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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Diehard Win98 on October 12, 2015, 10:13:11 PM

Title: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on October 12, 2015, 10:13:11 PM
On around October 3rd 2015, Avast 4.8 stopped working on my Win98 builds.  Still works fine on my Win2K builds on the same machines, so hardware is not the issue.  BTW I run all operating systems up to Win7:  I like to play around  and compare operating systems.

Problem is likely Win98 OS can't digest a virus database that is larger than about 200Mb.  Neither increasing the swapfile nor decreasing the maximum vcache setting helps.  vpsupd4 reports success, but on reboot none of the Avast modules initialize.  Running an earlier (10/2/15) vpsupd4 puts 4.8 back to working condition.

I know Win98 is not officially supported by Avast, so a program update is unlikely.  But, if anybody finds a workaround, I'd like to know of it.

Avast4.8 is the LAST resident virus scanning program for Win98, so it's a shame to loose it.  ClamWin doesn't do resident scanning.



Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Eddy on October 12, 2015, 10:25:15 PM
Windows 98 (SE) can handle files up to 4Gb.
Have you tried downloading and installing the latest standalone vps ?
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on October 14, 2015, 06:24:36 AM
The 4Gb filesize limit is more a FAT32 limitation than a Win98 limitation.

What I meant to say was the Win98 implementation of Avast4.8 doesn't work for virus databases larger than about 200Mb.  That happened around Oct 3rd 2015.

An ideal solution would be if the guys at SourceForge who created Kernelex could come up with a patch.  Then the Win2K implementation of Avast4.8 could be installed on a Win98 build.  As I said, Avast4.8 still works on my Win2K build.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Pondus on October 14, 2015, 09:26:06 AM
Quote
ClamWin doesn't do resident scanning.
For real time protection you need to ad Clam Sentinel. http://clamsentinel.sourceforge.net/



Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on October 15, 2015, 05:49:51 AM
Thanks for the info Pundus

I installed Clam Sentinel 1.22.  I immediately noticed my hard drive was constantly busy and the system idle processes were using a lot of resources.  Though the scanner runs in the background, everything runs slower because the HD is being used heavily.  This probably shortens the lifetime of the HD.

On Avast4.8, one can configure the standard shield to scan only modified/created files.  This reduces the HD usage I think.  (I ran a full scan on all files periodically).  There is no such option with Sentinel.  Even if you exclude a bunch of folder/files to scan, the HD is constantly busy. Maybe they'll improve it on the next version.  After all, it's a public domain project.  Still, I give the guys at SourceForge, or more exactly Delphi, kudos. 

I'll miss Avast4.8 on Win98.  I'd been using it since circa 2002
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Eddy on October 15, 2015, 12:53:18 PM
System Idle is not a process  ;)

Don't worry about the lifetime of a drive.
Some break down one month after manufacturing, others still work after 50 years.
Oldest one I have is a 40Mb(!) hard-disk, close to the size of a shoe-box  ;D, and it is still working.

The only way to know the lifetime of a drive is when you know the manufacturing date and the date that it broke down. ;)
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Pondus on October 15, 2015, 01:13:44 PM
It may be just first time after Sentinel install, and later it will only check new/changed files?

Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on October 16, 2015, 06:10:12 PM
Update from prior post:

Clam Sentinel apparently includes a VXD for Win98 that checks if a file is modified.  If you enable this VXD, then I guess Sentinel only scans modified files. 

The real drawback to Sentinel is that it uses the ClamWin scanner which is slow in comparison to Avast4.8. A full scan takes over twice as long as a quick 4.8 scan. ClamWin has no quick scan feature. Each time the scanner is started, it has to load the virus definitions anew. This also takes time. 

Unless you are running a newer machine running at say 2Ghz, the scanner runs well behind the program.  For example if you are browsing using Opera12.02, even when you exit Opera and the machine is otherwise idle, the scanner is still trying to scan files.  So this is not truly a real-time scan. 

