Avast With Outlook Connector / Windows Live Desktop

[Drazick]

Hello.
I have the latest AVAST Home Edition on Windows XP SP2.
I installed Outlook Connector over Outlook 2003.
For some reason it didn't work, I contacted the technical support tried various things and they said we can't find the problem, will you try Windows Live Desktop?

I installed it as well, it didn't work as well.
They referred me to a "Delta Sync" specialist. "Delta Sync' is the Mail Protocol used on Hotmail Live clients.

We ran some test, after investigating my log files he suggested that my Anti Virus makes the connection problem.
I removed Avast and installed Nod32.
And it worked like charm :-)

They concluded that Avast it doing something wrong, Will you address it?
Cause I really like Avast and want it back.

Thanks.

[Lisandro]

I've you keep avast, we could generate logs and try to solve the mystery.
Do you use a firewall? Was ashMaiSv.exe and ashWebSv.exe allowed to connect?

I removed Avast and installed Nod32.

It's not free 

[DavidR]

As has been said without avast installed it is hard (read impossible) to find the fault and help you rectify it.

[Drazick]

I've you keep avast, we could generate logs and try to solve the mystery.
Do you use a firewall? Was ashMaiSv.exe and ashWebSv.exe allowed to connect?

I removed Avast and installed Nod32.

It's not free 

I'll help solve it...
I will reinstall it.

Which Logs are you interested in?
If you want the one I've sent Microsoft I can post it here.

I use XP SP2 Firewall.

EDIT:
The log I've sent to MS is attached.

[alanrf]

Are the only accounts you are using Hotmail accounts?

If they are then avast mail scanning functions are totally uninvolved.

"Delta Sync" is the name for the encrypted version of the good old WebDav that is used to allow all Hotmail Live accounts (free & paid for) to use a WebDav (http) connection to the Hotmail service and have an IMAP experience with the Live Mail Desktop (now better known as Windows Live Mail). 

Only paid for Hotmail accounts (or grandfathered old free accounts) work with the old style of Webdav with Outlook 2003. 

In either case this is not an email connection at all (as understood by avast) but an http connection to the server.     

[Drazick]

Are the only accounts you are using Hotmail accounts?

If they are then avast mail scanning functions are totally uninvolved.

"Delta Sync" is the name for the encrypted version of the good old WebDav that is used to allow all Hotmail Live accounts (free & paid for) to use a WebDav (http) connection to the Hotmail service and have an IMAP experience with the Live Mail Desktop (now better known as Windows Live Mail). 

Only paid for Hotmail accounts (or grandfathered old free accounts) work with the old style of Webdav with Outlook 2003. 

In either case this is not an email connection at all (as understood by avast) but an http connection to the server.     

Using Outlook Connector:
http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsexperience/archive/2007/06/11/microsoft-office-outlook-connector-beta-now-available.aspx

http://mailcall.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!CC9301187A51FE33!43718.entry

Any Hotmail Live account is accessable using Outlook just like IMAP account (Or Live Mail Desktop for that matter).
They both use Delta Sync.

I'm not a techincal man, Yet all I know that Delta Sync specialist told me my Anti Virus is making the problems.
I tried another Anti Virus and it worked like charm.

So my guess is there's something wrong with Avast.

[alanrf]

I did not say there was no problem with avast. 

I was explaining for you (and for the other contributors) why this is not a problem with the avast email scanner. 

I have since looked at the Outlook Connector and see that is intended to allow the "new type" Webdav accounts that ordinarily would not be permitted to work with Outlook to do so.  WebDav (or Delta Sync if you like) is not an email connection it is a Web connection.

I also explained that avast works just fine with Outlook and Window Live Mail for me with XP SP2 and Windows firewall. 

So the difference appears to be that you have the Outlook Connector installed and I do not. 

avast has, by default, the Webshield activated that scans your Web (http) connections.  These Hotmail accounts are all being served by http connections.  The Outlook connector will certainly have to modify the http connections for new free Hotmail Live accounts to make them work with Outlook.  It may well be that the intercepts it uses are not compatible with the Webshield of avast.  That would also explain why a different antivirus, without avast's Webshield, allows the Outlook Connector to work.

