Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: tonisb on March 07, 2011, 09:58:16 PM
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Please help, I am a 'Newbie' in ALL respects. When I click on an option eg. View, Help etc. within the program the option that I select highlights in blue then stays on the screen even after I have closed the program.(Does not happen with any other program) The only way to get rid of it is to shut down the computer and restart.If I open any other program it is still there on top of any window. How do I solve this problem, I cannot find anything similar in the forum.The method to insert a picture in this messeage is also not clear (to a newbie) so I have been unable to insert the screen shot I took.
I recently had a threat to my computer which Avast! thankfully notified me. I followed instruction to 'move to chest'. immediately started a thourough scan, It found it again. I moved it once more to the chest and when the scan had finished I went to the chest and deleted the infected info in the box. Was this the correct procedure as the help section is not clear. Thank you for a wnderful program.
Toni
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Unless you are on something older than Windows 2000 the solution is to upgrade to latest avast! version. Otherwise, 4.8 development is over and support and definitions updates will be over as well soon.
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Yes the 4.8 version is definatly way out of date...Especially when the version 5 and 6 of Avast are way better, and much easier and in orderly fashion ...If you had Avast 4.8 this long, you must have really liked it...You will like version 6 even more...I would suggest to download the Avast Uninstall Utillity tool..for 4.8... and do a clean install of Avast 6....Also if you could rdit your Profile, as so that we are aware of which Windows you are using and which programs you have available ...This would make it alot easier for us to give you advice as regarding to any issues you may have...Luck and welcome to the Forum
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Well tonisb can't edit his profile as s/he only has one post, you need 20 to be able to edit certain areas in the profile (signature being one) or be able to use the PM function.
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Thanxs ..DavidR I didn't know you had to have a certain number of posts to edit your profile.....My mistake...
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Hi Guys,
Thanks for all your info. In my newbieness I presumed that the 4.8 version was still ok as it updated every time I switched on and I still had 1863 days on my license. However I have uninstalled it and downloaded the free 6 version. Can you advise me what, if any, other free program I can download to complement new version and increase my internet security, if necessary.
By the way, I am female, recently retired. New laptop has Windows 7 Pro. I like to download free legit music,videos and pictures to make amazing cards so basically my laptop is my hobby. I have annoying friends who send me awfull jokes they think are funny and have been round the world 10 times. Hence my question - is the free version 6 sufficient.
I also have XPMode Virtual PC which I only use to run a few old games my kids gave me. Do I have to install Avast seperately on that as well? Would there be a conflict?
Thanks guys/girls (?) your help is much appreciated.
Toni
Toni
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Hi Toni,
For your Win7 machine, you can use Avast Free and Windows 7 firewall if you like free stuff. I would also recommend that you download and install MBAM (Malwarebytes) as an on-demand scanner http://www.malwarebytes.org/ (http://www.malwarebytes.org/); there is a free version (blue button) and a one-time paid version for resident protection.
For your XP machine, yes you need an antivirus on that machine. Avast Free would be fine. As long as you don't go on the Internet, you shouldn't need a firewall (FW), but you can enable the XP FW anyway so you don't get annoying pop-up's. If you do go online, then you need a third-party FW and the XP FW is not sufficient since it only provides 1-way protection and not 2-way protection.
Let us know if you have additional questions. Thank you.
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Thankyou Safesurf,
I will do as you suggest.
Thanks again
Toni :)
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Thanks for all your info. In my newbieness I presumed that the 4.8 version was still ok as it updated every time I switched on and I still had 1863 days on my license. However I have uninstalled it and downloaded the free 6 version. Can you advise me what, if any, other free program I can download to complement new version and increase my internet security, if necessary.
Your license is still valid even on avast 6.0 Pro although it can't be directly used, it has to be converted.
- avast! 6 Pro license convert from 4.8 Pro license. Try http://www.avast.com/resend-license.php (http://www.avast.com/resend-license.php) now, fill in the form giving your email address (I believe it has to be the same one used for purchase of 4.8 license, so they can find it) and your 4.8 Pro License key and they will send the new license file to you (presumably it will check you have a legit 4.8 Pro license first).
When you receive the email it should have an attachment (or a link to download the license file) license.avastlic, save that to your hard disk where you can find it again.
You should be able to be able to enter than in the avastUI, Maintenance, Registration section, Insert avast! Pro Antivirus license file button. From the explorer like window navigate to where you saved the license.avastlic file on your hard disk. You should keep a backup copy of your license, USB stick or CD, etc.