Your only workaround is to exclude a bunch or folders/files and also exclude a bunch of file extensions to scan

Documentation on Sentinel is scant, so these are my personal observations

It might be tempting to say install Win98SE on a newer, faster machine.  But on a newer machine you'll never find drivers for Win98




 
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Pondus on October 16, 2015, 06:29:34 PM
Who need W98?

Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on October 17, 2015, 07:02:19 PM

We're not on the thread anymore.  Who needs Win98?

Outside of the the developed countries many users still run Win98 systems.  They can't afford better.   I read an article a couple of years ago that claimed over 10% of the world's users run Win98.  I was amazed.

Otherwise, the Win98 users are those who like to test the limits of the operating system.  These are the guys who created Kernelex for example.  The creator of Clam Sentinel said she is a Win98 lover in their forum.

On the Kernelex blog you'd be amazed at the activity of guys trying (and with success) to get Win2K and WinXP apps to work on Win98

And, there are those who have  favorite Win98 apps that never got a version in a later OS.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on October 24, 2015, 09:05:19 PM
@  Diehard Win98

I noticed the same problem at my second old PC still running Win98SE with Avast 4.8 in the beginning of October. I supposed like you that it has to do with the bigger growing vps files. I am happy that I feel confirmed in my opinion by your thread.

And I still want to keep this system running with a lot of old still running programs.

Like you I noticed that with an older vpsupd4.exe I could awake Avast 4.8. But my last/newest vpsupd4.exe ist several years old.
I unterstood your first entry on this thread that you have a vpsupd4.exe from 0/2/15 which moght be the last running version for WIN98SE.
I there a chance to get a copy of your file? At the web I find only very old ones or the too big ones.

I am from Germany, if you too we could change language, otherwise you have to live with my english.  :)

greetings, Fried (I am not toasted too hot, thats my first name) 8)









Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on October 26, 2015, 07:04:36 AM

Fried, you are among others (those who were too shy about posting, but instead sent private mail using  'my messages') wanting a copy of my 10/2/15 vpsupd4. 

Sadly, my vpsupd4 was lost when the flash drive that held it got corrupted. I too don't have another recent vpsupd4 that works with Win98

I do have the 10/2/15 400.vps file on my Win98 build though: This is the actual virus database that the Avast4.8 scanner uses.  It can be inserted directly using a few tricks.

I can't e-mail it because it is larger than 25Mb.  I need to find a FREE cloud-based service where I can upload the file and it will stay there indefinitely.  Then anybody who needs it can have access.  Suggestions anybody?

Maybe the Avast team will take pity on the Win98/ME users and put the a re-configured 10/2/15 vpsupd4 on their website somewhere?  Better yet, a patch to make Avast4.8 work again?!

BTW, I was told that Avast4.8 stopped working at the same time for WinME.  Win98 and WinME are similar in the way they handle memory. This is the problem that results in the 'not enough storage...' error, not how much actual memory there is.

Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Pondus on October 26, 2015, 07:49:56 AM
Quote
I can't e-mail it because it is larger than 25Mb.  I need to find a FREE cloud-based service where I can upload the file and it will stay there indefinitely.  Then anybody who needs it can have access.  Suggestions anybody?
yes you can   ;)    Filemail   http://www.filemail.com    free up to 30GB file, and file is available for download 7days



Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on October 26, 2015, 06:56:42 PM
Hello Diehard,

thanks for your answer. It is a pity that the vpsupd4.exe doesn't exist anymore. But I am interested in your 400.vps file. If you have a way to uplpoad please inform me. Do you need a personal message with further informations from me?

It might be, that more than the 400.vps file is necessary. I found several older vpsupd4.exe files (elder than 2012) at the web and tried to update a new installed AVAST4.8 Build 1368. Some other files in the Avast DATA directory change date and size too.

