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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 03:21:11 PM

Title: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Scan Anything (Doesn't work) [Avast IS v7]
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 03:21:11 PM
I think there is something wrong with my Avast firewall. On my PC it scans bytes in and out however on my laptop it never does anything. Is this usual?

Print screen : http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=xfu49u&s=5

Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit
Avast IS Latest Version
Malwarebytes Pro
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: MAG on February 25, 2012, 04:25:32 PM
No - assuming you are connected to the internet (browsers work, programs update etc) then that does not look right.

First thing I would do is to make sure that windows firewall is turned on (it is compatible with avast firewall)  to make sure you have some software firewall protection (you are hopefully behind a router hardware firewall anyway?)

What previous security software/FW did you have on the machine before AIS, and how was it uninstalled? Did you use the manufacurers dedicated uninstaller in windows safe mode? If not, get it from eg here http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN146
and do so now.

Then you could try an avast repair - but personally I have never found it to repair anything.

I would remove and reinstall the firewall component.

(i) Control panel-uninstall-AIS-uninstall/change-change-next-uncheck FW component-reboot.

(ii) Then repeat the above but this time check FW component.

If you have ccleaner installed run it between (i) and (ii) until it finds no more registry issues (but that shouldn't really be necessary). If you do run registry cleaner save its changes when prompted in case you need  to restore

Let us know if that works.

(If the above doesn't work then you could do a complete unintall/reinstall of AIS (with aswclear.exe (download from avast.com) run in safe mode between the two).
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 04:39:19 PM
Okay, I will try this now. Thanks.
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: MAG on February 25, 2012, 04:41:21 PM
Alikhan - see them mod to my post - forgot to ask about previous securitiy software
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 05:28:31 PM
My previous AV was AVG which I uninstalled with the respective tools.
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 05:43:41 PM
I've done what you told me to but It has not made a difference. I've  even tried the aswclear tool. Anyone need any logs?
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: MAG on February 25, 2012, 05:47:45 PM
So a clean install didn't solve it either?

What do you see under Firewall/Network connections? Any sign of bytes in or out?

Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: Hermite15 on February 25, 2012, 05:48:26 PM
you'd be better off checking actual connections in the connection panel ;) ... other than that Avast uses flash player for animations (graphs etc...), make sure you got it installed (and updated) on the system where you see no apparent traffic - at graph level only.
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 05:50:07 PM
Which Flash player? Adobe?
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: MAG on February 25, 2012, 05:53:45 PM
Thanks for dropping in to help logos - this is looking beyond me!

(I don't have flash player installed by the way - so I can't see avast! traffic history graphs - but I can see the activity display fine - which is what Alikhan seems to be missing)
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: Hermite15 on February 25, 2012, 05:55:24 PM
Which Flash player? Adobe?

yes ... you know of any other Flash Player ? ;) (so again Adobe and not any other Linux like replacement)
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 05:56:04 PM
I have Adobe Flash player but no difference. Updated and rebooted too.
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 06:20:51 PM
Done a clean uninstall and reinstall with the aswclear tool. No difference.
Title: Re: Question regarding Avast Firewall
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 06:34:14 PM
Whenever I do an avast repair I get this message. Please help. After a reboot, my avast Firewall is gone.

Print Screen : http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=vzvtle&s=5
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work v7
Post by: MAG on February 25, 2012, 07:21:15 PM
I'm afraid I'm well out my depth now - but just a thought that might provide info to someone better informed.


After you have uninstalled and run aswclear, what drivers starting asw.. are left in C:windows\system32\drivers folder (if any)?


Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work v7
Post by: Hermite15 on February 25, 2012, 07:36:10 PM
the firewall and the mail shield are the two components  that have issues off and on at install time. It's been like that since V5. say you uninstalled the fw and want it back, chances are that you won't get it back  - module won't be running - not always the case but most of the time. Then repair won't help, most of the time ... while it does, sometimes ... only the devs can help here. Otherwise >>> clean install. Yeah I know, the OP here did a clean install a short while ago :-\
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work v7
Post by: MAG on February 25, 2012, 08:25:01 PM
Not a good situation.

