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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Vlk on December 12, 2003, 05:59:12 PM
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Hi all,
I'm delighted to announce that we now have a public beta version of the upcoming avast update available. Anyone who'd like to participate in this program is encouraged to do so -- it's actually very simple - if you already have avast installed, you don't even need to reinstall it!
The build number of this beta is 4.1.313.
The main single enhancement of this version is the availablity of new language packs. Namely, besides English, Czech, Spanish and Italian (that have already been supported for some time), this new version adds the following options:
- Portuguese
- German
- Polish
- Dutch
- Hungarian
There are also some new improvements in the program itself, such as enhanced EXE packer handling (mainly fixes in AsPack unpacker),extra checks for incompatible AV software and silent mode in the mail heuristics module.
The updater has also been improved dramatically - the new version features dynamic round-robin selection of updating server, changes in the base package engine, support for mirroring etc.
How to install the BETA
As already said it's very easy. All you have to do to start using this BETA is download the following tiny file: http://www2.asw.cz/beta-dec03/servers.def , put it to your <avast>\setup directory, and invoke avast program update (if your browser just displays the contents of the file in a window instead of leting you save it to disk, you can just replace the contents of your existing servers.def file with this one using the copy and paste method - it's a text only file so no stuff should get lost... :)).
How to switch to a newly-available language
Fisrt update to the Beta version as described above; let the machine reboot, then go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, 'avast antivirus', choose Change and tick the language packs you'd like to install. Then click Next - new files will be downloaded and installed for you. Another reboot will likely be required after the updating process completes. When the system restarts, you're almost done: just start avast, go to Settings, Languages, and select the new language. That's it.
It would be great if you could share with us your experience with this version. Please note that this is actually a very short beta program - we expect the official release of this code to take place next Thursday (December 18th) - on avast4's first anniversary! :)
Thanks,
Vlk
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I've installed it.. .. that bit went OK ;) and no immediate probs.
Can you say.. .. will this version better support Pegasus mail. ??? I have sent an e-mail to 'support' and still waiting for another reply from a chap called 'Vlk', but no luck :'(
Old Walker.
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I realise it's beta, but first comment.. ..
Any speed increase in XP shut downs we have gained over the last releases, seems to have been lost again :'( . It's worst than it used to be.. .. nearly 30 secs to shut down a P4 3gig!.
Any chance to address this as the test progresses? ;)
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I'm trying right now...
Thanks Vlk for our beloved Languages... Thanks Igor for his patience too ;)
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I'm delighted to announce that we now have a public beta version of the upcoming avast update available. Anyone who'd like to participate in this program is encouraged to do so -- it's actually very simple - if you already have avast installed, you don't even need to reinstall it! The build number of this beta is 4.1.313. The main single enhancement of this version is the availablity of new language packs. Namely, besides English, Czech, Spanish and Italian (that have already been supported for some time), this new version adds the following options: - Portuguese - German - Polish - Dutch - Hungarian
We are delighted too ;D
There are also some new improvements in the program itself, such as enhanced EXE packer handling (mainly fixes in AsPack unpacker),extra checks for incompatible AV software and silent mode in the mail heuristics module. The updater has also been improved dramatically - the new version features dynamic round-robin selection of updating server, changes in the base package engine, support for mirroring etc.
Untill now, everything is ok ;) No troubles, no update bugs, no RAM issues...
How to install the BETA
As already said it's very easy. All you have to do to start using this BETA is download the following tiny file: http://www2.asw.cz/beta-dec03/servers.def , put it to your <avast>\setup directory, and invoke avast program update (if your browser just displays the contents of the file in a window instead of leting you save it to disk, you can just replace the contents of your existing servers.def file with this one using the copy and paste method - it's a text only file so no stuff should get lost... :)).
Worked fine... Indeed, the browser invoke just a window and not a download.
How to switch to a newly-available language
Fisrt update to the Beta version as described above; let the machine reboot, then go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, 'avast antivirus', choose Change and tick the language packs you'd like to install. Then click Next - new files will be downloaded and installed for you.
avast! does not ask for a reboot to me... Just start downloading the 2.319.456 bytes file and already in my Language... Probably because I have a 'Beta' version of it ;D
Definitevely, just one boot for me...
