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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: solstone on April 20, 2006, 07:51:25 PM

Title: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: solstone on April 20, 2006, 07:51:25 PM
Hi all.  I have been using Avast for some time now, and have really liked it.  This morning I updated manually, and it installed the latest version of the software.  I rebooted as always when there is a program update.  Upon reboot, my computer no longer had the Avast icon in the system tray.  I tried right clicking a file to manually scan, and there is no 'scan for viruses' option.  Avast is not running.

I came to the forum and read through some of the recent posts, and saw one that indicated where the 'Repair' feature is.  Tried that.  Rebooted.  No good. 

I uninstalled and reinstalled.  It seemed to go fine.  Rebooted, got the 'Welcome to Avast' message.  Clicked ok, immediately got an error message.  Access denied, I believe it was.  Tried running the repair again, no good. 

I just now looked in the event viewer (in Windows Management Console), and there is this error from Service Control Manager (presumably from boot-up).
"The avast! Antivirus service failed to start due to the following error:
Access is denied."

Running Win2k Pro on a Pentium 4 machine. 

Please help!
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: Vlk on April 20, 2006, 09:24:23 PM
Can you check the access rights on the Avast4 folder? (C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4)?


Thanks
Vlk
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: solstone on April 20, 2006, 09:47:51 PM
On the security tab - It shows that the Administrator and System groups defined, but with all of the Allow and Deny checkboxes empty.  At the bottom there is an advanced button, indicating that additional permissions are present.  There is also a checkbox- Allow inheritable permissions from parent to propagate to this object.  It is checked.

I click on Advanced and it shows Allow System and Administrators Full Control, This Folder Only.  Underneath it says 'This permission is defined directly on this object.  This permission is not inherited by child objects.'  There are two check boxes- Allow inheritable permissions from parent to propagate to this object, which is checked, and Reset permissions on all child objects and enable propagation of inheritable permissions, which is not checked.

I get the feeling that I should check that second box.  Is that correct?

Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: solstone on April 21, 2006, 12:41:38 AM
Anybody? 
 ???

Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: solstone on April 21, 2006, 01:43:04 AM
Okay, after trying several things and having nothing working, I located an installer for Avast 4.6 and installed it.  Works fine.  So the problem is definitely with 4.7.  I suspect that it has to do with the differences in security handling between XP and 2K, but that is just a hunch on my part. 

I would be curious, of those of you out there running Win2k pro who got 4.7 working, are you running NTFS or FAT32 drives?  Obviously FAT32 would have no security settings to deal with, and I suspect that 4.7 would run fine. 

Very tired of rebooting my computer...
Sol


Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: CharleyO on April 21, 2006, 02:46:51 AM
***

Welcome to the forums, solstone.    :)

I have never used W2K and so can not really help you. Hopefully, someone familiar with W2K will be along soon to help you.


***
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: Lisandro on April 21, 2006, 02:59:32 AM
I would be curious, of those of you out there running Win2k pro who got 4.7 working, are you running NTFS or FAT32 drives?
Obviously FAT32 would have no security settings to deal with, and I suspect that 4.7 would run fine.
File system is not a problem for an antivirus.
avast works fine in both of them for sure.
I have NTFS in all partitions and haven't a trouble at all...

You access permition should be inherit in that folder but they can't be empty (not allow not deny marked).
There should be a 'greyed' check mark on the option.
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: solstone on April 21, 2006, 03:04:56 AM
I was just writing a post to that effect.  I looked at the older version that I now have running and saw how the security permissions were set (ie- Everyone, all boxes checked but greyed).  In 4.7, there were no names and no boxes checked.  I am referring to the individual files (such as ashAvast.exe).

Note: The Folder (Avast4) properties are identical between the two versions.  It is only the actual file properties within the folder that are different.

ps- Thanks to CharleyO for the welcome.  :)

pps- I want to clarify about NTFS vs FAT32.  FAT32 has no security permissions, at least not like you can have under NTFS.  My thought was that XP handles permissions differently than 2K, and perhaps that is part of the issue.  I don't know, though.  Tech, are you running XP?
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: Lisandro on April 21, 2006, 03:20:40 AM
Why don't you try to uninstall the previous version, boot, install the new one and boot to see what you get.
Can you post the access rights for the C:\Program Files\ folder and the inheritage of the subdirectories under it?
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: Lisandro on April 21, 2006, 03:24:32 AM
My thought was that XP handles permissions differently than 2K, and perhaps that is part of the issue.
Well... maybe. But I think not... we need to google a little to discover if there is differences on how they handle permitions.

