Avast WEBforum
Other => General Topics => Topic started by: Lisandro on March 18, 2007, 06:44:43 PM
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I'm releasing avast! at logon tool.
It will be an application to schedule avast to be run at logon time, before any other application.
Logon process is halted until you finish your scanning with avast!
It will be a fast scanning and you'll be able to work with avast! with its interface and all options, which is impossible at boot time.
It works with avast! version both Professional and Home versions.
It has the ability to logoff/logon Windows. There are two timeouts (5s) messages.
It's being developed mostly for XP (but should work on NT/2k/Vista but not on Windows 9x or Me).
It will be a conditionware, I mean, it will be available to avast! evangelists only.
Maybe in the future, for avast! Sr. Member forum users.
It won't be available for all avast! users, never, but only for the permanent forum users.
Download version 1.1 here: http://s28.quicksharing.com/v/2016835/avast_at_logon.zip.html
If you're an avast! evangelist, you can ask me by IM and I'll send you a password for the avast! at logon tool. I do not allow anybody to share the file and the password to anyone that does not meet the requirements. Please, respect my feelings.
Application icon was done by our master graphics guru S.Z.Craftec. (of course!) ;)
Thanks for using it.
Enjoy avast experience!
All comments, suggestions and bug reports are welcome :)
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should be a nice add-on :)
Can I try it ?
Thanks
Al968
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should be a nice add-on :)
Can I try it ?
Thanks
I was waiting your IM 8)
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should be a nice add-on :)
Can I try it ?
Thanks
I was waiting your IM 8)
Sorry, I was going to but I could see your IM :-X
I downloaded the file but when I try to put in the password I get the following error message:
File Ignored, Unknown compression method ???
Any clues to why this is happening ?
Thanks
Al968
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File Ignored, Unknown compression method ???
I can't believe... I've uploaded, downloaded, unzipped, virus check and tested and everything was working...
I'll wait if other users have the same trouble. I've zipped it with IZArc 3.6.1260 and used the AES 256 bit encryption.
I can send it to you by email (without encryption). Can you send me an IM with your email address?
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I would love to try this Tech. I've sent you a PM.
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I too am interested in trying it. Please send it to me when you get a chance :)
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I too am interested in trying it. Please send it to me when you get a chance :)
I would love to try this Tech. I've sent you a PM.
Sent 8)
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I too am interested in trying it. Please send it to me when you get a chance :)
I would love to try this Tech. I've sent you a PM.
Sent 8)
The page is stuck on loading download, I've been waiting but it doesn't seem to be doing anything. Is it possible for you to e-mail me the file?
*EDIT*
Nevermind, it was the scriptblocker add-on in firefox not allowing me to download it..
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I am also unable to extract it. I'll send you an email address.
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File Ignored, Unknown compression method ???
I can't believe... I've uploaded, downloaded, unzipped, virus check and tested and everything was working...
I'll wait if other users have the same trouble. I've zipped it with IZArc 3.6.1260 and used the AES 256 bit encryption.
I can send it to you by email (without encryption). Can you send me an IM with your email address?
OK, how do I IM you ??
Thanks
Al968
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I cannot extract it either..
(http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i257/justin1278/th_error.jpg) (http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i257/justin1278/error.jpg)
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New download link: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=27213.msg221766#msg221766
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Ok great I was able to extract it and remove the password successfully. I will use it when Disk Defragmenter finishes up then I will report back.
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Yes it worked for me too ;)
Nice job :D
Al968
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Ok great I was able to extract it and remove the password successfully. I will use it when Disk Defragmenter finishes up then I will report back.
Yes it worked for me too ;) Nice job :D Al968
I'm waiting for the feedback... I'm curious about what do you think about the tool... :)
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Ok, I have it working now too.
So how does this compare to a boot scan? I mean it obviously loads a bit later in the boot sequence but it seems like its roughly equivalent to a boot scan.
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So how does this compare to a boot scan?
You'll be logged as the Administrator (or account with admin rights) and not System.
You shouldn't have problems to access folders (maybe \System Volume Information can't be accessed).