<snip>
Thanks guys/girls (?) your help is much appreciated.
Toni
No problem, glad I could help.
Welcome to the forums.
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Hey, Toni...You did not tell us your thoughts on the new look of Avast...How do you like the changes and the way it is set up compared to the 4.8 Avast?....
If you use your PC as a hobby..I can suggest the "cnet.com website ...Windows downloads"....You can read and check out all kinds of free and paid versions of all kinds of programs..Just write in their search for what interests you...And if you find something you like "" I Always read the "Negative Users Ratings" FIRST of that software program down below"" to make my decission for the programs worthiness...The Cnet Staff does rate the programs and software also but do get a bonus for better rates for software from certain companies... Big example of that is "Symantec" Rated highly buy the Cnet Staff, yet the users aren't happy at all with Symantec....
Also I use Spywareblaster and Spybot S&D, alongside Avast on my windows XP SP3 with no issues...Although I will probably hear negative comments on the free Spybot S&D, most people here feel it is very outdated, but I've been using it for the last 4 years and never had issues...Also I get along good with "Spybot TASHI" on the Spybot forum and would definately miss her...Ha Ha...
Other awesome programs I use are...as a second opinion scanners only...Superantispyware, and Malwarebytes Free, which I am very fond of and hope to upgrade to one of them in paid version for Maximum protection....CCleaner is awesome for your computers health issues, it's free...ha ha...fixes all your junk and leftovers from updates and uninstallers, makes the computer faster, and lighter...Eusing free is just a free version of registry cleaner only, and I find it does the job well also not as agressive on your registry in the simple mode....You can find all these programs on Cnet.com and read their reviews and ratings to make your final decission...And remember Negative comments are aways the priority...
Ohh ...I definately know that this post will be Disected with so many different opinions...But one thing we al agree on is Safe surfing... and I always welcome people's opinions...And "negative comments"...The best way to rate is when you hear the negative...
Cheers and Safe Surfing
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Hey Tony never take notice of users that use Advanced System Care free, Revo Un installer, Flash Cookie Cleaner, IE7 as they do not know what they are doing. :'(
Especially since they still use Spybot S&D that is now obsolete. ;)
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Ok Guys/Girls,
Stop squabling! I have tried the first advice, lets see what happens. If I'm not happy then I will try the second. I want to learn as much as I can.
I had the SuperAntiSpyware with the old 4.8, no problems with it but am now trying MBAM. Thanks for the further advice Darin.
The new 6 version of Avast! looks very nice. Am downloading onto hubby's laptop today as well.
Thank everyone,
Toni
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You're welcome Toni. Let us know if you have any additional questions. Feel free to browse the forum sections, ask questions any time you need help or to learn something new. We are here 24/7 for your convenience. Thank you. :)
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Good Morning Safesurf,
I do have another question (3 actually!). As I said I am going to download new version Avast on my husbands computor. He has Windows XP Pro SP3. He also has SuperAntiSpyware as aa secong option. Do I need a third party Firewall(TPFW) for him? If so, what is a TPFW, where do I get one and how does it work alongside the built in Windows FW or do I turn that off? What does 2 way protection mean?
In the past when I receive notification that a virus has been found I panic and force immediate shutdown. Disconnect from the modem and restart, then I run a through scan and go on from there. What is the right thing to do if this happens again?
Sorry to trouble you with such basic questions.
xxx Toni
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No problem with questions, that is what I am here for. ;)
2-way protection for a FW means that the FW is protecting you from things coming into your machine as well as going out. The XP FW only offers 1-way protection, so it is almost worthless. You need 2-way protection. Some 2-way FW's that are compatible with Avast are Online Armour (free or paid), Outpost (free or paid), Comodo (without antivirus). As with any security program, you will need to add both the FW and Avast to each other's exclusions to avoid a potential conflict.
When you get a notification of a virus, do not shut the machine down. Some malware actually will prevent you from booting up. So instead follow the prompts from Avast and put the virus in the Virus Chest, where it is safe...it is an isolated area where the rest of your machine cannot gain access to it. We recommend you leave things there for at least 3 weeks. During that time after getting virus definition updates, you can right click the items in the Chest and rescan it. If it comes out clean, you can restore the clean items from the Chest back to your machine. This might be important if it is an important file. Of course running a scan is always a good thing to do as well; make sure you have the updated virus definitions before you run a scan. If highly suspicious of something, run a scan, but also run a boot-time scan as well. One thing you do not want to do is to "delete" something. When in doubt about something, come to the forum and ask questions. We are here 24/7 even for malware removal.
