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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Rescue Disc => Topic started by: Pavel Baudis on June 04, 2003, 05:45:15 PM

Title: avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Pavel Baudis on June 04, 2003, 05:45:15 PM
Our brand new product - avast! 4 BART CD is nearly ready for distribution! We have just released the Final Beta (for closer description and download see http://www.avast.com/i_idt_154.html ). This Final Beta is fully functional (without the possibility of updates) till the end of July. Try it and let us know what do you think about it  ;) !

Pavel
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: raman on June 04, 2003, 07:53:54 PM
Wow, it  is really good! Find no bugs so far( Okay the old RAR/DOS2..50 Shell crashes the "dosbox", but who cares!;) )

Anything seems to be possible. I have Internet-access, but i do need an Browser, the IE does not work( It is on my Hardisk not on the CD), accessing(read/write)  NTFS Partitions works perfekt, it recognizes my USB Harddrive and mapping drives works perfekt.

Starting other applications (sometimes) work too! I am able to start Drweb and i am able to update it!;)

It could become a "knoppix for Windows"!:)
Really great Produkt!

Uh, just saw the Pricelist! :) Nothing for homeuser.
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: igor on June 04, 2003, 08:19:08 PM
Starting applications should work if:
- the application doesn't have to be installed (needs registry values etc.)
- the application doesn't need many resources (as i understand, the number of graphical objects is very limited), so don't expect MS Word to start :)  On the other hand, I was able to start my favourite Total Commander for example.

What is happening with that RAR 2.50?
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: raman on June 04, 2003, 08:27:37 PM
It "just" close the dosbox. I will send you the file, if you do not have it.

BTW:  Is it possible to  set a global temp Path and a swapfile?
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: igor on June 04, 2003, 08:36:27 PM
I don't think it's possible to set the swap file. As for the TEMP path... maybe it could be done, I'm not sure.
Vlk might know...
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Vlk on June 05, 2003, 08:54:07 AM
As for starting the external programs:
- only Win32 programs are supported (NO Win16 and NO DOS). Raman, you're right, we've also noticed that sometimes, launching such a program from the command-line causes it to close. We can take a closer look at it - but I'm not sure there's something we can do about it - it's just not supported...

- if the program is Win32, it needs to be quite resource- (and API-) modest -- in other words, only "leightweight" apps have a chance to run...

As for the swapfile
No, I don't think there is a way to set up a swap file in BART. Therefore, you need quite a bit of memory (64M is a bare minimum, 128M is recommended) to do some serious stuff.

As for the TEMP path
Sure, why not. You know the SET commnand, don't you? ;) Just use it from the command-line tool to set the TEMP path to anywhere you want... There really shouldn't be a problem.

Hope this helps,
Vlk
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: raman on June 05, 2003, 12:03:53 PM
[
As for the TEMP path
Sure, why not. You know the SET commnand, don't you? ;)

<g> Yes, i know how to SET a PATH!:) But does it has a global effect or does it only set in the Dosbox? Under XP it has only effect in the Dosbox ,to set it global you have to change it in a other way.

Another thing, it is nice to be able to start Prgramms, but is it not a kind of insecure? You could start an infected Programm or Malware too?! :-?

BTW: Do you still want to add a little "Norton commander Clone"?
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: igor on June 05, 2003, 12:14:19 PM
Well, it is up to you whether you'll start other program or not.
Besides, the RT in BART stands for "Recovery Tools" - sure, if you are recovering your computer from a virus infection, it might not be very wise to start (infected) programs  ;D. However, if some other disaster has struck you (wrong file was deleted, bad change to the registry has been done), there's no problem in running your own tools that would help you to fix the problem.

I'm just trying to say that the tool is aimed to administrators, who should know what they're doing  ;)
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Pavel Baudis on June 05, 2003, 12:21:34 PM
Quote
BTW: Do you still want to add a little "Norton commander Clone"?
Well, we have already done it  ;) As you may see on the final beta, there is a special vesrion of Servant Salamander which is great tool to do this job!
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Vlk on June 05, 2003, 12:27:18 PM
Quote
Yes, i know how to SET a PATH!:) But does it has a global effect or does it only set in the Dosbox? Under XP it has only effect in the Dosbox ,to set it global you have to change it in a other way.

Not exactly true, I think. The environment is inherited from parent to child, ie. if you change a value in the parent (cmd.exe) and then impregnate the parent so that it has a baby ;D (i.e. run a child process from it), then it gets the parent genome (environment and stuff) ;D...

Quote
BTW: Do you still want to add a little "Norton commander Clone"?

Hey, and what do you think is the Servant Salamander icon that was added to this beta?? ;) Not exactly "little", rather full-blown, I'd say - and I hope you don't mind...

Quote
Well, it is up to you whether you'll start other program or not.

FYI, for BART 2.0 we're expecting to add a mechanism that would scan every file being executed - so that you won't be able to run an infected program from BART... (something like on-access scanner)


Vlk
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: raman on June 05, 2003, 12:46:56 PM

Hey, and what do you think is the Servant Salamander icon that was added to this beta?? ;)

[disconcerting] Did not start  it!:-| [/disconcerting]

That is what i was looking for! :)


Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: ZombieKIL on June 20, 2003, 03:04:25 PM
I just want to buy a full version, then I will be happy :)

Maybe you will get this one working correctly!!
I brought Avast 4.0 Pro but did not recieve a key or any software :(
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Pavel Mourek on June 20, 2003, 03:48:20 PM
Where and when have you bought avast4? You can send the answer to support@asw.cz
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: w0mbat on July 11, 2003, 12:58:56 PM
Hello.   Using the Beta CD and it's very usefull.