All Windows and 3rd party services will be running. But not a program! This is what makes a 'clean' scanning with all avast features. Don't you think so?
I mean it obviously loads a bit later in the boot sequence but it seems like its roughly equivalent to a boot scan.
The scanning options are what you can set as in normal avast use.
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Hi Tech,
Nice tool looks very good and promising. I found what may be a bug. When switching from one interface to another in the pro version (i.e. enhanced user interface to the Simple User interface) Windows begins to continue booting.
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Now that you got that zip-unzip problem straightened out, it seems to be working fine.
I'm surprised, though, that a standard scan (no archives) takes about the same or even a little longer for me doing it this way than a "standard" standard scan, and there's still a humongous list of files not accessed because in use. What, really, are we gaining with this tool?
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Yes I have now been able to extract the latest copy you uploaded, waiting for next boot.
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When switching from one interface to another in the pro version (i.e. enhanced user interface to the Simple User interface) Windows begins to continue booting.
It's not a bug. It's a limitation of the logon time. I can't do anything about this.
The same reason to 'halt' the logon is the fact that logon continues in the case you've mentioned.
I'm surprised, though, that a standard scan (no archives) takes about the same or even a little longer for me doing it this way than a "standard" standard scan
If you're used to have little programs opened, ok, it could be the same.
Like me, with a lot of concurrent programs working... well, it helps.
and there's still a humongous list of files not accessed because in use.
It's not boot time scanning. If the problem is access rights, run avast boot time scanning.
What, really, are we gaining with this tool?
avast functionality without programs running in background. Nothing more but nothing less.
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Yes I have now been able to extract the latest copy you uploaded, waiting for next boot.
Just logoff/logon, not the all boot is needed.
You need to logon as an user with admin rights 8)
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Cheers Tech got the new version unzipped about to reboot ;)
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Its hard to say if it scans faster or not. I don't pay that much attention when scanning after a full boot - just minimize it and work over the top or walk away and come back later. Now it seems to take forever when I sit here and study it. But it should be faster.
I don't think this will replace a full boot scan since a lot of the services are loaded by the time this runs, but i do think this will become my method of choice for weekly scans if I don't need to use the computer at the moment. 8)
BTW, if you send the scan to background it completely disappears. It can be retrieved with the "Switch To" button in the task manager.
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Works fine. Though scan speed isn't a main benefit but thorough removal...
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I don't think this will replace a full boot scan
It's far from my intention... boot time scanning is a fantastic feature of avast.
But, as you can see, I can do this (logon time) to any application I want and for the most of them (except some defragmentation tools and avast) there isn't a boot time option to run.
since a lot of the services are loaded by the time this runs, but i do think this will become my method of choice for weekly scans if I don't need to use the computer at the moment. 8)
Yes, I mean on-demand frequent scannings.
BTW, if you send the scan to background it completely disappears. It can be retrieved with the "Switch To" button in the task manager.
Wow... I never tested this condition, but I see no reason to do so, it will only make the process slower, you won't to be able to use the desktop, it's logon time and it's halted.
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Works fine. Though scan speed isn't a main benefit but thorough removal...
The removal *could* be better as none application is running (and blocking files).
But, of course, it's not compared to boot time scanning, which access/removal is complete.
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Wow... I never tested this condition, but I see no reason to do so, it will only make the process slower, you won't to be able to use the desktop, it's logon time and it's halted.
Nope - no other purpose than to satisfy my curiosity.
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Hello Tech I would be most honoured and pleased to be able to assist and help in any part of your testing of avast_at_logon.
Thank you for considering and asking me
Kind Regards Peter
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Sounds like a very cool add-on/mod/app for Avast! 8)
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Hi Tech - I have sent you a PM and would be more than glad to help with testing this. :)
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I have done a preliminary scan using the avast! at Logon function, I had previously done a Standard Scan without archives, 24 hours earlier, so I can compare the results for the same scan using avast! at Logon.
Last Scan duration 8min 59sec - avast! at Logon 9min 17sec for the same reported data scanned size.
So there would appear to be no real difference in my comparison, though I don't have much open when running a normal SUI on-demand scan. What it did notice was on completion of the scan and closing the SUI my logon completed, I checked the Scanned total: in the Standard Shield details and that was 472 files scanned.