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Thanks will do exactly what you say. will go for Online Armour as you mentioned that one first.
Cheers,Toni :)
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DAMN, DAMN, Safesurf please help me.I decided before I installed Online Armour on my husbands machine to install it in my XPMode Virtual machine just in case I ever wanted to go on the internet from there. 1st time it told me it was forbidden by my server then I upgraded to Explorer 8 and it downloaded fine. Added Avast! to the exclusions, no problem then it asked me to restart to take effect. Ok, I clicked to restart thinking I could add Online Amour to the Avast! exclusions once back in . Here is the problem, My Virtual Machine now cannot open. It tries, then it tells me that the integration features are not enabled. I have been to system tools, Administrator tools, everywhere. If I click on continue then it asks me for a password. Well I know the password I gave the technician in the shop when he set everything up (it won't work) but he has now immigrated to UK! Now I know this issue is not an Avast problem and will contact Windows Support but would appreciate any thoughts from you.
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It is good that you upgraded IE to IE8. As for your problem of not being able to go online now, I think it may have something with this being a virtual machine. Since I don't use this, I have sent a message to someone who may be able to help you, so please hang in there and be patient for them to reply in this thread. Otherwise, another helper may come along with a suggestion.
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So if the issue is the password.....Did you try click on settings and disable integration features then (use username XPMUser without a password) and that should log you in...Or am I misunderstanding something...and or can you explain it a little more in case I am misunderstanding this..
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As for your problem of not being able to go online now, I think it may have something with this being a virtual machine. Since I don't use this, I have sent a message to someone who may be able to help you.
The person replied to me and suggested that you seek help from the OA forum since you have a VM and using OA and we are not familiar with this but they are. Here is the link to their forum site: http://support.emsisoft.com/forum/29-online-armor-firewall/ (http://support.emsisoft.com/forum/29-online-armor-firewall/). Please let us know the outcome so that we can help others regarding this problem in the future.
What you can do now temporarily is to uninstall OA via the OA uninstaller tool and reboot twice. Enable Window Firewall temporarily for some protection. See if you can get back online.
Run CCleaner (to clean up remnants), a free system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. There is a Slim version available as well at http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds (http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds) – 4th option down. It removes unused files (cache, temporary Internet files, etc.) from your system, allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner.
Let us know if you can get back online, but still seek assistance from the OA link I gave you.
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Sorry Safesurf, have been away for the weekend for a break from this 'flippin' machine. My original "DAMN DAMN" message I think has been misunderstood. Within the XPMode Virtual Machine in my Win7 Pro laptop I had no problem connecting to the internet. Downloaded new version of Avast! then tried to download OA as an extra firewall. My server would not let me download OA until I upgraded to IE 8 then it downloaded fine. I added Avast! to the 'exceptions'of OA (sorry in my last msg I incorrectly typed 'exclusions', no problem was apparent but it asked me to restart my computer which I did thinking I could add OA to Avast!'s exceptions once back in.
The problem is not connecting back to the internet - I CANNOT ACCESS THE VIRTUAL MACHINE. I have never needed a password before so when prompted I tried the only password I knew which was the one I gave the tech.(main wIN 7 password) who set up the laptop me. I am told to enable intergration features in the tools menu by pressing continue but the option is greyed out. The 'Help' Option does not help me. The intergration options in the main computer show it is 'not available' but no option to enable, anything I click does not respond. I am the Owner/Administrator/User (everything), Not shared with anyone or anything. Thanks
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Did you try (use username XPMUser without a password) and that should log you in...
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In Other words write in .....XPMUser ....as your username... and leave the password blank...and log in....
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Hi Daris,
The login window opens with XPMUser already inserted and yes I have tried leaving the password blank and it tells me I need a password and domain to log in. at the top of the black screen I have the options to access settings but the options are all greyed out. I cannot get into XP to change whatever it is I have done wrong.
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Well, considering that a reinstall of the XP Mode takes just a while...
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Hi tonisb
Did you try or will it let you do this?
) Edit the settings of the VM, and change the close behavior to "Shutdown" (only required if your VM isn't shut down currently).
