Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Nex Necis on May 28, 2010, 10:16:54 PM
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I tried to register from within the Avast! console but, the popup graphic is not rendered properly. The only thing that I can do that has any useful affect is to hit the esc key to get rid of the popup. Moving my mouse pointer across the popup makes it redraw the console under the popup.
(continued in next post for reasons of attachment limits)
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...cont
I then registered online and tried inserting the license without any better results as seen in the attachments...
I tried pasting the license in the defunct window and hitting enter key since mouse clicks aren't registered but that was a dead end as well.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
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and you don't get any graphic corruption with any other application?
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correct.
Most of Avast! seems intact besides some of the popups.
I could go through and see which popups do for sure.
Is it a java thing? would updating java help?
(EDIT: I foolishly neglected to post my setup)
Avast! Free Antivirus 5.0.545 on W2K SP4
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correct.
Most of Avast! seems intact besides some of the popups.
I could go through and see which popups do for sure.
Is it a java thing? would updating java help?
I meant other apps but never mind...well if your java isn't up to date it wouldn't hurt to update it, for security concerns. But this can't be the issue with Avast UI, as I don't think it uses Java at all (I may be wrong, a dev could confirm or not)...it uses FlashPlayer in some parts, not the one to register.
What's your operating system...you're saying java is outdated, how about the rest, your graphics drivers, Windows etc...
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sorry, I should have separated my thoughts better. I did mean correct for other apps besides Avast! (my brain is out to destroy me).
I have been meaning to update java and will do so just in case.
Maybe I'll check if I have up to date flash if that's what runs in Avast!
I edited my previous post with some system info (which should have been in my first post). Realistically my whole system is out of date however, my graphics drivers are up to date although it wouldn't hurt to check again. I'm running windows 2000 with SP4 and Avast! Free Antivirus 5.0.545. I have seen rendering issues when a program freezes and takes all of my resources but this isn't like that. My computer is still responsive during the graphics issue, in fact, I made the previous attachments in Corel PhotoPaint 10 while the glitch was up in the Avast! console.
I hesitate to give all of my system info because of all the ROFL that will ensue but here goes...
Dell Dimension XPS B733r (approx. 10 years old) Pentium III 733 Coppermine
ASUS AGP-V6800 DDR SGRAM w/ ASUStek Driver v6.49 (have to be picky with these drivers, latest isn't always greatest)
Various other odds and ends that should be inconsequential. It is old but it out performs newer PCs in my house. (I have half of my parts for a new one)
I will update everything that I can and see if that does anything.
Thanks for your replies.
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hi,
could you try to open the settings window?
probably we have a problem with windows that have transparancy under win2K
thanks,
Yonatan
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<snip>
Maybe I'll check if I have up to date flash if that's what runs in Avast!
I edited my previous post with some system info (which should have been in my first post). Realistically my whole system is out of date however, my graphics drivers are up to date although it wouldn't hurt to check again. I'm running windows 2000 with SP4 and Avast! Free Antivirus 5.0.545. I have seen rendering issues when a program freezes and takes all of my resources but this isn't like that. My computer is still responsive during the graphics issue, in fact, I made the previous attachments in Corel PhotoPaint 10 while the glitch was up in the Avast! console.
<snip>
Thanks for your replies.
Check out these as I don't know if either might have an impact.
- Win2k and avast 5.0 see:
Please make sure you have the Update Rollup 1 installed (it's required for avast! 5):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=B54730CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en
- avast! 5.0 & win2000 missing file, MSVCR90.dll, see http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=55660.0 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=55660.0).
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hi,
could you try to open the settings window?
probably we have a problem with windows that have transparancy under win2K
thanks,
Yonatan
Yes, I am able to open the settings window. In fact the first thing I did was check every available setting in Avast!. I think you're right about it being the transparent windows that cause the problem. Thanks Yonatan.
Areas in Avast! that manifest the graphics glitch
- Password Protect Window - I can see it clearly but not interact with the mouse. I can use the keyboard.
- Game Mode Button - "turn on" on the current status page. After pressing it the popup is unreadable.
- Register Now - anywhere it says "register now" the first window is completely intact and any after are unreadable and unusable
- Insert the license key - on the registration page. Ensuing popup is mostly unreadable and unusable.
- Stop Button - all of the realtime shield pages the stop button popup is unreadable and unusable.
- Virus Chest - page shows no entries although several pups were sent to the chest. (Perhaps Unrelated to this issue)
I believe that I checked every possibility.
I updated java with no change manifested.
Apparently Avast! thinks that I don't have adobe flash installed at all. Checking on adobe's website using FireFox it shows that I have
flash version "WIN 10,0,32,18".
Check out these as I don't know if either might have an impact.
- Win2k and avast 5.0 see:
Please make sure you have the Update Rollup 1 installed (it's required for avast! 5):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=B54730CF-8850-4531-B52B-BF28B324C662&displaylang=en
- avast! 5.0 & win2000 missing file, MSVCR90.dll, see http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=55660.0 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=55660.0).
Thank you DavidR. I will check those. It's amazing that I can spend hours searching and miss relevant information. My search terms must suck!
