Conflict with VMWare and ATI Video driver

[gofixy]

machine: HP Pavilion p6823a, Windows 7 Home, 4gb ram, 500gb+ free on the hard drive.

I run the following programs without error,

sandboxie
digsby
teamviewer
I use primarily google chrome and firefox

I also am running vmware player 4.0.4 build-744019 running UBUNTU 12.04 desktop

I have the vm machine running a locally hosted website for me personally - that's its only function.

I've installed AVAST Pro to try it out, I upgraded from microsoft security essentials.

I've used AVAST as a trial with no known issues until today.
============================================================================
I turned on my computer, and received a warning that AVAST was about to expire in 9 days.  I closed the message, and opened my vmware player.
there was no longer an internet connection.  Thinking something just got hung up, I restarted the network services...nothing.
**note: I had internet on the Windows side, but had lost connectivity to the network device through vmware player
I closed the vmware and restarted the computer, now my video was defaulted to 800x600 and the ati catilyst would no longer start.

boot to safe mode, scanned for root kit, spyware / malware, and viruses -- all came back clean.
cleaned up all my temps, even ie - cleaned my registry - rebooted
same problem

removed java, updated flash (removed old)
no change -- reboot -- same

removed avast
reboot
downgraded back to ms security essentials
all is working.

May or may not be AVAST's problem - but I thought I should pass this on.  I don't have the time or patience to deal with this now.  gl to anyone else having a problem similar.

[mikaelrask]

hey do you have internet access when running avast throw chrome/firefox if so it's not the avast the problem lies but with the vmware player. do you use a third party firewall that could block the vmware player from the internet? 

have the company behind the vmware player any thoughts on the problem? it could be there server or something that might be the problem to.

just a few ides from me. 

[gofixy]

thank you for attempting to solve my problem, however,  I'm past this issue now.

there's a conflict, that was not there until an AVAST update.

1.  could it be vmware for internet, sure
2. could it be ATI causing the problem with my video, yep

- but since it's the latest version of both (vmware and ATI catilyst + video driver)
--and the ONLY thing that changed was AVAST -
-- AND my problem was solved by removing avast. 

I chose this route, and will try again when I have more time.  I already spent hours simply ensuring the problem was not one of the most common, I think I'm justified in 'taking a break' from diagnosing AVAST - and passing this info on so they can diagnose their own issue (or vmware / ATI's)


I don't like finger pointing - it's not EVER just one software apps issue. 

However, a change with AVAST initiated or exposed a conflict with the vmware AND with ATI -- it was worth listing here for tech folks to see.

I don't believe my particular solution is the answer for most people, by the time they read this - there would have *hopefully* been an update resolving it.

this was for information only. 

[mikaelrask]

hey your welcome. yeah it might have been a conflict with avast also so a avast programmer might ave to lock into this aswell.