Tech, are you running XP?
XP SP2+ and, in other partitions, SUSE Linux or Kubuntu Linux  :)
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: solstone on April 21, 2006, 04:20:17 AM
Okay.  Uninstalled 4.6, rebooted (sigh), installed 4.7 from freshly downloaded installer, rebooted (sigh...).  This time Avast started, gave me the 'Welcome to Avast' screen, and the 2 icons in the systray.  The main icon had the little red o on it, though.  I clicked on it to get to the registration pop-up, and Avast crashed, the two icons disappearing a moment later. 

I went into the Avast4 folder to see how the permissions were set.  As they were the last time, no user names and no checks in any of the boxes.  So, I manually set all of the file permissions (selecting them in groups and by folders, of course) to Everyone- Full Control.  Odd thing is that there were a couple of folders that did already have permissions set (the same settings), but most did not.  Now they are all showing the same settings (I think) as they did under 4.6, with the only difference that they are solid and not grey checkmarks. 

I double clicked the desktop icon, entered the reg code, and the program ran fine. 

I rebooted (... sigh...), and now everything seems to be functioning again. 

I only worry that I will have to go through this process with the next update as well.
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: Lisandro on April 21, 2006, 04:31:40 AM
The main icon had the little red o on it, though.
Problem  :P

I clicked on it to get to the registration pop-up, and Avast crashed, the two icons disappearing a moment later.
Which other antivirus are you using? Any other security program? 

I rebooted (... sigh...), and now everything seems to be functioning again. 
I only worry that I will have to go through this process with the next update as well.
The permitions are messed in your computer... You had badly changed them some time in the past, without knowing and wanting...
Full control to everyone is not a good choice...
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: solstone on April 21, 2006, 04:48:47 AM
I am using Kerio for firewall, and no other antivirus.  This is the first time that I have any type of issue with Avast.  There was one other time, when the Web Shield was having some difficulty, but I traced it to my firewall settings.

The 'Everyone' and 'Full Control' settings, as I applied them to all the contents of the Avast4 folder, are exactly as they were under a fresh install of Avast 4.6.  I had checked them thoroughly.  The only one that was slightly different was an .md5 file in the Data folder which does not exist in the new install of 4.7.  (I am thinking that it is related to updates?) 

I disagree that I had previously changed my permissions badly, or at all.  All of the permissions set in other folders, both under Program Files and elsewhere, are just as they should be.  It is only in the Avast4 folder that they were screwed up, and screwed up from a fresh install of Avast 4.7.   It is the installer for 4.7 that seems messed.  I suspect that over the next week, as the update rolls out bit by bit, there will be more of this issue arising for other users.

At least for now I have a functioning antivirus again, and hopefully this issue will be resolved by the next incremental update.

Out of curiousity, if you go and look at the permissions set file by file in your version of Avast 4.7, what are the settings?
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: Lisandro on April 21, 2006, 05:52:11 PM
I am using Kerio for firewall, and no other antivirus.  This is the first time that I have any type of issue with Avast.  There was one other time, when the Web Shield was having some difficulty, but I traced it to my firewall settings.


Isn't this related to the recent Microsoft update patches?
MS06-015 http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS06-015.mspx
or http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=20646.msg173339#msg173339

The 'Everyone' and 'Full Control' settings, as I applied them to all the contents of the Avast4 folder, are exactly as they were under a fresh install of Avast 4.6.  I had checked them thoroughly.  The only one that was slightly different was an .md5 file in the Data folder which does not exist in the new install of 4.7.  (I am thinking that it is related to updates?)
md5 file could be related to the 'beta' phase of the 4.7 version... did you use the beta?
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: Jaws on April 21, 2006, 09:29:45 PM
Hi solstone,

I did the same as you -- manually updated and got the new version 4.7 installed unexpectedly yesterday. I run w2k pro sp4 and had no problems with the new version. For sure, your permissions somehow got messed up.

Did you resolve your issue with running the new version? I can help get you back to default if needed.

Regards
Jaws
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: solstone on April 22, 2006, 12:50:12 AM
I am confused about how they could have gotten messed up, but that aside I will focus on fixing this.  I am also running w2k sp4. 

