So please try what was suggested in my Reply #1 above.
I tried: I removed all avast rules from ashampoo. But then ashampoo doesn't see that avast tries to make an internet connection. Then I stopped ashampoo, disabled it in autorun in msconfig, so after reboot there was no ashampoo processes, but avast's update didn't work. It seems that the only way to fix the problem with update is uninstall ashampoo...
That is what we have seen on many occasions in these forums with ashampoo firewall blocking avast update. I would certainly consider enabling the windows firewall and uninstalling ashampoo and see if you can get updates to work. If that works then choosing a different firewall would be the way to go.
Many forum users are using these:
- Online Armor for the most parts fine but it has caused some users grief after avast program updates and that is something you have to watch out for.
- PrivateFirewall,
http://www.privacyware.com/personal_firewall.html- Outpost Free Suite 7, which should still provide good protection,
http://free.agnitum.com/. Whilst this is a suite, when you install it, it detects avast and asks if you have it installed, answering Yes will mean it doesn't install the antivirus, anti-spyware and web control modules to maintain compatibility.
Should you choose Outpost.
- Outpost Exclusions - Whilst Outpost would have you exclude its folder from avast scans, I don't feel that is required, if outpost is running in its compatibility mode with no anti-spyware and no web control modules running.
Personally other than a single file exclusion I don't believe you need exclude the Outpost folder, I haven't in all of the time that I have been using avast and outpost together and that is many years.
This is the file and path that I have in the File System Shield, Expert Settings, Exclusions section, C:\Program Files\Agnitum\Outpost Firewall Pro\wl_hook.dll (easiest it to copy and paste this full path). This file is as its name implies a hooking tool that outpost uses to monitor activity also and is the only file where I ever had any issue with avast.