Another reboot will likely be required after the updating process completes. When the system restarts, you're almost done: just start avast, go to Settings, Languages, and select the new language. That's it. It would be great if you could share with us your experience with this version. Please note that this is actually a very short beta program - we expect the official release of this code to take place next Thursday (December 18th) - on avast4's first anniversary! :) Thanks, Vlk
Ok, thanks in advance for 18th December update ;D
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Technical: well, I'm sure I was not the only one to be patient.
Walker: Do you know when the speedup has been gained? I don't remember the history exactly, but I'm not sure whether there were any changes in this release that could cause this... i.e. couldn't it be caused by something else? ???
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installed without a hitch. and so far everything appears to be ok.
i`ll be going to install the german version on my girl friend's pc as a first christmas present ...
__________
drahnier
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Walker: Do you know when the speedup has been gained? I don't remember the history exactly, but I'm not sure whether there were any changes in this release that could cause this...
Igor,
There was comment about this in one of the forum threads, I've searched with all relavent keywords and cannot even score on the search (except my last msg.,) and there has been a lot of discussion on this!
Anyhow, a month or two ago XP would shut down in 7 secs without Avast and 19 secs with Avast. Over the last month or so shut down with Avast was reduced to 14 secs. Today with the Beta it is 19 secs. OK only secs.. .. but it's bl**dy annoying when your waiting for it and considering things were getting better.
i.e. couldn't it be caused by something else? ???
Oh no.. .. let's not even go there eh. :-\ You tell me your expected/acheived shut down times with and without Avast running over the last few versions and I'll delve into my PC if required ;)
But what about full Pegasus support ???
Walker.
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I'm not saying anything... just from my personal experience, Windows are pretty random and undeterministic - I wouldn't judge anything from 5 secs difference; but as I said - it's really my personal opinion.
7 seconds vs 19 seconds, that certainly is a difference... though I'd say it can easily be a result of different startup order, shutdown order... updated Microsoft Jet drivers... or the avast! database itself - whatever.
Anyway - I was just asking if the speedup occurred at a specific version; I'm not aware that there were many changes regarding the shutdown speed previously (but I can be wrong, of course). But if there were such a change, it can be simply checked whether this change was not recently modified. Otherwise - if the speedup/slowdown occurs randomly across the avast! versions - I wouldn't blame the new version for it (i.e. I'd say "nothing has changed").
As for searching the board - did you change the time restriction (60 days back by default)?
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Igor,
I totally agree with everything you say.. .. however this XP shut down issue is an old chestnut.. .. it's not just a whim from one use, it has been brought up many times.
Whilst I am quiet happy to pass on the details or do any testing you would like on this issue, I feel it is something that you should already be aware of and have some kind of test data of your own.
I am more than prepared to accept that these are my personal findings on one specific (well two actually ;) ) machines, but bviously, it would not be to difficult for you to run a simple time test with and without Avast running.
Now.. .. what about Pegasus ??? :)
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Well, I personally use Win2000... it shutdowns in 10 seconds once, and takes a minute the other time. I guess it's due to the network connections though.
The Pegasus support is a subject for Vojtech... let's wait if he has some info for us.
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OK Igor, the reference to 'you' running a test should have been 'Alwil' for perfect correctness ::)
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One stupid question :-)
After replacing the "servers.def" file it now only includes the server with the dec03 beta path. Do we have to copy back the original "server.def" file to receive future updates again?
Or will we still receive future updates automaticly anyway?
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do not forget to fix the help button issue at the SMTP setup page mentioned here.. ;) (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1818;start=15)
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do not forget to fix the help button issue at the SMTP setup page mentioned here.. ;) (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1818;start=15)
In Portuguese version is fully corrected this issue ;)
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There is something strange in Portuguese version. The new error message:
Incompatible AV Software Running
avast! detected that the following program is running: Norton Antivirus
The on-access scanner module of this program and the on-access scanner of avast! CANNOT be active at the same time.