I tried already to insert a 400.vps from later than Third of October ( http://files.avast.com/files/latest/400.vps ) , but after that AVAST says the vps is corrupted and I could install again.  :'(

I have not to much hope, that AVAST will do helping for this problem- But perhaps.....

I would be happy for a work around or your 400.vps file. Let me know if there any news.

Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: DavidR on October 26, 2015, 09:09:55 PM
Have you tried this link http://www.avast.com/download-update that is still showing 4.8 VPS update vpsupd4.exe at 200MB.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on October 26, 2015, 09:21:18 PM

Fried, very astute

The .dat, .dll, and .bin files in the DATA folder also change, but not as often.  The .db and .ini files I think are machine specific.

If you try to insert the 10/2/15 400.vps into a DATA folder that held a very old version you might have problems.

If/when I find that free cloud-based service that will hold my upload more than few days, I'll include all the DATA folder files.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on October 26, 2015, 11:11:59 PM
I think not 200MB is the limit, but perhaps 200.000 Bytes, which is not the same.  I noticed the problem at 10. Oct. 2015 and downloaded the vpsupd4.exe from this day. This 400.vps has a size of 206.315.935 Bytes or 196MB as shown in the properties.

@diehard: how big (in Bytes) is your 400.vps from 2. Oct. 2015?

And perhaps the 200MB Limit seems not to be a general Win98 problem. I still run my Outlook at my Win98 machine, because I am too lazy to move it to my newer PC. And my Outlook File has a size of about 923 MB (don't ask why it is so big) and Outlook under Win98 has no problem to handle that file. Okay, it takes a little bit time to start Outlook, but it works.

So I think the limitation comes with Avast, but where should I put the screwdriver?

Perhaps someone from AVAST reading this thread has an idea.



Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on October 26, 2015, 11:37:02 PM
Quote
I can't e-mail it because it is larger than 25Mb.  I need to find a FREE cloud-based service where I can upload the file and it will stay there indefinitely.  Then anybody who needs it can have access.  Suggestions anybody?
yes you can   ;)    Filemail   http://www.filemail.com    free up to 30GB file, and file is available for download 7days
Hi Pondus!

Thanks for your link. I'll use it for sure.
 :)
HDW
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on October 27, 2015, 12:47:06 AM
I think not 200MB is the limit, but perhaps 200.000 Bytes, which is not the same.  I noticed the problem at 10. Oct. 2015 and downloaded the vpsupd4.exe from this day. This 400.vps has a size of 206.315.935 Bytes or 196MB as shown in the properties.

@diehard: how big (in Bytes) is your 400.vps from 2. Oct. 2015?


The 10/2/15 400.vps is 200,018Kb as reported by Windows Explorer.  I don't know if in Win98 Explorer 1Kb=1000Bytes or 1Kb=1024Bytes.

Maybe the last day that Avast4.8 worked for Win98 was actually October 3rd or a few days later, but Oct 2nd is pretty close.

Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on October 27, 2015, 10:10:24 PM
okay, at Win98 Avast has a problem with files bigger than about 200MB, but outlook handels much bigger files.

And under Win XP ( I installed AVAST 4.8 at a XP System for testing that) AVAST manage files bigger than 200MB und updates via newest vpsup4.exe or by online Updates. It's a miracle.....
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on October 29, 2015, 01:55:35 PM
Sadly, my vpsupd4 was lost when the flash drive that held it got corrupted. I too don't have another recent vpsupd4 that works with Win98

The best reliable download I can find was saved on 12 Sep 2015, it is at http://web.archive.org/web/20150912164350/http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/vpsupd4.exe
The digital signature is intact. I have applied this to an old W98SE laptop, it does work. Not as new as yours from 2 Oct but perhaps better than several years old that others may be stuck with...

I do have the 10/2/15 400.vps file on my Win98 build though: This is the actual virus database that the Avast4.8 scanner uses.  It can be inserted directly using a few tricks.

