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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Jayhawk467 on September 22, 2020, 07:39:06 PM

Title: Avast (Free) causes Word 97 to treat "doc" files as "read only."
Post by: Jayhawk467 on September 22, 2020, 07:39:06 PM
I'm using Windows 7 and having a problem with a "read only" attribute that doesn't appear on file attributes.

When I open a "doc" file in Microsoft Word 97 my Avast program gives me a warning that "a program" has opened a "read only" file and asks if I want that program to access that file. I tell it okay. When I go to save the file Windows (not Avast) tells me the file is "read only" and kills the saving process.

When I check the file attributes in Explorer the "read only" box for the file is not checked. Looking at the attributes for the folder, the "read only" box is checked. I'm not sure, but I think the folders have always been checked at read only. Maybe not. Never paid much attention to folder attributes. Several sources, however, tell me that the folder being checked as "read only" is normal and irrelevant.

I've never had this problem until yesterday, and I do not know of anything I might have done to cause it. I have not recently upgarded the version of Avast, but that may be happening silently. My version is 20.6.2420 (build 20.6.5495.588).

When I set the "disable permanently" status for Avast the problem goes away, So the problem seems to be with Avast and not with my computer. Can you offer any suggestions?
Title: Re: Avast (Free) causes Word 97 to treat "doc" files as "read only."
Post by: Asyn on September 22, 2020, 07:42:34 PM
-> https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/298/ (Blocked & Allowed apps)
Title: Re: Avast (Free) causes Word 97 to treat "doc" files as "read only."
Post by: Jayhawk467 on September 22, 2020, 08:38:32 PM
Thank you for the reference. Winword.exe was in the list of allowed apps, not in the list of blocked apps. Why would it be an issue in the allowed list?
Title: Re: Avast (Free) causes Word 97 to treat "doc" files as "read only."
Post by: igor on September 22, 2020, 08:42:11 PM
Can you please post a SHA-256 hash of the main executable? (or, alternatively, upload the file to https://www.virustotal.com and post a link to results?)
Title: Re: Avast (Free) causes Word 97 to treat "doc" files as "read only."
Post by: Jayhawk467 on September 22, 2020, 09:51:45 PM
I have no idea what that means. I will be happy to do that if you can clarify what the process is.
Title: Re: Avast (Free) causes Word 97 to treat "doc" files as "read only."
Post by: Jayhawk467 on September 23, 2020, 07:58:48 AM
I'm beginning to get a handle on the hash process. Haven't fully figured it out, but I'm working on it.

Once I do, however, which executable do you want the hash done on? There are several in the Avast folder.
Title: Re: Avast (Free) causes Word 97 to treat "doc" files as "read only."
Post by: NON on September 23, 2020, 08:58:32 AM
Once I do, however, which executable do you want the hash done on? There are several in the Avast folder.
I believe igor asks Word 97 executable. WINWORD.exe maybe?
Title: Re: Avast (Free) causes Word 97 to treat "doc" files as "read only."
Post by: Jayhawk467 on September 25, 2020, 12:04:09 AM
I give up. I am uninstalling Avast and changing to Bitdefender.
Title: Re: Avast (Free) causes Word 97 to treat "doc" files as "read only."
Post by: r@vast on September 25, 2020, 11:34:38 AM
I have no idea what that means. I will be happy to do that if you can clarify what the process is.

Hi,
Step 1. Go to https://www.virustotal.com/gui/
Step 2. Click on "Choose file"
Step 3. Locate and click on the file WINWORD.EXE (possible location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\)
Step 4. Click on "open" (this will upload the file to www.virustotal.com)
Step 5. once the file has been upload and scanned, copy the URL (of the results) and paste it here, please