As a result, the avast! main on access scanners - Standard Shield, P2P Shield and Instant Messaging Shield - were disabled.
When I scheduled Norton Speed Disk at startup (so, before complete login) it runs as usual. Finishing the application I get the error above. Of course, I don't have NAV (just other Norton Utilities). More strange than this: after clicking the button 'ok' of that message, all providers start normally and were well configurated!
There must be a better detection of the presence of another AV installed, specially of those - bad ones :P - which have a lot of things more than the AV itself. :-\
The simple presence os Symantec drivers and folders is a too poor detection (if avast! does only this!?)
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One stupid question :-)
After replacing the "servers.def" file it now only includes the server with the dec03 beta path. Do we have to copy back the original "server.def" file to receive future updates again?
Or will we still receive future updates automaticly anyway?
Well the beauty of our servers.def concept allows us to replace this file with the original one in the beta path once the beta testing is over - it will automatically switch all the beta testers back to standard distribution channels ;D.
Pavel
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thanx for the info Pavel ;D
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do not forget to fix the help button issue at the SMTP setup page mentioned here.. ;) (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1818;start=15)
In Portuguese version is fully corrected this issue ;)
it is fixed also in the Eng. version ;D ;D
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There must be a better detection of the presence of another AV installed, specially of those - bad ones - which have a lot of things more than the AV itself.
That means nothing else that at least one of the Norton AV drivers is LOADED on your machine (that's right, not only present on the hard-disk, but LOADED).
Technical, please export the following key from your registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services and send it to my e-mail.
Thanks
Vlk
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Can u tell me when a French version will be available ?
Sincerely.
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When the translation is finished? ;D
It's hard to say exactly... in about a month maybe? (It's just a guess - I'm not promissing anything).
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There must be a better detection of the presence of another AV installed, specially of those - bad ones - which have a lot of things more than the AV itself.
That means nothing else that at least one of the Norton AV drivers is LOADED on your machine (that's right, not only present on the hard-disk, but LOADED).
Technical, please export the following key from your registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services and send it to my e-mail.
Thanks
Vlk
I sent it to you few minutes ago...
Any personal information could not be published, ok? ;D
Could you tell me something by IM or email?
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Hi,
I just installed the beta on my home edition of Avast!
It is really nice that you integrate the dutch language into your AV-system. However a little question just to check if this is ok or not.
I have installed the dutch-language pack. The dutch language seems to be integrated on the antivirus scanner, but NOT on the on-access scanner (where you can config the p2p, shield,...ect). Is this normal?
keep up the good work! :)
greetz
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No, this is not normal. The user interface should be fully translated to Dutch (only the help files are in English).
When you change the "Language" setting, you have to restart avast! for the changes to take effect. However, for the changes to take effect on the resident protection settings as well, you have to restart the whole computer; did you do that?
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Hey, yeah i have rebooted my windows-machine and still it was the same. But I have removed the english-language and then it was set completely to dutch. ;)
Strange you have to remove the other language. Not that it is such a big problem :)
greetz
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So, when you rebooted your computer, the resident protection settings dialogs were in English, but when you started avast (Simple User Interface), it was in Dutch (before you removed the English pack, of course)? ???
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Igor, do you remember?, I had similar problems between Portuguese and English, I mean, the name of the providers remains in English and the other parts in Portuguese...
Now, everything seems to work...
Unfortunatelly, to change between languages is necessary to boot...
Disabling the services and the ashDisp.exe, would the user get the other language interface? I tryed but without success... :'(
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Well, it was caused by the fact that the names of the providers were hardcoded (and not translated).
If I understand correctly, however, John-'s problem is that the whole windows of the resident-protection control are in English (no just the titles of the providers)... and when starting the user interface (on-demand scanner) at the same time, it's Dutch... is it right?
I remember Vlk saying the killing/restarting ashServ should update the language in the resident protection dialogs...