Could you explain what the tricks are?

I can't e-mail it because it is larger than 25Mb.  I need to find a FREE cloud-based service where I can upload the file and it will stay there indefinitely.  Then anybody who needs it can have access.  Suggestions anybody?

Maybe you can put it on a GoogleDrive and mark it for public sharing? Or perhaps check out https://www.box.com/pricing/personal/ (https://www.box.com/pricing/personal/) , they allow upto 250MB file size, total 10GB for the free personal accounts. There is also https://www.dropbox.com (https://www.dropbox.com) which offers a free account with 2GB storage quota to start and allows single file uploads as large as 10GB through the web interface (at least if your account has a quota that large).

Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on October 29, 2015, 04:54:44 PM
okay, at Win98 Avast has a problem with files bigger than about 200MB, but outlook handels much bigger files.

And under Win XP ( I installed AVAST 4.8 at a XP System for testing that) AVAST manage files bigger than 200MB und updates via newest vpsup4.exe or by online Updates. It's a miracle.....

It is not surprising that Avast4.8 still works with WinXP.  As I said in my very first post, Avast4.8 still works with Win2K.  Win2K and WinXP are NT technology operating systems.

Win98 is a DOS operating system. WinME is also basically a DOS operating system.  Avast4.8 stopped working for these two.

My guess is the difference between handling Outlook and handling the Avast virus database is that the OS has to deal with a larger chunk of the database at any instant.  Then you get the 'out of storage...' error.  Another guess is that it is related to heap size.  It doesn't matter the size of the Swapfile or how much Vache is reduced.

Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on October 29, 2015, 09:42:28 PM
The best reliable download I can find was saved on 12 Sep 2015, it is at http://web.archive.org/web/20150912164350/http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/vpsupd4.exe


Much thanks for this link. This is much more up to date than the ones I have.

How did you find it? With Google I visited a lot of sites, but the newsest one I found, was from 2013.

Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on October 29, 2015, 09:52:55 PM
okay, at Win98 Avast has a problem with files bigger than about 200MB, but outlook handels much bigger files.

And under Win XP ( I installed AVAST 4.8 at a XP System for testing that) AVAST manage files bigger than 200MB und updates via newest vpsup4.exe or by online Updates. It's a miracle.....

It is not surprising that Avast4.8 still works with WinXP.  As I said in my very first post, Avast4.8 still works with Win2K.  Win2K and WinXP are NT technology operating systems.

Win98 is a DOS operating system. WinME is also basically a DOS operating system.  Avast4.8 stopped working for these two.

My guess is the difference between handling Outlook and handling the Avast virus database is that the OS has to deal with a larger chunk of the database at any instant.  Then you get the 'out of storage...' error.  Another guess is that it is related to heap size.  It doesn't matter the size of the Swapfile or how much Vache is reduced.

Okay, that sounds to me I should live with an Avast, that cannot be updated or I have to live with ClamWin Antivirus.

For me my computer knowledge is not big enough to have an idea to fix the problem. And I guess Avast would not be interested to help.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on October 30, 2015, 11:07:54 PM

I kept wondering how ClamWin still works with Win98 while Avast4.8 stopped working.

I noticed ClamWin divides their virus database into two parts:  Main.cvd (63Mb as of 10/29/15) and Daily.cld (102Mb).  A .cvd file is a compressed version of a .cld file, so Main.cvd is actually larger.  I suppose this is why ClamWin still works?

Users of ClamWin need to be aware that ClamWin was originally intended to be an e-mail scanner.  Also be warned that a file that is quarantined is VERY hard to restore:  Might be better to just get a notice to find out if you REALLY want to quarantine it.  ClamWin has many false positives, so it is easy to quarantine a good file, then have a helluva time restoring it.

Clam Sentinel, the real-time add-on, is nicer about quarantines.  It has a restore feature that does seem to work.  But it probably only works for files quarantined while Sentinel is running.  Restoring a quarantined file depends on having a good .log file.  This is food for more research.

