full scan I get an immediate “42000 - Unknown error” during the memory scan. I get the same error again if I let it continue on with the local disk scan.
I ran the “repair” service from Add/Remove Programs - same result.
I uninstalled avast!, downloaded, and reinstalled - same result.
The odd thing is that, if during the avast! install, I let it run the scan at boot time, it worked fine before Windows is active, but after WindowsXP starts, I again get the 42000 error.
You’re right, I probably should have uninstalled before the upgrade, but …
I forgot to mention that I had run aswclear.exe before when I uninstalled the first time. In case I missed something the first time, I just followed your suggested steps 1-6 above.
Problem still exists. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
There is no scanning difference. No one. It’s the skinless version of the same avast engine and virus database. No difference at all.
Sure.
Run “C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashQuick.exe” “*STRT-MEM-SHORT”
Which should be equivalent to the initial memory scan
No, but:
ashserv.exe is part of the on-access scanner.
ashmaisv.exe is the mail scanner.
ashdisp.exe shows the blue ball.
ashcmd.exe is the command line scanner (Pro version)
aswupdsv.exe is the part that checks for updates.
ashQuick.exe is Avast’s quick scanner.
No. avast is an antivirus and all of its database is included in the scanning.
You can exclude a particular file or folder from scanning.
Is there any way using the Home edition to gather up any problems and deal with them after the scan is complete rather as they are encountered during the scan?
As has been said, these advanced automated options are only available in the Pro version.
You only have a limited option in the Home (free) version, to send the infected file to the virus Chest (silent mode, with general answer no, see below). You would need to check the avast log viewer or avast chest after a scan to see if anything had been added.
My own feeling on this is you should use the default interactive action. This way you know exactly what is going on with your system. If you are getting so many warnings, that you want to automate this process, I believe you should review your security practice - filter emails at source, delete from server rather than download them, sites they visit, etc.
See the avast help file, Resident Protection: Standard Shield Provider Settings - “Advanced” Page.
Click on Standard Shield and then on Customize.
Go to Advanced tab and select Silent Mode and the General answer No.
Again, I appreciate the help. At least I can scan again.
I don't believe I said that I was getting many warnings. I merely asked if, like some other antivirus programs (which will go unnamed), avast! could complete the scan and [b]then[/b] provide options as to the disposition of each identified file. I don't want anything done automatically, but I prefer not to sit at the PC for an hour or so to respond to warnings as they occur. I'd rather deal with them after the complete scan. I am perhaps more security consious than most, having spent 32 years as a system programmer/administrator. But I did get three adware warnings (which probably would have been taken care of the next time I run Ad-Aware or Spybot Search and Destroy). I prefer my anti-virus program to deal with virii and leave the adware to the adware specialists. IMHO, too many applications are trying to be the "be all and end all" of security world. I'd much rather have separate applications that each specialize in its own field and do the job well.
Sorry for the rant. I really do like avast!. I’ll look into the Pro version.
I prefer my anti-virus program to deal with virii and leave the adware to the adware specialists. IMHO, too many applications are trying to be the "be all and end all" of security world. I'd much rather have separate applications that each specialize in its own field and do the job well.
My feelings exactly, for the most part avast does specialise only in anti-virus detections but some more Adware and Spyware detections are being added but it doesn’t seem to have impacted much on the overall scanning speed. However, there are many people continually asking for more cover for malware detections.
The other thing there are many people not as experienced as your self who don’t differentiate between virus, adware, spyware or malware, to them everything is a virus and avast gets it in the neck if it doesn’t detect it ;D There are many post that say this or that wasn’t detected by avast. So I guess it is a little difficult to come to a happy medium based on the broad spectrum of computer experience out there, which as a former programmer/administrator I’m sure you have met.
Welcome to the forums, I’m sure your experience could help many avast users and forum members.
Well, you can try a different skin. Download a new one and try to use it to see if you get avast scanning back again.
By the way, which skin were you using when the scan freezed?
Yeah, I understand about people not being able (or inclined) to differentiate between various types of malware. I also understand why the avast! people would tend to gravitate towards adding features to satisfy the complaints. Part of my time was spent as level 2 support on our company help desk. I heard many such complaints. I guess I just tend to be a purist. I’ve seen what happens to a good product when they attempt to expand it to solve all the problems in the world. I used to use a couple of them before they became bloatware. That’s how I came to use avast! in the first place - to get away from those kinds of applications.
I have absolutely no problem with avast! checking for adware as such. I just tend to use specialized applications to do that. But adware is just that, adware. It probably doesn’t jeopardize my PC, and really doesn’t warrant the interruption during the scan. In fact, a virus, IMO, doesn’t really warrant the interruption during a scan. Both adware and viruses can just as easily be dealt with on an individual basis upon scan completion - assuming the facility exists in the application. I don’t subscribe to this opinion for the online services, however. Should they ever occur, I’d definitely want to be interrupted ans warned - the louder the better.
Thanks for the suggestion, as well as for the work around and the list of application descriptions from the other day.
I’m not sure I understand how the skin might be involved since I get the error during the memory scan before any skin is invoked as well as after the skin is active. But, I was originally using the default “silver panel” skin when I got the error.
At your suggestion, I switched to the “szc-kde” skin. Same error…
I’m guessing that WinXP may be somehow involved in the problem, but I’m definitely not a Windows expert. I much prefer UNIX/Linux. I’m stuck running XP on this particular PC.
Well, it was just a guess. Anyway: when you use the skinless application you get no errors. When you use the skin, you’ve got them… that was my assumption. But I’m not an expert on skins and Windows GUI either…
I would like to see any word from the programmers… seems they’re too busy to post here these days :
I’ve finally found time to play around a little more with my Error 40000 problem.
First, some perhaps pertainent information that I neglected to mention the first time around:
I get the Error 42000 when I attempt to run the scan from an account with Admin authority.
Now for the testing results:
I switched to an non-Admin (Limited) account and double clicked the Avast icon on the Desktop. The scans (both memory and full HD) ran to completion witout the Error 42000.
Switched back to the Admin account and tried the following:
Full scan (by clicking on the Avast! desktop icon) - got Error 42000.
I ran the following tests by changing to the Avast4 directory and double clicking the individual programs (as Admin):
ashAvast.exe - gor Error 42000
ashSimp2.exe - scan ran without error
ashSimpl.exe - scan ran without error (GUIwise, ashSimpl.exe looks like ashAvast.exe but without the memory test. The difference seems to be that ashSimpl.exe runs and ashAvast.exe gets the Error 40000 immediately for both the memory and HD scans.)
So, the problem seems to be with the Admin account and with ashAvast.exe. This brings up a couple of questiions:
Am I the only person in the world having this problem?
If not, do the developers intend to address this problem?
If I run the scans in a Limited account and there is a virus detected, will I be able to take the necessary actions to quarantine the virus the same as if I gad been running as Admin?
Please try the following. Open the program settings, go to the Troubleshooting page and check the box “Disable kernel-mode scanning”. Restart the machine, and see if it has any effect.
I’m missing some information that could be crucial. Under what account did you install avast?
Was this under the limited account or under a account with admin rights?
Tried your suggestion. This time the box asking me to wait while it tested memory and startup processes remained on the screen. I never got the Error 42000, but the “tests” didn’t complete, either. I couldn’t tell if it was really doing anything, but I let it run for approx. 12 minutes. I then tried to cancel via the “Stop memory tests” button. Nothing happened. Hit the button a few more times. Still nothing. I finally terminated the ashAvast process via the Task Manager.
I then reversed your suggestion, rebooted and the Error 42000 is back.
Please let me know if you can think of anything else to try.