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I remember Vlk saying the killing/restarting ashServ should update the language in the resident protection dialogs...
Actually, ashDisp.exe if running under NT/2K/XP...
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Yeah, only the on-access scanner remained completely in English, when i started avast antivirusscanner it was in Dutch. I have rebooted 2 times in total.
Then i went to control panel / software / change avast
and i removed English and English Help so I only had Dutch and Dutch help and then all went OK, I don't think i had to reboot then.
Originally i changed the language in the settings panel like said in a thread earlier by the moderator. but this gave some problems by not swithing completely to the desired language. I only got it right after i did what i mentioned above in this reply.
I had to reboot after installing the beta and adding dutch language.
I am running Windows XP Pro
greetz
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I remember Vlk saying the killing/restarting ashServ should update the language in the resident protection dialogs...
Actually, ashDisp.exe if running under NT/2K/XP...
So, I was correct (ashDisp.exe)...
Igor, I understand you and the John's problem. I have said it was a similar problem of mine. Anyway, if the name of the providers are hardcoded or not, now they are translated in my system! ;D
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Tech.,
how is this boy? is it you ;) ?
any way it is so cute.. ;D
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We'll getting a little off-topic I'd say ;D
Anybody else tried the Dutch version (and has the same problem)?
Anybody found texts not fitting into the controls, typos etc (in any new language version)?
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I have emailed that in Dutch "customizeren" is a "bad" translation.
You should change it into "Wijzigen"
to customize = aanpassen, wijzigen
You can find it in on-access scanner where you can choose the security level (Normal - High, ...)
Otherwise no translation errors noticed.
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Igor:
No translation errors in my own translation ;D
No dialog errors that not fit into the windows, untill now 8)
(Mina: the picture is mine at four years old ;D)
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All right folks!
There is yet another beta update now available on our servers.
This one adds the following fixes and improvements:
- technical's problem with the NAV warning
- john-'s Dutch language comment
- added support for LHA/LHX/LZH archive -- this would be quite interesting to test... If you have any lha/lhx/lzh files, please make sure to test them with avast.
Installation of the update: just invoke program update from avast (4.1.313).
Thanks
Vlk
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Now, I'm a little confused ???
What was changed in the Dutch language? I'm not aware of anything... yet.
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OK you got me here Igor ;D
It was in fact a change in the Italian resources (and you probably are aware of that ;)).
Sorry for the confusion,
Vlk
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BTW language: I am using the german "package" now, but after updating the info if you want to restart or not is still in english.
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You mean you installed the Friday's beta, switched to German - and when you updated today to the newer beta, the "Restart" message was in English?
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BTW language: I am using the german "package" now, but after updating the info if you want to restart or not is still in english
Hmm, this is probably before you rebooted the machine after changing the language option. I mean, the resident module still has the English resources loaded, so it is not changed until you reboot (or kill and restart ashDisp.exe, if you happen to be running under WinNT/2K/XP)...
I just checked the reboot string, and it is localized. So my guess is that you haven't rebooted yet...
Vlk
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John-, just curious - didn't you try to install the English modules again, to see if the problem with the resident protection control windows reappears? ;)
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Testet with some LHZ files from my old Atari ST :-)
Didn't get any error messages anyway, and the count of files scanned was right (opened it with WinRar to check as well)
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hello fellow beta-testers,
i updated to the beta today, and that went fine, but i do not have new languages!
at the moment i run version 0311-5
i followed instructions as per the first page, everything went fine. but in the settings of Avast! there is only english for me to choose from, while i choose to install ALL languages.
can somebody point me as where to go look now? i think i might try to do the install-languages-step again, but this time with maximum verbosity in the log file (there are no messages from today in the log with default 'logging' setting).
so for me everything works as it did before, but unfortunately no extra languages (yet). :(
gr, ALEX
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gee, how stupid could i be?? ???
i did not install the other languages! i just tried to do it again, and then i saw that by default the other languages are marked with XXX meaning DONT install.
i did it all so quickly the first time that i thought that all languages were selected by default :D i expected to see either *empty* boxes or *ticked* boxes, but not crossed X boxes LOL
okay, sorry for that. i'll post again how it all works though (downloading at the moment).
cheers! ALEX
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Well, you are "right" in fact - the chekboxes are confusing.