To recap- I updated originally through Avast itself (and please note that I have been using Avast with no problems for at least 2 years), but as soon as it had done it, it would not work. I tried repair- no good.  I uninstalled and reinstalled from a fresh dl of the installer from Avast website- no good.  I uninstalled and re-installed Avast 4.6 from an installer found on cnet (since they are still hosting the previous version, at least as of yesterday)- worked fine.  Permissions set properly, or so it seems.  Uninstalled 4.6, reinstalled 4.7 (again, dl a fresh installer from Avast website)- no good.  Same problem every time.  Manually set permissions to match what they were in 4.6- seems to run fine.  Tech (username on this forum) says the permissions I am setting manually are unwise, but they are exactly what is installed by default under 4.6. 

Todays update- updated iAVS through Avast, and it reset file permissions in the Avast4 folder so that the program doesn't run again.  What a pain.  So I manually set them again, just for functionality at the moment. 

I don't understand how it is that my computer, and something I may have changed at some time in the past (?) would make the installer for 4.7 behave in this way, but the installer for 4.6 not.  It seems to me to be a fault in the install for 4.7. 

Jaws (and Tech and anybody else who is willing), can you look and see what permissions are set for core Avast program files (such as ashAvast.exe) on your machines.  I am curious.

Meanwhile, I suppose I may have to revert back to 4.6 again just for stability. 

Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems
Post by: rfrapp on April 22, 2006, 08:17:31 AM
Similar problems with Windows NT, except many less options for permissions.  4.7 seems to change them to something NT does not understand, and will not allow the program to update or run.  Changing permissions only works, as you say, until the next update.  And, I also have never messed with the permissions from the default that previous versions set.
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Vlk on April 22, 2006, 04:12:45 PM
I'll have this checked asap. Thanks for the heads up so far.. :)
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Jaws on April 22, 2006, 04:38:57 PM
Settings from my w2k sp4 computer. I checked and these are the same for every folder of programs (ewido, winpatrol) on my computer. Avast 4.7 didn't seem to change permissions on my system.

Solstone, the core files have the same permissions as the folders.
________________________

Security tab for -- C:\Program Files > Alwil Software > Avast4.

***Administrators (computer name\Administrators) -- Check marks in all boxes for allow.

***CREATOR OWNER -- No check marks in any box.

***Power Users (computer name\Power Users) -- Check marks (allow) in all except Full Control.

***SYSTEM -- Check marks in all allow boxes.

***Users (computer name\Users) -- Check marks (allow) in Read & Execute, List folder contents, Read.

Check mark in box for -- Allow inheritable permissions ...
________________________

Advanced ... button

Highlight name -- Click View ... button.
***Users -- Check mark in allow for -- Traverse Folders/Execute File, List Folder/Read Data, Read Attributes, Read Extended Attributes, Read Permissions.

***Power Users -- Check mark (allow) in all except -- Delete Subfolders and Files, Change Permissions, Take Ownership.

***Administrators, ***SYSTEM, ***CREATOR OWNER, check mark in all allow boxes.

When in view mode for each named user there is no check in box for -- Apply these permissions to objects and/or containers within this container only.

HTH
Jaws

Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Vlk on April 22, 2006, 05:31:20 PM
Hi Jaws, yeah, these seem to be correct, and that's how they should be.

I'm wondering what might be causing the problems other users are having.
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Forejt on April 23, 2006, 09:36:39 AM
Please send me setup.log from avast4\setup folder, and a log from Hijackthis.
I'll try to simulate the installation with all programs you have installed.
Here's the link to download:
http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip

Are you logged with administrator account? Are the security settings for Program Files folder set correctly? It should be Administrator - Full Control.
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: playj on April 23, 2006, 12:21:56 PM
I have the same problem with Windows rights but i don't know how repair that ....

Can you help me ( I am french so i would an easy explication  ;) ) ?
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Forejt on April 23, 2006, 03:56:51 PM
If you're having the same problem, try to update program from this test build:
1)download file http://public.avast.com/~forejt/test1/servers.def
2)copy downloaded servers.def to avast4\setup folder
3)run program update

This test build contains more log entries that will help to locate problem. Please send file setup.log in avast4\setup folder to my email.

Check properties of avast4 folder->Security->Advanced and check if the box "Inherit from parent the permission entries that apply to child objects" is selected.

Thanks
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Vlk on April 25, 2006, 02:10:01 AM
For anyone who's facing this problem: could you please try out a prerelease version of the upcoming update that should fix the problem? If so, just let me know.

Thanks
Vlk
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: solstone on April 25, 2006, 03:03:07 AM
Hi Vlk, I would be glad to try the prerelease version.

