Anyone else noticed that after installing Avast the Microsoft Floppy Disk Creator software will not run. Disabling Avast doesn’t help, but uninstalling it allows the Floppy Disc Creator to run fine. I am running XP Pro with SP2. Floppy Disk Creator :- http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=535d248d-5e10-49b5-b80c-0a0205368124&DisplayLang=en
Bootdisk creator works fine here with XP Pro SP2 and Avast Pro installed.
What error(s) do you get when trying to create the bootdisk with Avast installed?
Did you change avast! settings in anyway? specially the Blocker behavior (on Standard Shield properties)?
For me, no trouble with it and SP2…
Do you download the correct language of the MS tool?
Note: Windows XP Home Edition startup disks will not work for Windows XP Professional installations and vice-versa. Windows XP SP2 startup disks are not interchangeable.
Wellcome to forums.
Thanks Guys. All I know is that with Avast Home installed the Creator won’t run, but with Avast uninstalled it runs fine. I don’t get any error messages, just a flash of a Dos type screen, then nothing. When it runs correctly, the Dos type screen goes on to tell you to create the Floppy Set, and choose which drive letter to use.
I have created all the Disc Sets, before I installed SP2, and had to use them on a couple of occasions, when computers I have been repairing have refused to boot from CD.
I don’t see it as a SP2 problem. I did a clean installation of XP with SP2, and the creator ran fine, I then checked it after each program I installed. It was only after installing Avast that it stopped working. I then uninstalled Avast and it ran fine again.
If you have this on just one system, it may be a conflicting driver issue or not properly functioning hardware.
Tip: If you repair computers, a bootable thumbstick with the utils you use can become handy.
Champion
Can you tell us what kind of computer you have?
I have tried it on several computers, all with the same results. At present I am using a Pentium 4 with 496mb ram. Like I said, I have the Floppy Sets that I created. I just wondered why the Creator Program had stopped working. Prior to SP2 it worked with Avast installed. After SP2 it will only run with Avast uninstalled.
I am not complaining in any way, as I like Avast, and I am grateful for the Free version.
Just trying to find out why this is happening to you and not to others (me). We can only learn from it 
Repairing computers/trouble shooting errors is my job (got my own comp repair store) Are those systems have something in common? (same hardware, same drivers, things like that) What happens if you run the creator in safe mode? Is it working then?
Have you tried on one of the systems a clean install of XP, installed all security patches/updates (incl. sp2) then installed Avast before installing anything else?
Thanks Eddy. Just tried Safe Mode - still didn’t run. I slipstreamed a copy of XP with SP2. After loading it, the Creator ran fine. I installed Avast, as the first program, and the Creator stopped working. If I find an answer I’ll post it.
I know some people think there is no need for Floppy Drives, with XP being bootable from CD, but I have had been asked to look at two dead computers in the past, that just refused to boot from Hard Drive or CD, and the Floppy sets got them started both times.
Champion
I don’t know if this has any bearing but I do know there is a new version of AutoStreamer out take a look HERE
Like I said, I don’t know if it means anything.
I know some people think there is no need for Floppy Drives, with XP being bootable from CD, but I have had been asked to look at two dead computers in the past, that just refused to boot from Hard Drive or CD, and the Floppy sets got them started both times.
As a “pro” I know the importance of having a working floppy Wrong bios flash, badly damaged os and stuff like that. Those who say a floppy isn’t needed in a system anymore are wrong 
AutoStreamer works like a charm and you will save a lot of time installing XP
AutoStreamer works like a charm and you will save a lot of time installing XPThe latest Windows XP cd works even faster ;) (it has sp2 integrated)
Eddy, I have found that I can run the Floppy Disk Creator, with Avast installed, if I unzip the download file, and run the ‘makebt32’ option. Does this help in finding why it will not run in the normal way?
Looks like it is the combination of the XP 16bit module with Avast.
Did you change any of the Blocker Behavior settings of avast (Standard Shield > Customize > Blocker Behavior)?
Hi Technical, no, the settings are the default settings that installed with the free Home Version.
You mean all ‘actions’ allowed (not-blocked)… I suppose.
I asked because the creating could be blocked if you select the option ‘format’.
Let me try to understand, did you change the file C:\Windows\Config.nt ?
Is this the only .exe file that is not working?
When I installed Avast Home I left all the defaults. The Blocker only has ‘Default Extensions Set’ ticked, and a dot in ‘Allow the operation’.
I haven’t altered Config.
Strange Champion… it works for me.
Which is the language of the Floppy Creator application? Is it the same as your system language?