I think ClamWin portable can be loaded on a USB drive and used as an adjunct to Avast4.8 with the 10/2/15 or 9/11/15 database.  Run Win98 with Avast4.8 and the outdated database, then periodically scan with ClamWin? 

Just some thoughts for moving on after the demise of Avast4.8 ...
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Eddy on November 02, 2015, 03:52:37 PM
Quote
It is a pity that the vpsupd4.exe doesn't exist anymore.
http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/vpsupd4.exe
Date : 02-11-2015
Size : 201.4Mb

 ;D
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on November 02, 2015, 07:48:42 PM
Hi Eddy,

at your link you will get only the newest vps files, which are too big. Avast 4.8 cannot handle bigger than 200MB vps files under Win98, under Win XP it can.

And Diehard damaged his vpsupd4.exe from 2th Oct. 2015, which is the last known vps file working with Avast and Win98. The newer files don't work, and therefore download from your link doesn't make sense for Avast with Win98.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on November 05, 2015, 10:15:00 PM

I have verified that the 10/3/15 400.vps virus database (version 151003-1) does NOT work with Win98. 

Also, I have found that 400.vps is a compressed file.  So the 10/2/15 file (version 151002-2), the last that I found that worked, is actually probably 250Mb+. It seems that Avast4.8 holds the extracted 400.vps in RAM and in the Swapfile:  I haven't been able to find a file with a filename on the hard drive.  I'm guessing this is where Win98 fails, trying to extract (expand) 400.vps

The link that GreenEyedLady left for the 9/11/15 vpsupd4 no longer works. The archived snapshot depends on the source's permission to use it.  Did Avast revoke the permission?  When I traced back her link, I found vpsud4's dating back to 2010. About one every 90 days. 

Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on November 09, 2015, 07:45:53 PM
I noticed too that the link from GreenEyedLady doesn't work ansmore.  :'(

I am happy that I saved the vpsupd4.exe at my PC.  ;)

I sent a mail to the german Avast Support. I got an answer that no one has spent a thought to that problem because ony less people are still using Win98. But the guy wanted to tell it to the technicans from AVAST, but he didn't had to much hope that there will be a solution.  :-\

If I get any news about that I will inform you.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Eddy on November 09, 2015, 08:16:20 PM
We can talk all we want about the main fact is that both the OS and the avast version(s) had a limited time span.

You can't expect to find unused and original parts for a chariot made by the Romans that are still in perfectly working order and come with warranty ;)

Take your pick(s)...
- Upgrade the system
- Use a newer OS
- Use a newer version of avast
- Learn to live with the limitations
etc.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on November 09, 2015, 08:21:28 PM
I noticed too that the link from GreenEyedLady doesn't work ansmore.  :'(

I am happy that I saved the vpsupd4.exe at my PC.  ;)


It looks like GreenEyedLady's link to the 9/11/15 vpsupd4 simply timed-out.  Here's a workaround that I hope will endure:  Go to https://web.archive.org/web/,  then in the top box enter http://www.files.avast.com/iavs4pro/vpsupd4.exe (copy the link, don't go to it).  Then click browse history.  You'll see the gamut of archived vpsupd4 files.

Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on November 10, 2015, 10:01:39 AM
Thanks @ Diehard, your Workaround works!
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on November 11, 2015, 05:15:45 PM
There have been nearly 1500 views on this topic in its first month.  So contrarians take note, there is still interest in Win98! 

It is arguably NOT folly to run Win98 with an outdated Avast4.8 virus database.  Newer viruses are targeting current operating systems: The files they infect likely don't even exist in Win98.  Members on the Microsoft MSFN forum in 2013 made a fairly strong case to run Win98 bare-ass (no anti-virus program).  http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/162097-does-win9x-need-antivirus-anymore/.  I know, you're not 100% convinced, but sometimes you can't have it all.

