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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Vlk on February 03, 2009, 05:58:07 AM

Title: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Vlk on February 03, 2009, 05:58:07 AM
The beta program is now over as the product has just been officially released. The version number is 4.8.1335.


Vlk
Hi *,

here I'm again. The next program update of avast 4.x Home/Pro is approaching, and as usual, it is my pleasure to provide you with a stable (even though pre-release) build for you to test. This is going to be one of the shortest betas ever - we expect to officially release this update to the public in just a couple of days.

How to install it (provided you have a previous version of avast Home/Pro already installed):

1. NEW! go to avast settings, and on the Troubleshooting page, disable the avast self-defense module (this is NECESSARY for the update to complete successfully)
2. download and run the following program: link snapped
3. after it completes, re-enable self-defense module (disabled in step 1.)

That's about all it takes.

This build contains quite a few minor improvements, in both the scanning engine and the other parts of the program.

Any comments on this release are welcome and appreciated!


Thanks
Vlk
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update
Post by: alanrf on February 03, 2009, 06:10:36 AM
Up and running on Win XP Pro SP3 ... first checks showing all OK.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Vladimyr on February 03, 2009, 06:42:48 AM
Me too. XP Pro SP3 avast! Pro.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: onlysomeone on February 03, 2009, 09:17:16 AM
no problems till now on Win Seven Beta 7000  :)
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: ronnycopeh on February 03, 2009, 01:47:14 PM
Installed and running, no problems with Vista Ultimate
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: RejZoR on February 03, 2009, 02:15:38 PM
Hehe, i was wondering when you're going to suprise us.
Any chance for a more detailed changelog?
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: YoKenny on February 03, 2009, 03:09:49 PM
Its running on my XP Home SP3 system. 
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: YoKenny on February 03, 2009, 03:37:06 PM
Quote
1. NEW! go to avast settings, and on the Troubleshooting page, disable the avast self-defense module (this is NECESSARY for the update to complete successfully)

Don't forget to go back and enable the self-defense module.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: igor on February 03, 2009, 04:00:29 PM
Any chance for a more detailed changelog?

Well, I guess I could expand a bit, though it won't be very specific anyway ;)
- as usually, improvements in some WinExec / Installer unpackers
- improvements in splash-screen "memory scan", especially on 64bit OSes
- various improvements in WebShield
- improvements or fixes in virus removing/repairing

Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: RejZoR on February 03, 2009, 04:10:12 PM
It's much easier to keep an eye on problems if you know what to control, test or check.
So knowing changes is quite useful for me :)
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: sded on February 03, 2009, 04:19:11 PM
Installed with no problems under Vista Ultimate.  Previous Opera issues with Online Armor Web Shield and Avast! Web Shield both on either reduced/gone already; possibly by unchecking "ignore local communications" under Avast! Web Shield, but will see what happens with this release.  Currently running all providers and OA shields.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Vlk on February 03, 2009, 05:00:28 PM
There are some new bits in the latest VPS file (090203-0) that complement the changes implemented in v4.8.1330.

In order to test these, it would be useful if you could update to the latest VPS (if not done so already) and then reboot the system. Without this, the changes won't become effective.

I'm only concerned about general stability/performance issues (no need to test anything in particular).

Thanks
Vlk
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: DavidR on February 03, 2009, 05:20:38 PM
Thanks, yet another painless beta update, on with the show ;D
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: RejZoR on February 03, 2009, 05:22:24 PM
Is it just me or is the splash screen slightly different?
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: RejZoR on February 03, 2009, 06:26:30 PM
Strange. I've run a Standard scan with Archives. I have 2 HDD's, one with 2 partitions (C and D) and one with 1 partition (E). Scan was going really fast through C and now on D. However last time i checked it was almost 90% but now it's again at 60%. Thats very strange. How come percentage went backwards?
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Knot2Brite on February 03, 2009, 06:30:03 PM
My little tray icon, blue ball with A, is gone, The box on the second screen is "x" and i have rebooted twice. Task mgr reports ashmai, ashserv,ashweb and aswup are running.

any thoughts?
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: igor on February 03, 2009, 06:49:27 PM
Is it just me or is the splash screen slightly different?

I'm not aware of any changes (which doesn't necessarily mean there weren't any ;))

Strange. I've run a Standard scan with Archives. I have 2 HDD's, one with 2 partitions (C and D) and one with 1 partition (E). Scan was going really fast through C and now on D. However last time i checked it was almost 90% but now it's again at 60%. Thats very strange. How come percentage went backwards?