Couple of possible ways to help isolate the problem if you are willing to help.

With avast installed:

1) Please un-install (completely remove) the Outlook Connector
2) Please try Windows Live Mail client with your Hotmail accounts (Windows Live Mail does not need Outlook Connector)
3) If you have an account that works with Outlook 2003 (without Outlook Connector installed) please try that.

Please let us know if your accounts then work.  That would isolate the Outlook Connector as being the the place where we need to concentrate on avast possibly interferring.
       

[Drazick]

I had a problem with Outlook Connector.
MS couldn't resolve it.
They suggested I try Windows Live Mail, which I did with no success.
The Windows Live Mail support team referred me to a "Delta Sync" specialist.
I've sent him Windows Live Mail Log file (Which I posted 2 or 3 messages before) he concluded that my problem with the Delta Sync is related to my AV.
I switched it and both Outlook Connector and Windows Live Mail works like charm.

I'm pretty sure that was the problem.

Hopefully will be resolved soon.

BTW, it didn't work on 3 computers I have which have Avast installed.
So far I uninstalled Avast only on one of them and it worked, I will try more of them later this week and post results here (I guess I'll have the same results - Working when Avast is uninstalled).

[alanrf]

Your response is a little confusing.

What is the "it" that did not work on 3 computers that you have avast installed on?

A number of those I support (as I do also) have Windows Live Mail installed with a mix of Hotmail, IMAP and POP accounts active along with avast running without any problems whatsoever.  If Windows Live Mail did not work with avast you would see large numbers of error reports in this forum - they are not here. 

However, none of those I support have the Outlook Connector installed.

You did offer to help - that's why I suggested uninstalling the Outlook Connector.

Perhaps you would consider trying to run with avast installed but with the Webshield turned off - that, at least, would help a little.   

[Drazick]

Your response is a little confusing.

What is the "it" that did not work on 3 computers that you have avast installed on?

A number of those I support (as I do also) have Windows Live Mail installed with a mix of Hotmail, IMAP and POP accounts active along with avast running without any problems whatsoever.  If Windows Live Mail did not work with avast you would see large numbers of error reports in this forum - they are not here. 

However, none of those I support have the Outlook Connector installed.

You did offer to help - that's why I suggested uninstalling the Outlook Connector.

Perhaps you would consider trying to run with avast installed but with the Webshield turned off - that, at least, would help a little.   

You should read carefully.
I had Outlook Connector. Uninstalled because it didn't work (on 3 computers with Avast).
Installed Windows Live Mail on the same 3 computers - didn't work.
Sent the Log from laptop (Windows Live Mail), got the answer it's my AV which makes the problems.
Uninstalled AVAST from my laptop, Windows Live Mail worked. Uninstalled it, Installed Outlook Connector - Worked.

The 2 other computers aren't available to me at the moment, I will try them as well later this week.

[Drazick]

Update:
I tried just stop "Avast On Access" on another computer (Which Outlook Connector / Windows Live Desktop didn't work on) and it worked.

Which makes it obvious that Avast is the problem maker.

[DavidR]

If this is a conflict, remove one half of a conflict and you have no conflict, but that however, doesn't confirm what application is at fault.

Did you try as Alan suggested, terminating the Web Shield provider and see if that worked ?

[Drazick]

If this is a conflict, remove one half of a conflict and you have no conflict, but that however, doesn't confirm what application is at fault.

Did you try as Alan suggested, terminating the Web Shield provider and see if that worked ?

That's what I did.
Right click on the Blue "a" - Stop On Access Protection, and it works.

[DavidR]

Using that method stops 'all' avast providers and doesn't pinpoint where any problem might be, by terminating the web shield if that works then perhaps there is something that can be done.

That is why I believe Alan suggested only terminating the Web Shield.