Vlk suggested today that thay should be of different color at least (crosses red, checkmarks green, or something like that). Hopefully it would make the things clear.
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success !! now i have Avast! running in Dutch... funny.
if it is interesting for the AVAST team, i can have a look at the translations lateron. for now i have to turn over the computer to my girlfriend :D
gr, ALEX
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There is yet another beta update now available on our servers.
This one adds the following fixes and improvements:
- technical's problem with the NAV warning
Happy to be a usefull beta-tester... Next boot, let's see 4.1.315! ;D
Btw, I tested twice and the Norton SpeedDisk problem related before - and now corrected, as I hope - remains in the older version... Let's see in the new one. I'll post.
Sorry, Vlk, I do not have any 'new' packed files to test... pk and Igor solved all my troubles with packed files in the past 8)
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I'll have to plead guilty to not trying the beta, mainly 'cause I'm a cautious old-timer and try not to mess with upgrades till they're past the beta stage.
Something I might have missed in this topic, but didn't see mentioned -- are you holding off on database updates for the "regular" 4.1 home until you're happy with the new beta? Seems like an unusually long while since the last update -- less than a week, admittedly, but even that long is unusual for you guys.
Best,
Mike
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I'll have to plead guilty to not trying the beta, mainly 'cause I'm a cautious old-timer and try not to mess with upgrades till they're past the beta stage.
Something I might have missed in this topic, but didn't see mentioned -- are you holding off on database updates for the "regular" 4.1 home until you're happy with the new beta? Seems like an unusually long while since the last update -- less than a week, admittedly, but even that long is unusual for you guys.
Best,
Mike
The last VPS is 0311-5 from December 11th... Today, tuesday, is a day for VPS update 8)
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Something I might have missed in this topic, but didn't see mentioned -- are you holding off on database updates for the "regular" 4.1 home until you're happy with the new beta? Seems like an unusually long while since the last update -- less than a week, admittedly, but even that long is unusual for you guys.
Well, yeah, this is because the last update was released on Thursday because of Friday as it contained the Scold virus that seemed to do pretty well...
Next update wil be just today, as usual for Tuesday...
Vlk
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Something I might have missed in this topic, but didn't see mentioned -- are you holding off on database updates for the "regular" 4.1 home until you're happy with the new beta? Seems like an unusually long while since the last update -- less than a week, admittedly, but even that long is unusual for you guys.
Well, yeah, this is because the last update was released on Thursday because of Friday as it contained the Scold virus that seemed to do pretty well...
Next update wil be just today, as usual for Tuesday...
Vlk
Came in almost as soon as I got online this afternoon, thanks :)
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What a big update for the VPS: 145 kb... Is that correct? or there was any other update included... Anyway, the iAVS push update worked fine for me... 8)
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What a big update for the VPS: 145 kb... Is that correct?
Yes, it is correct - it is of this size for two week now already - it is incremental comparing to 0311-0 and the "change" still contains the two weeks ago changes: the huge bunch of trojans, new macro viruses and modified cleaner. We believe the 0312-0 will be released soon - so after this it will come back to "standard" sizes :)
Pavel
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OK, the official update is just being sent to our download servers.
Just invoke program update, that's all you need to do (you don't even have to restore the original servers.def).
The release number is 4.1.319.
Web servers will be updated tomorrow...
Thanks again,
Vlk
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:D Dutch errors from the beta are corrected! Good work!
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I tried to download it, but the program update says that the server www.asw.cz is down?! ???
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It's okay now.
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OK, the official update is just being sent to our download servers.
Just invoke program update, that's all you need to do (you don't even have to restore the original servers.def).
The release number is 4.1.319.
Web servers will be updated tomorrow...
Thanks again,
Vlk
Happy birthday avast! 18th December...
I'm downloading the full setup for Portuguese and English to test just from the beggining 8)