Was there a virus found in between?
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: RejZoR on February 03, 2009, 07:05:14 PM
Yes. I clicked "continue".
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: igor on February 03, 2009, 07:19:06 PM
That's the reason, I'm afraid (not the "Continue" choice, but the virus detection). As you probably know, once avast! finds a virus, it switches into so called "panic mode" (thorough scan, basically). Now, in this new scanning mode a different formula is used to estimate the progress (to better match the scanning mode). So, at this first detection, the progress may really jump even backwards.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: RejZoR on February 03, 2009, 07:29:10 PM
Right. I remember someone mentioned this "panic mode" before. Thanks. That makes sense :)
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: cjsteele on February 03, 2009, 09:22:57 PM
Upgrade went smoothly.  I decided to try re-enabling the web shield and putting the standard shield down from high to normal.  But web pages wouldn't load so I put things back the way they were.  So the upgrade works just as well for me as the previous version.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: RejZoR on February 03, 2009, 10:58:52 PM
So far no problems. Everything seems to be in order.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: rdmaloyjr on February 03, 2009, 11:36:39 PM
This morning I downloaded 4.8.1330 beta & rebooted.  Everything is fine except Windows Defender showed up in my taskbar with a yellow apostrophe.  I clicked on the WD icon in the taskbar & it said I haven't run a scan in ten days.  I have WD running in realtime & scheduled scanning.  It wanted to run a scan, so I let WD scan my system.  Today after work I booted up my computer and again WD showed up in my taskbar saying I haven't run a scan in ten days!  ???  In fact this morning before I downloaded 1330 it had run the scheduled scan.  I have never had this problem until 1330.  Is this a bug in 1330?

See my sig, XP Sp3.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: DavidR on February 04, 2009, 12:04:29 AM
Off the top of my head I can't see how it is, avast doesn't have any interaction with it and the setting of the asterisk would be a WD issue and avast scans and alerts to malware, but it most certainly doesn't change other program settings. That I feel would be a big no no.

I don't use WD but when unexplained freaky things happen I would suggest a reinstall of WD.

I think it is none other than a co-incidence, avast couldn't set a last scanned date 10 days early to trigger this 10 day warning, so I would first check your system clock.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: rdmaloyjr on February 04, 2009, 12:10:23 AM
System clock is right, it is one of the first things I checked plus I use Alphaclock, it uses atomic clock to keep my system time spot on.  I think WD & '1330 are somehow conflicting.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: gdiloren on February 04, 2009, 12:19:24 AM
I proudly made a thorough scan with this BETA and everything is fine & smooth so far. I very love this product, the one I never had to whine over from years so far. :D
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: DavidR on February 04, 2009, 12:26:02 AM
System clock is right, it is one of the first things I checked plus I use Alphaclock, it uses atomic clock to keep my system time spot on.  I think WD & '1330 are somehow conflicting.

I would be surprised if there were a conflict like this as it is like an administrative/housekeeping task, e.g. presumably nothing stopped the WD scan from running were a hooking style conflict might occur.

Of course you could co back to 4.8.1296 and prove or disprove that possibility.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: ace2701 on February 04, 2009, 01:12:55 AM
Just installed 1330.  Everything is fine so far (see my sig at bottom for os info).
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: rdmaloyjr on February 04, 2009, 02:08:36 AM
Uninstalled avast! 4.8.1330, rebooted. Uninstalled WD.

Installed avast! 4.8.1296 rebooted, installed WD.

Updated to avast! 4.8.1330.

Now everything is ok so far. :)

There had been no recent changes to my system & no problems before I originally updated to 4.8.1330, so the finger still has no where to point except to '1330. ???

Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Cutie Mark Surprise on February 04, 2009, 02:15:41 AM
I installed the Beta and so far no problems here.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: rdmaloyjr on February 04, 2009, 02:18:09 AM
I proudly made a thorough scan with this BETA and everything is fine & smooth so far. I very love this product, the one I never had to whine over from years so far. :D

The reason for betas are to find bugs so nobody can whine over the stable releases. ;)  I report issues I find in betas, maybe the one I found today is a fluke. ;)
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Diazruanova on February 04, 2009, 03:05:28 AM
Running fine on a Windows 2000 Pro SP4
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: DavidR on February 04, 2009, 03:23:57 AM
Uninstalled avast! 4.8.1330, rebooted. Uninstalled WD.
Installed avast! 4.8.1296 rebooted, installed WD.
Updated to avast! 4.8.1330.

