Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: marky000 on January 20, 2010, 02:18:21 AM
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Hi Guys.
Before I continue, I want to say that I don't think that AVAST is the culprit here but seeming as the product is involved as part of the symptoms, I thought I'd try my luck for a resolution in here.
Here is the sad and sorry story.
Client has a HP Laptop running Windows Vista SP1. About 4 months ago, she was able to surf the Internet but was unable to login to secure websites such as Yahoo Mail, Hotmail and Online Bank sites.
Anyway, after a lot of investigations, I found out the problem was an update that was installed, namely, update KB974455 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/974455 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/974455)). After, I uninstalled the update, everything was fine. I hid the update so it would not be downloaded again and kept Windows update at the default setting of download and install updates automatically.
4 months later I get a call and guess what, the same problem of not being able to login to secure websites was occuring again. When I check the laptop again, I could not see any evidence that the KB974455 update had been installed again. However, I did notice that it was no longer a hidden update so it theoretically could be downloaded and installed again.
Anyway, after uninstalling a bunch of updates that had been recently installed, I found the culprit, namely update KB976325 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976325 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976325). As you can see, this update supersedes KB974455. This would probably explain why the update was no longer hidden. Both updates are referred to as "a cumulative security patch for Internet Explorer".
Well, feeling very proud of myself that I had once again defeated Windows Updates, I noticed that Avast 4.8 Free was not updated. I tried to update it though the management console and got a message of "cannot connect to 767sl.avast.com". I downloaded the latest definitions file on another computer and then run the update executable on the problem laptop. The update worked and AVAST was up-to-date. I then tried a full uninstall and reinstall but same proplem was occuring.
During troubleshooting, I noticed that IE was now totally broken with all pages coming back as "DNS error". I then uninstalled AVAST and IE was working perfectly again.
I decided to try out AVG Free to see if it was an AVAST problem. Well, guess what, same problem, AVG cannot update automatically or through management console. However, at least with AVG, IE still performs normally so at this stage it is the preffered option.
Where to from here guys?
I have tried a "sfc /scannow" with no luck. I am thinking of installing IE8 and then SP2 for Vista but I hate the fact of having to install more updates to correct previous buggy updates.
I really am over Windows updates completely and have started disabling them on most of my client's (home user) machines. From my experience, for the average home user, most updates are redundant and provide little security improvement.
The only thing is, my business is now suffereing because all my client's machines are running flawlessly now that auto Windows updates have been disabled.
Usually, I update the major updates manually. These would include the following:
1) Service Packs for Windows
2) IE8
3) Junk e-mail filter for Outlook
4) Windows Media player for multimedia users.
Sorry for going of track guys but I have been wanting to say this for ages.
Anyway, your ideas of how to proceed would be appreciated.
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I have installed Avast Antivirus Professional 4.8 which I purchased and received a registration key.
I have read most of the comments made in respect to the 5 version which are mixed at times and I am reluctant at the moment to download the upgrade.
Question : Has anyone out there received feedback from Alwil direct and have they made any comments to their customers?
I have sent e-mails to: - Avast Support Team; Avast Technical Support Center - ALWIL Software; ALWIL Software support and Avast Sales. No responses so far!!
Would be pleased to receive comments from users out there.
If you wish to e-mail me direct, then my e-mail address is jay@waldonet.net.mt.
Maltaman
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@ Maltaman: start a new thread, this is completely off topic here ::) ... and avoid leaving your email address in a post, unless you like spam ;D
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@ marky000: the issues you describe here have not much to do with avast or avg etc...it has to do with broken Windows installs, and dismissing major Windows updates is a very bad idea. Windows should either be repaired or reinstalled on the systems you mentioned, but for the sake of your friends, customers or whoever they are, don't "fix" issues by uninstalling and hiding Microsoft Windows Updates, especially security packs for Internet Explorer ::) These systems you describe could also be infected with viruses and/or spyware, do a MalwareByte scan and see the output ;) http://www.malwarebytes.org/
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Yep, Having constant problems updating virus database avast 5. It seems to do what it likes on my computer. Was working perfect on avast 4.8 as i removed this compleatly before installing avast 5. It is crappy! and buggy compared to avast 4.8 >:(