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I read those articles and downloaded and installed the ms rollup update 1 for sp4. I am pretty sure I already had it, especially since it didn't take as long to install as one might think, because I have automatic updates notify me when there are available updates.
I double checked that MSVCR90.dll was indeed in my system32 folder and it is.
After restarting my computer and opening the Avast! console nothing was different. Still the exact same graphics glitch. Worth a shot though. Thanks.
It looks like I have up to date flash in firefox but none in ie. Perhaps installing flash for ie would let me view the statistics in Avast! and possibly fix the graphics glitch.
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You're welcome, sorry it didn't work.
Yes it would be worth while trying to install flash for IE and see if that works. Though I'm not to hopeful as the images that you posted I don't believe use Flash, only the animates Statistical graphs in the Summary section and the Real-Time Shields use flash. See image, can you see those ?
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b3285.gif - No (statistics)
b3286.gif - Yes (realtime graphs)
All of the realtime graphs work perfectly but all the statistics like b3285.gif show a message that flash must be installed.
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I installed the most recent flash for ie and rebooted. Now I can see the statistics graphs o'--O_O--'o
but it didn't change anything with my graphics glitch, you were right.
I noticed (not surprisingly) that the popup notifications in the system tray are also glitchy.
I'm out of options again...
p.s. As you can see in my screen capture, hxxp does not break the links in those posts. It should probably be wxw instead for those with browsers that linkify text addresses.
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did you try double-clicking the license file? it also works that way.
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I'm trying to register the free version. According to the email I received I'm supposed to copy/paste the text license key into Avast! I thought that the files you're talking about were for the paid subscriptions. I appreciate the idea though.
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Try unchecking the Use special graphics effects in the avast Settings, Basic section, if enabled (I believe they aren't by default).
Going over the topic again, your registration attempts seem to revolve around inserting the registration/license key. Now your second image shows the standard avast pop-up register notification (with the why not upgrade whilst your at it). Presumably this happen when you clicked the Register Now button ?
- Have (or did) you another Anti-Virus installed including avast 4.8 in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?
Personally I would suggest a clean reinstall (especially if 4.8 was installed), now you have Flash, etc. and see if that makes any difference.
- Download the latest version of avast, 5.0.545 http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free.exe (http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free.exe) and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again (if you didn't save your last download). Use that when you reinstall.
- Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, aswClear5.exe find it here (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility) and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for both 4.8 and 5.0). - 1. Now uninstall (using add remove programs, if you can't do that start from the next step), reboot.
- 2. run the avast! Uninstall Utility from safe mode, first for 4.8 if previously installed and then for 5.0, once complete reboot into normal mode.
- 3. install the latest version, reboot.
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oh, my bad. I didn't know you were taking about the free license
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I actually got the exact same problem, but on a Vista system.
Already tryed everything you guys recommendet, even the fresh clean install of avast.
I still didn't find a fix for it, but a workaround.
Copy the license key.
Klick the button to enter the key, now you have that grafical issue, but the form itself still works (you just can't see it)
Try pressing TAB and after that CTRL+V, then press Enter.
Or it was pressing CTRL+V and then TAB and then Enter? I forgot wich way it was sorry, but should be easy to figure out for you :)
Worked for me that way. But still, a real fix would be better.
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I would say Tab first or the ctrl+v (paste) wouldn't be pasted into the inactive window/field.
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Try unchecking the Use special graphics effects in the avast Settings, Basic section, if enabled (I believe they aren't by default).
It was enabled by default but disabling that was the first attempt I made to fix the issue.
Going over the topic again, your registration attempts seem to revolve around inserting the registration/license key. Now your second image shows the standard avast pop-up register notification (with the why not upgrade whilst your at it). Presumably this happen when you clicked the Register Now button ?
I believe you might mean the first image I posted, "RegisterNow.gif", but yes I clicked the register now button when I took that series of screenshots. (or maybe you are saying the second frame of the first image?)
- Have (or did) you another Anti-Virus installed including avast 4.8 in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?
I had a comcast version of mcafee installed but comcast switched to norton so I signed up for the mcafee beta program which removes the previous mcafee using a complete removal tool and requires reboot to remove everything and the installs the beta version. It does this all remotely. I had issues with the beta, it would not install any components- just the console. After several clean and reinstall and techwizard runs the mcafee tech was still stumped and not much help. I figured out that the beta had most likely dropped w2k support completely and so I researched for a better av option which led me here. The last action I took was using a complete removal tool and rebooting several times before installing Avast!. Avast! installed perfectly with no errors just the graphics issue.
Personally I would suggest a clean reinstall (especially if 4.8 was installed), now you have Flash, etc. and see if that makes any difference.
It was a clean install with the latest Avast! Free AntiVirus version available. (5.0.545) Perhaps it would make a difference to fresh install now that flash is in place.
- Download the latest version of avast, 5.0.545 http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free.exe (http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free.exe) and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again (if you didn't save your last download). Use that when you reinstall.
- Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, aswClear5.exe find it here (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility) and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for both 4.8 and 5.0). - 1. Now uninstall (using add remove programs, if you can't do that start from the next step), reboot.