On a normal boot and logon whenever everything had settled my Scanned total: is usually around 109. So there would seem to be a lot of background activity by standard shield this might account for the slightly longer scan duration. I'm somewhat confused at this additional standard shield activity, this might be because I did as suggested and just logged off and back on, perhaps the avast! standard shield boot time optimisations don't take effect ('Scan dynamic libraries on load' and 'Do not scan system libraries').
I will at some point (next reboot) run the avast! at Logon scan again and see if there is any difference on the above data after boot rather than just having logged off and back on.
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Though I don't have much open when running a normal SUI on-demand scan.
Thanks for your testing David. Anyway, indeed, speed *could* be a difference when you run lots of background programs (remember when people suggest closing all programs to run a defragmentation tool).
I'm somewhat confused at this additional standard shield activity, this might be because I did as suggested and just logged off and back on, perhaps the avast! standard shield boot time optimisations don't take effect ('Scan dynamic libraries on load' and 'Do not scan system libraries').
No... I shouldn't change *any* avast setting, they're there for sure and the service (ashserv.exe) is running at that time. The tool only 'halt' programs loading (not services).
Strange the Standard Shield behavior...
Maybe Alwil team have some seconds to drop some line here.
I will at some point (next reboot) run the avast! at Logon scan again and see if there is any difference on the above data after boot rather than just having logged off and back on.
Thanks David.
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Just to note: Spybot has this feature natively. Just schedule a scanning at 'the beginning of the system'.
Defragmentation tools have this too: O&O Defrag and PerfectDisk (Raxco), for instance.
In theory, I can make a tool for any other application. Would you have a particular one that want to test?
Maybe the antispyware tools? Which one? I could open a poll to this, but it will be too much noise in my opinion... Just feel free to ask for the one would be good to see.
Oh, test Spybot at logon time 8)
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Using Win XP Pro /SP2 / All Updates .
Ran Avast@Logon , said no to Log off/Log back on. Using Win XP Pro /SP2 / All Updates . Avast! Home Edition.
Logged off , / Restarted Computer .
I have Auto logon enabled for my User Account (Admin privledges )
Avast! Simple user interface appeared , I selected a thorough scan of C:\Documents and Settings\"Me"\Local Settings , scan began ; I hit Ctrl, Alt, Delete to bring up Taskmanager , 22 processes running .
Was trying to think how to capture a screen shot of what they were , any how Avast! seemed to
work very well , very quickly .This was just a quick test run obviously . When I closed Avast! Windows loaded as Normal ...
Will test more thoroughly , i.e. do a more thorough scan ;check scan results time against a "Booted up" scan and try a scren shot with "Print Screen" .
I'm curious to see what processes have started as scan is taking place .
Very interesting work Tech , congratulations :)
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I hit Ctrl, Alt, Delete to bring up Taskmanager , 22 processes running .
Was trying to think how to capture a screen shot of what they were
You've almost there... Click CTRL+ALT+DEL than File > Run new task
Then execute your Screenshot tool.
I'm curious to see what processes have started as scan is taking place .
All the ones related to Windows services and 3rd party services.
Only startup applications are circumvented by the tool 8)
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Tech:
You've almost there... Click CTRL+ALT+DEL than File > Run new task
Then execute your Screenshot tool.
Good tip Tech , thanks for that . :)
More testing to do and info coming soon . I do feel there's a place for this scan format , very different environment to both Boot Scan , and ' Fully Booted ' modes .
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More testing to do and info coming soon . I do feel there's a place for this scan format , very different environment to both Boot Scan , and ' Fully Booted ' modes.
Thanks. It is really encouraging for me 8)
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Tech -
I have downloaded this without a problem and it is now scheduled to run on my next boot which should be Wednesday morning ... providing nothing goes wrong before then which is almost never. (knock on wood ... lol) ;)
I'll post the results. :)
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Thanks for testing 8)
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Update: To my post in reply #32 http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=27213.msg221910#msg221910 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=27213.msg221910#msg221910).