Scenario: Your Avast4.8 update with Win98 failed so you came here.  Then you found the 9/11/15 vpsupd4 didn't work.  You can't go back in time, the failed current update left virus database remnants.  You're stymied.  But you still want real-time protection; some is better than none.  Here's how (not the way I did it, but rather the no-brainer method):

Before starting, read all the steps, download all the needed files.  Set your Swapfile to  be managed by the OS: It may expand up to 1.5Gb if you have <256Mb of RAM.  Be aware that the Swapfile is slowing down the system: To speed things up, get a used/refurb 7200RPM 8Mb IDE hard drive,  and/or put the Swapfile on a separate hard drive from the OS.

(1) Copy your license key.  Uninstall Avast4.8
(2) Re-install Avast4.8.1368.  If it fails, run AvastClear, re-install 4.8.  You now have a 2009 virus database.
(3) The 4.8 re-install wants you to reboot, but instead shutdown.  Disable your internet hardware connection.
(4) Boot-up.  After everything initializes go to 4.8 program settings->updates (basic).  Set virus and program updates to manual.  Configure your 4.8 preferences.  Re-enter your license key.
(5) Install the 9/11/15 vpsupd4.  If you have a slow machine, consider installing a 2014 or earlier vpsupd4 from that 9/11/15 link instead (things will run faster if the database is smaller, the Swapfile won't expand as much).
(6) Shutdown.  Enable your internet connection.
(7) Boot-up.  You will be running the 9/11/15 (or earlier) virus database forever, but it probably won't matter.   4.8 only checks your license key when you update, so your license key will never expire.

If you’re still paranoid, go back to my previous post on using ClamWin Portable as an adjunct.
Unless/until  someone finds a "magic" fix for 4.8, this is the best you can do in Win98.





Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on December 17, 2015, 07:36:39 AM

Fried, very astute

The .dat, .dll, and .bin files in the DATA folder also change, but not as often.  The .db and .ini files I think are machine specific.

If you try to insert the 10/2/15 400.vps into a DATA folder that held a very old version you might have problems.

If/when I find that free cloud-based service that will hold my upload more than few days, I'll include all the DATA folder files.

I wonder if this is what has really broken 4.8 on 98? The swap file size during a VPS update seems to reach about 1.5GB, very large, yet the limit for 98 is 2GB, so not yet at breaking point. Also, files up to 2GB are no problem (FAT32), even up to 4GB with the right patches, so ~200MB is nothing remarkable.

If 4.8 can handle these large VPS files under W2K+, then in theory, it should also be able to under W98, unless either different binaries are actually installed for the two OS (with different capabilities/limitations) or an updated dll (or such) breaks compatibility.

Joe.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on March 03, 2016, 07:27:44 PM

EPILOG:  Sometime in mid-February 2016 Avast re-configured VPSUPD4.  My guess is they deleted the low-threat virus definitions.  As of 3/1/16, it has been trimmed-down to about 110Mb; it was this small back in early 2014.  This makes it once again usable in Win98/ME.  And, the smaller database will make the OS run faster than just before 10/3/15 when Avast48 balked.  Doing an online update works as well, although if you haven't updated for a while best to use VPSUPD4.

I was still using Avast48 on my Win2K build, and discovered by chance that the database size had dropped.

Given the rate that VPSUPD4 had been growing lately, it will be around 2019 or later before the database exceeds 200Mb and becomes unusable again for Win98/ME.  Thank you Avast for the reprieve!



 
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Pondus on March 03, 2016, 07:36:21 PM
Quote
Given the rate that VPSUPD4 had been growing lately, it will be around 2019 or later before the database exceeds 200Mb and becomes unusable again for Win98/ME.
If you still run Win98 in 2019 then i think you need to ................   ;D 


Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on March 06, 2016, 06:01:24 PM

Hello Diehard,

this is a really good news. Today I updated the virus database sucessfully and deinstalled Clamwin.