Alikhan - If nobody else comes up with any bright suggestions I think you will have to put in a support ticket.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work v7
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 09:00:57 PM
I don't know what is wrong. There's no files beginning with asw in the drivers folder. Any devs here who can help?
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work v7
Post by: Hermite15 on February 25, 2012, 09:23:28 PM
I don't know what is wrong. There's no files beginning with asw in the drivers folder. Any devs here who can help?

wait I'll pm one ;) ...
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work v7
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 09:27:20 PM
Thanks.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 09:48:20 PM
I've tried the aswclear tool 3 times to no avail now. Could something else be affecting it?
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 10:00:06 PM
Please help.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: MAG on February 25, 2012, 10:06:56 PM
Is it worth re-running the avg uninstall utility in windows safe mode (hit f8 at boot) do you think to see if it finds any leftovers?

(Don't worry too much about a temporary lack of AIS FW by the way - windows FW is effective at blocking inbound connections, and the other avast shields would hopefully block any malware before it connected outbound anyway - as would your mbam pro).
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 10:07:58 PM
I've tried that about an hour ago. It deleted some things.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: MAG on February 25, 2012, 10:11:22 PM
Have you tried AIS FW re-installation since (I'm guessing you probably have)?
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 10:13:08 PM
Doing another clean install now.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 10:21:32 PM
Nope. Another clean install didn't work.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 10:46:19 PM
Is there anything I can do to fix this other then wait for a dev?
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 11:24:14 PM
Bump.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Paul Rodgers on February 25, 2012, 11:30:50 PM
Try using ccleaner (http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner) to clean up any leftover registry keys.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Hermite15 on February 25, 2012, 11:34:37 PM
Try using ccleaner (http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner) to clean up any leftover registry keys.

won't change much I fear ... also, @the OP, if you run Ccleaner, don't delete registry keys globally there, look for Avast stuff only (while it's not installed).
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 11:35:50 PM
Done it but still no difference.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Alikhan on February 25, 2012, 11:38:46 PM
Any other things I can do???
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: ady4um on February 26, 2012, 12:00:22 AM
In theory, the following procedure should work:

1_ Download http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility) and the avast installer (so to reinstall anew after the procedure).
2_ Boot into Windows Safe Mode (WSM for short here).
3_ Uninstall avast using "Add/Remove Programs", if possible.
4_ Reboot again into WSM.
5_ Run aswclear for avast 7.
6_ Reboot again into WSM.
7_ Run aswclear for avast 6.
8_ If you ever had installed or updated from other older avast versions (like v.5. or even v.4.), then repeat the last 2 steps - ie the reboot into WSM and run aswclear - selecting each time each version of avast.
9_ Reboot again into WSM.
10_ Set Windows Explorer to show all "System" and Hidden" files, and to show known files' extensions.
11_ Search for any folder with a name containing "avast*" and/or "alwil*". For example, "Alwil Software", or "avast5".
12_ Delete those folders found in the previous step.
13_ Search for files starting with "asw*" inside "C:/windows/system32/drivers/".
14_ For each file found in the previous step, right click -> properties. If the file is from "Alwil" or "Avast", delete the file.
15_ Reboot into Windows Normal Mode.
16_ Select the setup.exe installer of avast. Right click on it -> properties -> UNBLOCK (if the button is not grayed out).
17_ Select the setup.exe installer of avast. Right click on it -> "Run as administrator" if such option is available. If it is not, the simply "Run".
18_ Once the installation procedure finishes, wait until the HDD led stops blinking "like crazy" (as oppose to blinking infrequently as usual).
19_ Reboot.
20_ After the first reboot, use the system as usual. Test it. Avoid rebooting immediately. Keep testing. No need for immediate registration nor avast accounts. Leave it for when all is fine and really working correctly.
21_ After a couple of hours, reboot and test if any strange quirks show up.
22_ Report back.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Hermite15 on February 26, 2012, 12:06:41 AM
In theory, the following procedure should work:

1_ Download http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility) and the avast installer (so to reinstall anew after the procedure).
2_ Boot into Windows Safe Mode (WSM for short here).
3_ Uninstall avast using "Add/Remove Programs", if possible.
4_ Reboot again into WSM.
5_ Run aswclear for avast 7.
6_ Reboot again into WSM.
7_ Run aswclear for avast 6.
8_ If you ever had installed or updated from other older avast versions (like v.5. or even v.4.), then repeat the last 2 steps - ie the reboot into WSM and run aswclear - selecting each time each version of avast.
9_ Reboot again into WSM.
10_ Set Windows Explorer to show all "System" and Hidden" files, and to show known files' extensions.
11_ Search for any folder with a name containing "avast*" and/or "alwil*". For example, "Alwil Software", or "avast5".
12_ Delete those folders found in the previous step.
13_ Search for files starting with "asw*" inside "C:/windows/system32/drivers/".
14_ For each file found in the previous step, right click -> properties. If the file is from "Alwil" or "Avast", delete the file.
15_ Reboot into Windows Normal Mode.
16_ Select the setup.exe installer of avast. Right click on it -> properties -> UNBLOCK (if the button is not grayed out).
17_ Select the setup.exe installer of avast. Right click on it -> "Run as administrator" if such option is available. If it is not, the simply "Run".
18_ Once the installation procedure finishes, wait until the HDD led stops blinking "like crazy" (as oppose to blinking infrequently as usual).
19_ Reboot.
20_ After the first reboot, use the system as usual. Test it. Avoid rebooting immediately. Keep testing. No need for immediate registration nor avast accounts. Leave it for when all is fine and really working correctly.
21_ After a couple of hours, reboot and test if any strange quirks show up.
22_ Report back.


@ the OP : just ignore the above ... I mailed a dev, he will help you. This might be tomorrow, so just stay calm until then ;) ... this just a firewall problem, your life doesn't depend on it.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Alikhan on February 26, 2012, 12:39:04 AM
You posted that too late. I DID all 22 steps AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. What an earth is wrong?
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Work ( Avast IS v7)
Post by: Hermite15 on February 26, 2012, 12:51:18 AM
You posted that too late. I DID all 22 steps AND IT STILL DIDN'T WORK. What an earth is wrong?

just wait until tomorrow, it's almost 1am here in Europe. Lukor (the avast dev in charge of the firewall) will probably come here and help you. In the meantime,  use the system where Avast runs fine, and stop worrying that much ok? ;)
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Scan Anything (Doesn't work) [Avast IS v7]
Post by: Alikhan on February 26, 2012, 12:53:57 AM
Okay, will do. I'm in Europe too. Nearly 12 PM here.
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Scan Anything (Doesn't work) [Avast IS v7]
Post by: lukor on February 26, 2012, 06:10:03 AM
Hi Alikhan,
most probably the firewall was not installed at all. Could please send me your setup.log file (stored here: "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\Setup\setup.log" ). There should be notes about installed drivers and fails. We might be able to find out which component of the firewall fails to install and what is the error code it displays.

You can also open CMD.EXE and type the following commands, all these services should be installed and running:

SC QUERY aswndis2

SC QUERY aswfw

SC QUERY "Avast! Firewall"


If any of these command displays anything different than:

C:\>SC QUERY "Avast! Firewall"

SERVICE_NAME: Avast! Firewall
        TYPE               : 20  WIN32_SHARE_PROCESS
        STATE              : 4  RUNNING
                                (STOPPABLE, NOT_PAUSABLE, ACCEPTS_SHUTDOWN)
        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)
        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)
        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0
        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0

then we have a problem.

Please post the log and output from these commands. Thanks.
Lukas

mail: rypacek (at) youknowwhere
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Scan Anything (Doesn't work) [Avast IS v7]
Post by: Hermite15 on February 26, 2012, 10:11:34 AM
@lukor thanks for posting ;)
@alikhan please do exactly what Lukor asks you to do
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Scan Anything (Doesn't work) [Avast IS v7]
Post by: Alikhan on February 26, 2012, 12:10:08 PM
Thank you for helping me, Lukor.

The setup.log ( Link to mediafire since the log was too big to be uploaded here) : http://www.mediafire.com/?nzxzzfcf5lak8bz

Here is a printscreen showing all the queries being ran in cmd. : http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2mxn1iq&s=5
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Scan Anything (Doesn't work) [Avast IS v7]
Post by: Alikhan on February 26, 2012, 03:12:21 PM
What else do I need to do?
Title: Re: My Avast Firewall Doesn't Scan Anything (Doesn't work) [Avast IS v7]
Post by: Hermite15 on February 26, 2012, 03:13:04 PM
What else do I need to do?

wait for Lukor's feedback ;)