I tried running the avast! at logon scan after boot. I opted to run the scan just before shutting down my system for the night, this morning when I logged on the SUI was displayed and I started the same Standard Scan no archives scan.
Prior to the scan I checked Task Manager and there were 27 running processes (including ashsimpl.exe). The scan took 9min 28sec for the same data size, slightly slower again than the previous one in reply #32.
Closing the SUI allowed the logon to complete, when all had settled the Scanned total: was 117, so a big difference in the scanned total when avast at logon was run having only logged off/on to initiate the scan. So it is strange that even though there are less files scanned in the background by standard shield the on-demand scan was slightly slower.
I checked the task manager processes and that was at my usual of 30 after boot (obviously no ashsimpl.exe), so the avast at logon isn't getting in much before my normal processes, this I have no non-essential programs running at boot.
So overall for me there doesn't appear to be much difference if I do a normal on-demand scan or use the avast on logon scan, it may well make a difference for someone with more programs running on boot/logon.
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Tech,
forgive my ignorance :-[ but does it include an uninstaller? i.e: could we uninstall it? ???
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Tech,
forgive my ignorance :-[ but does it include an uninstaller? i.e: could we uninstall it? ???
I'd already asked Tech about this via IM - he says just delete the files and folder, since it's not installed as such, simply a stand-alone.
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Tech -
This program ran when I started my computer this morning without any problems. As others have reported, there is not much different in scan time. Checking the Taskbar after scanning, nothing was there to begin with except avast which always loads first on my computer and probably loaded as I was moving my mouse to bring up the Taskbar which is normally hidden.
On my computer, this application seems to work as expected. :)
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The scan took 9min 28sec for the same data size, slightly slower again than the previous one in reply #32.
Seems that all tests are conclusive: scanning speed is not higher.
Closing the SUI allowed the logon to complete, when all had settled the Scanned total: was 117, so a big difference in the scanned total when avast at logon was run having only logged off/on to initiate the scan. So it is strange that even though there are less files scanned in the background by standard shield the on-demand scan was slightly slower.
It's difficult to make a correlation between speeds right now.
I think defragmentation at logon time was significantly better with Windows 9x and Me.
Maybe things are different on NT platforms.
So overall for me there doesn't appear to be much difference if I do a normal on-demand scan or use the avast on logon scan, it may well make a difference for someone with more programs running on boot/logon.
My case is, obviously not yours, I have a lot of background processes.
Tech, forgive my ignorance :-[ but does it include an uninstaller? i.e: could we uninstall it? ???
It's a standalone. If you want to disable scheduling you could: boot and cancel the scanning or just schedule it twice. An option to unschedule will appear.
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First try, it gave me the "unknown error message - Application cannot load skin. Function usiGetSkin Failed" error. Never had it before... (although I know about the problems other users had and the FAQ solution about it).
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First try, it gave me the "unknown error message - Application cannot load skin. Function usiGetSkin Failed" error. Never had it before... (although I know about the problems other users had and the FAQ solution about it).
Strange that only you get this... can you start avast Home at any time or you can't? I mean, will you see this error when you open avast normally?
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No, it just happened when I tried your program. Never saw it before.
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No, it just happened when I tried your program. Never saw it before.
Any other message on avast logs?
Again, the program only launches *the same avast executables* (ashSimpl.exe or ashEnhcd.exe)...
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OK, I re-registered "ACTSKIN4.OCX" and this time it worked. The scanner was skinned, although I use the skinless GUI. After logon, I started avast again and it was skinless again. I don't know if this had something to do with the problem, but everything works OK now.
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OK, I re-registered "ACTSKIN4.OCX" and this time it worked. The scanner was skinned, although I use the skinless GUI.
I see... I do not prepare the tool to use the skinless version. I don't think there are that many people using it... although it is possible to 'read' the status of avast and then run the desired version. Do you think it will worth the programming work for it?
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Do you think it will worth the programming work for it?
Sure, if you have the time, go for it ;)
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Do you think it will worth the programming work for it?
Sure, if you have the time, go for it ;)
My leisure time is crying... eh eh... I'll give a try. It will take one hour to do and test...