I had a very busy weekend (but filled with wonderful weather), so haven't been able to come back and check this thread.  Time away from the computer.  It sounds crazy, I know...  ;D
 
Thanks Jaws for taking the time to check out all the permissions and post them.

And Forejt, presumeably I should try the new version and see if it does the trick before doing what you are asking?   

Sol
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Vlk on April 25, 2006, 03:20:28 AM
It was a lovely weekend indeed (even here in Oregon/Washington).

If everything goes alright, I'll send you an updated version tomorrow.


Thanks
vlk
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: solstone on April 25, 2006, 03:28:22 AM
Ok.  I will be watching for it.  Thanks.

You are in OR/WA area?  Me too.  Weekends like this last one are like the payoff for putting up with the winter months. 

Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: gschabel on April 25, 2006, 04:14:23 AM
Hi VLK and group

Running Win NT4 sp6a with all the same permission problems listed here with the 4.7 update.

Please forward a link to the new pre-release version and I will be happy to do a test run.

Many thanks

Glenn Schabel
gschabel@yahoo.com
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Vlk on April 25, 2006, 06:37:33 AM
Quote
You are in OR/WA area?

Currently, yes. Redmond, WA. Yeah, right in the MS campus. :)

Quote
Me too. 


Really? Where? (you can put your pin on the Member map - see the button above). :)


BTW, just to recap: you have Win2K, right? The NT4 problem is pretty much clear, while the one on Win2K seems to be a bit more tricky... Therefore, we're primarily looking for people who've had the problem on Win2K.


Thanks
Vlk


Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Forejt on April 25, 2006, 01:52:18 PM
You can download and install avast! 4.6, the setup is here:
http://public.avast.com/~forejt/setupeng.exe

Then test update from 4.6 to this test version as stated in my previous post:
1)download file http://public.avast.com/~forejt/test1/servers.def
2)copy downloaded servers.def to avast4\setup folder
3)run program update

It should work on NT4, also I'd like to hear about results on Win2K.

Also you can try 4.7 setup containing the security rights fix:
http://public.avast.com/~forejt/setupeng47.exe
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: solstone on April 25, 2006, 07:35:55 PM
Hi Forejt.  Ok, so I uninstalled my manually modified version of 4.7 (I had thought about reverting to 4.6 before, but hadn't gotten to it) and installed from the fix that you link to.  Installed fine on first try, although with the same permissions (set to Everyone - Full Control) as 4.6 had by default (at least on my machine). 

I went through and checked a number of other programs in my Program Files folder, and they all seem to be set to Administrators & SYSTEM - Full Control, with no mention of the 'Everyone' group, which is how the Program Files folder itself is defined.  Is Avast supposed to inherit the same permissions as 'Program Files'?

In any case, it is working on it's own now. 

Thanks for all the help, and the great software!
Sol

ps- Vlk, I am in Portland, and we are back to the cloudy skies it seems... (I will go and add a pin to the member map now.)  :)

Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Forejt on April 25, 2006, 07:57:59 PM
Did you update on NT4 or Win2K? On Win2K all folders except 'DATA' should have Everyone access removed. If it stays set, send me file setup.log from avast4\setup folder.
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Vlk on April 26, 2006, 08:35:35 PM
solstone, this might also be relevant: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=20819.0
This version should work OK.

BTW I'm going to Portland on Saturday. I hope the weather will be fine again ;)
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: CharleyO on April 27, 2006, 01:30:34 AM
***

Portland has fine weather?    :o    ;D


***
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Vlk on April 27, 2006, 02:54:44 AM
Actually last weekend was sunny with highs well above 70 degrees. Yummy!
Title: Re: Avast 4.7 problems [Win2K/NT4 access rights issue]
Post by: Guepi on July 15, 2006, 01:48:47 AM
Hi !

I've installed a fresh Win2k system (SP4). I've create 2 account : one administrator and one power user (for security reason : a power user for every thing I do, and an administrator for install).

I've installed avast 4 Home (free) edition when logged as administrator : it was ok.
I've rebooted and relogged as administrator : it was ok.
I've logged off and logged on power user account : I get an error message, during startup, with "ashDisp.exe"

(it a french error message, so I translate it !)

Quote
Application doesn't initialize correctly (0xc0000022). Click OK to stop application.

So I uninstalled Avast, and reinstalled it when logged on power user account, and the command "run as..."
When I restart computer, I've got the same message.

process that runs :

Services :

I think that full control is not necessary for ashDisp program, and I may be a security hole in the system, since a process can copy itself in the antivirus program.