2) Open your VM, and if you can click on the Shutdown button at the login window, do so - pick Restart.
3) Continually hit F8 as it is "rebooting". If you do it right, you should get the usual Safe Mode boot choices.
4) Pick the first choice - Safe Mode.
5) At the login screen, type in Administrator for the username, no password - you will log in unless you purposefully somehow set a password on the Administrator account. If you've forgotten this password - you're going to have to use special programs to recover the password which I won't cover here.
6) Once logged in, go to the Control Panel and select Users & Groups. Click the XPMUser account and select Remove Password (or you can reset it - up to you).
7) Reboot once again (don't forget to change the settings for the VM back to Hibernate)
......Cheers and Safe Surfing!!!!!!
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Hi Daris,
What you suggect sounds as if it might work,thankyou for setting it out in terms I can understand and hopefully follow. I will definately try this soon. If all else fails I will re-install XPMode which I believe is a free download. That would mean I have failed and I hate that!
Please give me a few days to get back to you as my dog has started showing signs that her pups are due today so I will have my hands full. I will get back to you.
Many many thanks.
Toni
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Heh, have fun with your little pups then, XP Mode can wait.
The F8 trick - I know it is possible with VMWare since it actually shows entire boot process including POST (virtual BIOS). With Virtual PC/XP Mode, I cannot see anything this early, just a pretty much useless progress bar. I can hit F8 as mad and nothing happens.
(And yeah, it is a free download from MS.)
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Hi Doktornotor,
2+2 = 4 but not always. You mentioned the dreaded word BIOS! The same day that my problem started with the Virtual Machine there was a large BIOS update. Is it possible (I didn't connect the dots before) that this could have caused the problem and not the security download within XP Mode? BIOS is beyond my scope of expertise and am scared to go there.
Toni xx
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2+2 = 4 but not always. You mentioned the dreaded word BIOS! The same day that my problem started with the Virtual Machine there was a large BIOS update. Is it possible (I didn't connect the dots before) that this could have caused the problem and not the security download within XP Mode? BIOS is beyond my scope of expertise and am scared to go there.
Well, no idea really. You can always try to downgrade to the previous BIOS version and check, can't you?
P.S. I should point out I didn't mean the real BIOS on your motherboard, VMWare has it's own BIOS (which you can replace with a custom one after a bit of hacking, no idea about Virtual PC.) I only mentioned this b/c of the F8 boot menu/safe mode trick. With VMWare you can actually watch the POST on the virtual machine and the entire boot process, not really the case with Virtual PC as far as I can tell.
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Thanks, I continue to learn, I will be back in a few days.
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Hi Guys,
Sorry it took more than a few days to get back to you. I had 4 Westie puppies that needed hand rearing but all ok now.
In the morning, after trying everything, and given up, I am going to uninstall the whole shebang and start afresh, I really hope this is the answer. I will reinstall Avast but stay clear of Online Armor. Presume Windows firewall is there so will use that but will try not to connect to the internet from within XP Mode (Except to download Avast!)unless I really need to. All went fine before until I added Avast to the OA exceptions. Hold thumbs, I will let you know how it goes,
Thanks for your help and patience,
Toni S-B (South Africa) :-* and a big hug.
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I did it!! I gave up and reinstalled XPMode. Not proud as I really wanted to figure it out but thats Life. Everything is working fine and hope it will continue to do so.
I have reinstalled Avast! on my new XPMode and enabled the Windows Firewall. What is my risk in not having a third party firewall? I do NOT want to go through all this again even if I do now know the password.? Any other suggestions if my protection is not enough?
Thanks, Toni
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Toni, Windows XP Firewall does not offer outbound protection.
But, really, in XPMode you can live with it.
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I have reinstalled Avast! on my new XPMode and enabled the Windows Firewall. What is my risk in not having a third party firewall? I do NOT want to go through all this again even if I do now know the password.? Any other suggestions if my protection is not enough?
As was mentioned, XP firewall only offers 1-way protection. I realize you have been through a lot at this point. You may want to consider a third-party firewall (FW) like Online Armor (free or paid), Outpost (free or paid), Comodo (without the AV) - these have not had conflicts with Avast, or you can change completely and upgrade to Avast IS (AIS).
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Hi Guys,
I think as Tech says I will Live with it, for the moment anyway and see how it goes.
Thanks for everything.
Cheers,
Toni