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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: goobster on November 14, 2011, 03:34:18 PM

Title: Why can't I access my local hard drive when the firewall is active?
Post by: goobster on November 14, 2011, 03:34:18 PM

On Windows XP, after installing the paid version of Avast, if I open a command prompt and try to access a UNC path like "\\David\Backups" (which translates to a local drive on my computer) I get the command prompt error message "The network path was not found".

If I then stop the firewall in the Avast user interface, I can then access the path with no problems.

[Interestingly, if I then re-start the firewall I can STILL access the path until I reboot. ???]

I have the Home/Low risk zone set, so why can't I access a drive on my own computer? Is there anything I can do about this? I want the UNC path because this is in a script used by more than one computer on my home network.

Title: Re: Why can't I access my local hard drive when the firewall is active?
Post by: iyogisolutions1 on November 14, 2011, 04:30:39 PM

Hi goobster,

  You can add a packet rule in the avast! Firewall, to access your drive through UNC path. For that go to,

 avast! GUI -> Firewall -> Firewall Settings -> Expert Settings -> Policies -> Packet Rules(on bottom right) -> Check the Windows Networking In and Windows Networking Out. -> Click on OK.

Try to access the drive and report back. Hope you will be able to access it.

Have a wonderful day. Good Karma! :)

Title: Re: Why can't I access my local hard drive when the firewall is active?
Post by: goobster on November 14, 2011, 10:50:46 PM

Thanks iYogiSolutions1, adding the Windows networking to the packet rules fixed it. I can now successfully access UNC paths.

Title: Re: Why can't I access my local hard drive when the firewall is active?
Post by: iyogisolutions1 on November 15, 2011, 12:05:13 AM

Quote from: goobster on November 14, 2011, 10:50:46 PM

Thanks iYogiSolutions1, adding the Windows networking to the packet rules fixed it.

You are welcome.

Title: Re: Why can't I access my local hard drive when the firewall is active?
Post by: marsheng on January 25, 2012, 08:27:24 AM

Thanks Same problem and this fixed it.

Title: Re: Why can't I access my local hard drive when the firewall is active?
Post by: Fitter on January 25, 2012, 06:33:09 PM

Quote from: iYogisolutions1 on November 14, 2011, 04:30:39 PM

Hi goobster,

  You can add a packet rule in the avast! Firewall, to access your drive through UNC path. For that go to,

 avast! GUI -> Firewall -> Firewall Settings -> Expert Settings -> Policies -> Packet Rules(on bottom right) -> Check the Windows Networking In and Windows Networking Out. -> Click on OK.

Try to access the drive and report back. Hope you will be able to access it.

Have a wonderful day. Good k@rma! :)

Yes fixed it for me also Many thanks