Thank you very much for your hint to the reduced version. I never would have seen this, because I use Avast only on my old Win98 machine.  ;D

And many thanks to Avast for doing that
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on March 07, 2016, 09:03:16 PM
You might want to switch to Avast 7.0.1474 - it will work on Win98 with the latest definitions Ok.
(Tested on my Win98)

P.S. Did you ever actually had any virus on Win98 lately?
I had have once; and (in the best scenario - that is to say - in favor to the virus) - the virus loader could not load itself (due to the incompatibility with the Win98 system)
It was really a great laugh! :D
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: igor on March 07, 2016, 10:19:03 PM
I'm afraid Avast 7 certainly won't work on Win9x - since Avast 5.0 the system requirement has been Windows 2000 SP4 at least (and Windows XP SP2 since Avast 9.0).

As for Avast 4.x - even though the virus database got reduced, please keep in mind that Avast 4.x is long past its support and is only getting a part of the detections the higher versions are receiving (because its "engine" is not capable of new types of detections). So the detection capabilities of Avast 4.x are significantly lower than current versions of Avast and it really doesn't provide full protection.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: bob3160 on March 08, 2016, 01:11:18 AM
IMHO, Windows 98 - Windows XP really shouldn't be exposed to the internet.
OK to use offline online you're looking for trouble.
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on April 12, 2016, 07:50:40 PM
Has anyone else noticed, that since 31st of March there are no new virus updates? My avast says everytime that it is up to date.

When downloading the newest vps4update.exe the date is 31. of March too. But the other files for newer avasts are with April date. Does anyone know the reason for that? Has Avast stopped updatinf virus database for avast 4.8?
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Pondus on April 12, 2016, 08:12:48 PM
Has anyone else noticed, that since 31st of March there are no new virus updates? My avast says everytime that it is up to date.

When downloading the newest vps4update.exe the date is 31. of March too. But the other files for newer avasts are with April date. Does anyone know the reason for that? Has Avast stopped updatinf virus database for avast 4.8?

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=185244.0

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=185244.msg1305529#msg1305529



Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: REDACTED on April 25, 2016, 10:52:37 PM
Today I noticed the virus signature works again.  :)

Naturally I had to download the full vpsupdate4.exe file because too much time has been spent since 31st of March. But that doesnt matter. :-*

Happy again and never change a running system  ;D 8)
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Lano on April 26, 2016, 05:14:32 PM
Yes, it is. Thanks Avast!
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Diehard Win98 on April 13, 2018, 09:23:10 PM
Since I started this thread, here is the conclusive end:

Avast stopped virus definition updates for Avast4.8 in December 2016. But they put out one last update on 3/3/17. You might be able to find that offline vpsupd4.exe if you do a Google search.  The Avast virus definitions update site doesn't show it.

Win98SE users have only two options for Antivirus software: (1) Use Avast4.8 with the final definitions, or (2) use ClamWin.  ClamWin came out with Clam Sentinel which was supposed to be a real-time shield, but it is too slow for most Win98SE machines.  If you use ClamWin alone, you have no real-time shield.

I think you can install the 2009 or 2010 Avast4.8 setup file and do an offline virus update.  If you try an online update, it will balk because the license key has expired, plus it will take forever anyway. 

If the offline update fails, you'll have to find somebody with a more recent virus update installed.  Then copy the \data and \setup folders to your machine, replacing the old contents.   The offline update might work if you set your system clock  back to before the license key expired, I don't know?
Title: Re: Avast4.8 stopped working with Win98SE
Post by: Asyn on April 14, 2018, 05:35:51 AM
Avast stopped virus definition updates for Avast4.8 in December 2016. But they put out one last update on 3/3/17. You might be able to find that offline vpsupd4.exe if you do a Google search.  The Avast virus definitions update site doesn't show it.
Here you go: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.msg552602#msg552602