Now everything is ok so far. :)

There had been no recent changes to my system & no problems before I originally updated to 4.8.1330, so the finger still has no where to point except to '1330. ???

Sorry but the idea of me suggesting to uninstall 1330 and go back to 1296 was to pin down the cause or exonerate avast. Unfortunately, having uninstalled both at the same time we will never know where the problem lay. Though if it were a bug in 1330 then in theory it should still be present.

When trying to track down a possible conflict in two applications you should really only look at one element at a time.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: fblais on February 04, 2009, 03:36:01 AM
The download aborts after 38K.
Strange...
(I disabled AVAST altogether to no avail)
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: rdmaloyjr on February 04, 2009, 03:41:23 AM
0oops!  I gave the wrong order.  Actually I went back to '1296 before I uninstalled WD.  WD was doing the same, I assumed it had been corrupted by the installation of '1330, so I uninstalled WD & reinstalled it.

I wanted to then install '1330 where my system was when I originally installed it.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: DavidR on February 04, 2009, 04:01:18 AM
Well to me that points to a problem with WD, if the same problem occurred with the 1296 build, I really can't see any logical way an avast update could corrupt another program.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Vladimyr on February 04, 2009, 04:29:28 AM
The download aborts after 38K.
Strange...
(I disabled AVAST altogether to no avail)


The download 'aswbeta.exe' is only 38K (well... 37.3 to be precise).

You need to run it after download.

Don't forget...
1. NEW! go to avast settings, and on the Troubleshooting page, disable the avast self-defense module (this is NECESSARY for the update to complete successfully)
And re-enable it afterwards.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: YoKenny on February 04, 2009, 05:01:54 AM
No problems with Windows Defender for me.

By the way it is at v1.51.201.0 available on its portal:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal

End it then download and run it.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: onlysomeone on February 04, 2009, 08:05:20 AM
I don't know if this already has been in previous versions, but i just noticed that in the splash screen the "stop memory-test"-button in the German version is not correct.

it somehow seems to be cut...

in German it should be "Speichertest beenden" but there is "Speichertest beende" so there is missing the last letter.

yours
onlysomeone
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: fblais on February 04, 2009, 01:50:46 PM
The download aborts after 38K.
Strange...
(I disabled AVAST altogether to no avail)


The download 'aswbeta.exe' is only 38K (well... 37.3 to be precise).

Oops!
Thanks for letting know!
I was expecting something a few megs big.
Maybe that info should be added in this thread's first post.

Best,
François
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: jimb11 on February 04, 2009, 04:27:27 PM
How big(MB's) is this update? Are beta updates bigger then final updates?
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: fblais on February 04, 2009, 04:32:02 PM
How big(MB's) is this update? Are beta updates bigger then final updates?
Did you read my post just before yours?
Read the quoted text in particular...
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: onlysomeone on February 04, 2009, 04:36:14 PM
How big(MB's) is this update? Are beta updates bigger then final updates?
Did you read my post just before yours?
Read the quoted text in particular...


well the aswbeta-file is not the update itself... its just a file which changes the update settings of avast in a way that beta-software is downloaded (this is automatically changed back with the final build).

the real update is in my opinion not bigger than the final version update... it depends on the changes which are made between the beta and the final version... probably they remove something or they add something...

yours
onlysomeone
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: DavidR on February 04, 2009, 04:49:54 PM
If I remember rightly the beta update was around 6MB in total or there about, so no big deal even for me on dial-up ;D
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: fblais on February 04, 2009, 06:12:54 PM
Thanks for the explanations guy.
I could not believe the beta update was so small.

Regards,
François
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: RejZoR on February 04, 2009, 06:32:24 PM
avast! features incrimental signature and program updates. Ppl are running scared with 56k modems when they hear word antivirus but avast! is everything but that. Updates are so small even 56k users shouldn't have any problems.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: fblais on February 05, 2009, 02:07:05 PM
Yesterday night, I installed the beta.
After reboot, my internet connection was inoperative.
Uninstalled AVAST completely.
I finally had the reinstall the NAT router to get the connection working again.
Don't know what went wrong, but wished to report.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Skywarrior on February 05, 2009, 02:17:01 PM
Has "Frostwire" been added to the P2P shield for this release, if not it should be added
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Giraffe on February 05, 2009, 02:35:33 PM
When I run aswbeta.exe I get the message:

"Cannot write file D:\...servers.def"; pressing "OK" gives "Ane error has occured during the update to the beta version.".