- 2. run the avast! Uninstall Utility from safe mode, first for 4.8 if previously installed and then for 5.0, once complete reboot into normal mode.
- 3. install the latest version, reboot.
out of morbid curiosity, will Avast! remember my settings after removal and reinstall?
oh, my bad. I didn't know you were taking about the free license
It's cool. I'm open to any ideas. :)
Copy the license key.
Klick the button to enter the key, now you have that grafical issue, but the form itself still works (you just can't see it)
I believe that is the case. I cannot read it and the mouse will not interact with it but it should accept keyboard input like the password popup does. (I can see the password popup I believe because the background goes grey)
Try pressing TAB and after that CTRL+V, then press Enter.
Or it was pressing CTRL+V and then TAB and then Enter? I forgot wich way it was sorry, but should be easy to figure out for you :)
thanks. That sounds like it would work with a few tries.
I would say Tab first or the ctrl+v (paste) wouldn't be pasted into the inactive window/field.
should I bother trying to register the program before un-re-installing Avast!? I should probably wait, right?
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1. Your avast settings won't be remembered when doing a clean reinstall. Try savint
2. It wouldn't hurt to try that option copy the registration key, Tab, Ctrl=V and enter before doing the clean reinstall if it doesn't work. Though I suspect you may have other graphical artefacts in the future. So this avast ini file hack might be worth a try for some similar graphical artefacts in avast 4.8 with a certain firewall.
- Menu, Display Remnants, Log Viewer Remnants, Graphics glitches, etc.
- Edit the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Alwil Software\Avast5\avast5.ini (this is the XP location may differ for win2k) using Notepad [Common] section, add the following line to the section SunbeltKPFHack=2, save the file, you will be prompted by the avast! Self-defence module if this is OK answer Yes. Whilst this is primarily for Sunbelt or Kerio Personal Firewalls it may well work even if you don't use either of these firewalls. You may need to reboot to have the changes in the avast4.ini file to come into effect.
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Blind registering worked. It ended up being ctlV tab ent.
I tried the SunbeltKPFHack=2 with no changes after several reboot sequences. Avast! didn't notify me about someone trying to change the file, I just got a system error something about the file possibly being locked. So I used NTFS4DOS to copy a changed version into the directory. It worked well besides not fixing my graphics issue.
Now I suppose that it's on to complete un-re-install. I think I'll give it one more reboot since I haven't after registering.
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If you don't use 'notepad' the other editors are only allowed to open it for read permission, so windows would tell you it is write protected/locked, etc. etc. So did you use windows notepad ?
So if you have been able to enter the key, and effectively got round that particular hiccup, what else is wrong ?
If nothing is wrong, leave it and see if you get any graphical artefacts, which hopefully if you manage to set that hack in the avast5.ini file would resolve that.
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If you don't use 'notepad' the other editors are only allowed to open it for read permission, so windows would tell you it is write protected/locked, etc. etc. So did you use windows notepad ?
I didn't know that. I used Notepad2 to edit it. Good to know for next time.
So if you have been able to enter the key, and effectively got round that particular hiccup, what else is wrong ?
I would say that registering was my most important problem. The graphic artifacts and lack of accepting mouse input in those particular popups is still manifesting. It may be that I will have to just live with these issues. Avast! is usable and working which is more than mcafee was doing and it catches more malware and has more options.
If nothing is wrong, leave it and see if you get any graphical artefacts, which hopefully if you manage to set that hack in the avast5.ini file would resolve that.
The SunbeltKPFHack=2 hack is inplace and the popups are still not rendered correctly and cannot accept mouse input but, c'est la vie.
I wouldn't mind unreinstalling, it will give me an opportunity to go through the settings again and make certain I am familiar with them.
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Given that you also have another topic on the go with a screen saver problem (I don't know if the is the same in win2k), it would probably be best to do a clean reinstall and see if that has any effect on that too.
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@ Nex Necis
I see you have more than 20 posts so you could go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then update your Signature: with information like my signature as this helps the helpers offer pertinent advice like DavidR avast! a Technical advisor.
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Given that you also have another topic on the go with a screen saver problem (I don't know if the is the same in win2k), it would probably be best to do a clean reinstall and see if that has any effect on that too.
Worth a shot... I'll dl the Avast! remover and try it.
I see you have more than 20 posts so you could go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then update your Signature: with information like my signature as this helps the helpers offer pertinent advice like DavidR avast! a Technical advisor.
Thanks... I hadn't noticed that profile option. I guess I haven't looked lately.
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-uninstalled avast and any other programs that I'm not using and rebooted
-rebooted
-booted into safemode and used the avast5 removal tool
-rebooted
-rebooted and installed avast5.0.545
the same graphical errors persist still. avast works great though, I just can't see certain options. I think I'll be able to live with it for now.
Thanks for the help guys. I'll let you know if I ever figure it out. Maybe it would fix it if I reinstall w2k and install avast first thing. (That won't be happening soon) ;)
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You're welcome, sorry it wasn't successful. As you say reinstalling w2k isn't a task to undertake lightly as you would have all the SPs and rollup update 1 to reinstall also without any certainty that it would resolve the problem.