My question is, how can I purchase a licence please?  There are no links I can find to give you money!  :)

Also, how long is the licence valid for? is it a yearly type thing?

Thanks for your efforts :D

Steve in Oz
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Pavel Baudis on July 16, 2003, 02:31:00 PM
Quote
My question is, how can I purchase a licence please?  There are no links I can find to give you money!  
I have a very good news for you!!! We are now working hard to establish the channel and I hope we will start to sell BART even TODAY!!!
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: w0mbat on July 16, 2003, 05:47:14 PM
Awesome.  :D

Thanks for your efforts!

Steve in Oz
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Summit on July 16, 2003, 08:22:02 PM
Long time user of Avast! Home Edition. I am looking to promote BART CD for home users, is there going to be a free version which is cut down? You could probably remove the network libraries and stuff, just the basic tools like the scanning engine and registry editor would be enough. Is this on the horizon or have a just put the cat among the pigeons?
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: raman on July 16, 2003, 08:25:30 PM
I think that will not be possible. You forget that the Main Operating System is an orginal Winxppro Build. I do not think that Microsoft give their OS away for free!;)
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Summit on July 16, 2003, 08:36:37 PM
I'll download the BETA and give it a try. Only read about it so far, thought it was a bootable CD image with all the scanning tools in it?
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Pavel Baudis on July 16, 2003, 08:48:25 PM
Quote
is there going to be a free version which is cut down?
I think that will not be possible.
Raman is right (as usual :) ) And we can't even offer the timelimited demo - so the Final Beta is the only way how to get a feel of it!
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: raman on July 16, 2003, 08:50:48 PM
thought it was a bootable CD image with all the scanning tools in it?

Yes, but the operating System that makes it bootable is Windows XP Pro!:)

You can also use a Linux Version(like  Knoppix or an other "Live-CD"), but than you do not have a good write support for NTFS.
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Summit on July 16, 2003, 09:22:56 PM
Just had a play with the BETA, it is the first time I have seen WinPE (based on the Windows XP kernel) being used. I have got as far as the menu for selecting a scan but I had not installed my promise drivers into the boot strap for the WinPE environment so wasn't able to do a scan. Anyway will try the great old F6 on startup and get the promise drivers installed to see what it is like rather than just admiring the load sequence and buttons ;D

Has anybody tried a PXE boot of the network with this yet?

I do have one question about this product how are you going to sell this? WinPE is one of those dodgy software assurance licenses, are you expecting just large corporates to use this? Sorry to ask but I am very curious to how this is going to work after the BETA.
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: pcguy on July 16, 2003, 09:28:28 PM
What about people who are involved with non profit  user groups who help their members with virus problems? Will the pricing be any different than what is shown on your web site?

Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Pavel Baudis on July 16, 2003, 09:32:12 PM
You can find the designed price list here http://www.avast.com/i_idt_1065.html (it will be slightly changed tonight - and the introductory period will be expanded till August 15th). As you can see, this product is aimed mainly at the network administrators but we expect that it will be very interesting for single experienced users too - it is a very nice toy anyway  ;)
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: pcguy on July 16, 2003, 09:39:02 PM
OK thanks for the quick reply. As I am in Canada the  $419.00 USD  for the technican license roughly converts to $582 CDN, which is more that our non profit group can afford to pay for helping our user group members with their virus problems.

Thanks anyways.

Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: eda on July 16, 2003, 09:43:24 PM
Hi PCGuy and other freeware fans,

I'm very sorry for the fact Raman expreesed above. We can't use it in marketing but everybody will see during the boot that BART is based on Windows XP and we should pay every license we produce. We should pay for Servent Salamander too. And maybe there will be more utilities included in future. And for your information:

1. We can't use any free, public domain or GPL software on BART CD
2. We should write all the aplication included or
3. We should used licensed commercial aplication (and pay for it)
4. We can't produce time limited "Trial" version
5. We can produce the time limited beta version - the current beta is limited to August 30, 2003. And there won't be any other.

The 30% introductory sale is the maximum we can allow our customers and we can't to offer better prices for any nonprofit use.

On the other side avast! BART CD is professional tool and Professionals should pay for their tools!!!

regards    Eda
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: raman on July 16, 2003, 09:48:07 PM
@pcguy I do not know how "big" your Group is, but you have to go to each Member with the one BartCD. I think it is more effectiv to teach your Members not to get infected at all!  :)
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Summit on July 16, 2003, 09:52:01 PM
I've been waiting for a product like this for the last 2 years. I think it is a great product which is very unique and worth its weight in gold.

However I would struggle, like pcguy, to justify this for non-profit use at the pricing you have. Can we sign a agreement between Awil and non-profit users for a very discounted version which is time limited? This would force us to come back for you for updates at a later stage.
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: pcguy on July 16, 2003, 09:52:46 PM
I tell them and tell them untill I am blue in the face but some of them do not listen. They either don't have an antivirus program or if they do it may have months or it never has been updated signature wise. Some of them also have a habit of clicking on each and every attachment that is sent to them via email, even if they don't know the person or were not expecting the attachment.

Is a never ending battle.  :)
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Summit on July 16, 2003, 09:53:44 PM
It looks like my question was answered while I was typing before  :'(
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: raman on July 16, 2003, 09:57:33 PM
IIs a never ending battle.  :)

Sigh, i know what you mean. :( ;)
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: Summit on July 16, 2003, 10:00:50 PM
IIs a never ending battle.  :)

Sigh, i know what you mean. :( ;)

Another Sigh, yes I think we know the pain you are experiencing.

You could always just tell them to put the PC back in the box?
Title: Re:avast! BART CD Final Beta just released
Post by: raman on July 16, 2003, 10:11:37 PM
There are such users, but i have to say, that most of them assume help and i am still learning too!