What have I done wrong?
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: sded on February 05, 2009, 02:47:49 PM
Did you turn off the avast! self protection?
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Vladimyr on February 05, 2009, 02:56:30 PM
When I run aswbeta.exe I get the message:

"Cannot write file D:\...servers.def"; pressing "OK" gives "Ane error has occured during the update to the beta version.".

What have I done wrong?

Basics first.

What version of Windows is it?

Can you write (e.g. create a new folder) to drive D: using Windows Explorer?

'aswbeta.exe' is trying unsuccessfully to overwrite 'servers.def' so that avast! updater is directed to the beta server.

Did you install avast! on D: (for a particular reason) rather than C:?
Or is it on C: and something's confusing the beta installer.

Did you turn off self defense, as 'sded' has already mentioned?
1. NEW! go to avast settings, and on the Troubleshooting page, disable the avast self-defense module (this is NECESSARY for the update to complete successfully)
2. download and run the following program: http://files.avast.com/files/beta/aswbeta.exe
3. after it completes, re-enable self-defense module (disabled in step 1.)
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: DavidR on February 05, 2009, 03:16:57 PM
Yesterday night, I installed the beta.
After reboot, my internet connection was inoperative.
Uninstalled AVAST completely.
I finally had the reinstall the NAT router to get the connection working again.
Don't know what went wrong, but wished to report.


After any program update including this beta, your firewall would recognise the change to the processes and some firewall simply block and don't notify the the poor user is left thinking there is a problem with the program.

avast wouldn't have changed any settings in your router.

What is your firewall ?
Does it allow ashWebSv.exe internet access ?
- If it does delete the entry for it and reconnect to the internet, this will force the firewall to ask permission again.

Of course this is irrelevant as you uninstalled the beta version.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: andyqkw on February 05, 2009, 03:43:01 PM
Installed the beta on my Vista SP1 64-bit and everything is working fine.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: jimb11 on February 05, 2009, 04:37:26 PM
How do you allow ashWebSv.exe internet access in Windows Firewall?
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Giraffe on February 05, 2009, 05:35:42 PM
When I run aswbeta.exe I get the message:

"Cannot write file D:\...servers.def"; pressing "OK" gives "Ane error has occured during the update to the beta version.".

What have I done wrong?

Basics first.

What version of Windows is it?

Can you write (e.g. create a new folder) to drive D: using Windows Explorer?

'aswbeta.exe' is trying unsuccessfully to overwrite 'servers.def' so that avast! updater is directed to the beta server.

Did you install avast! on D: (for a particular reason) rather than C:?
Or is it on C: and something's confusing the beta installer.

Did you turn off self defense, as 'sded' has already mentioned?
1. NEW! go to avast settings, and on the Troubleshooting page, disable the avast self-defense module (this is NECESSARY for the update to complete successfully)
2. download and run the following program: http://files.avast.com/files/beta/aswbeta.exe
3. after it completes, re-enable self-defense module (disabled in step 1.)

Windows: XP Pro SP3

I can create new folders and files to D:\

servers.def isn't Read Only

I install almost everything to D: and have successfully updated Avast to Beta release several times before.

Self Defence was turned off.

All of these are the same as before - I even downloaded aswbeta.exe again in case it had been changed.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: DavidR on February 05, 2009, 06:23:37 PM
How do you allow ashWebSv.exe internet access in Windows Firewall?

You can't if it is the XP firewall as it has no outbound protection. If it is vista, it does have outbound protection, but it is disabled by default and not very friendly. I don't use Vista so if you need more help on XP of Vista firewall, etc. you should create a new topic so this one stays related to the beta build.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Lito on February 05, 2009, 10:20:56 PM
So far so good on my XP SP3.
Title: Re: ** INTRODUCING **: pre-release version of next avast update (4.8.1330)
Post by: Vlk on February 06, 2009, 12:25:19 AM
The beta program is now over as the product has just been officially released. The version number is 4.8.1335.

Thanks to everyone who helped testing.

Thanks
Vlk