... I've had issues on my W7 machine with the last three avast releases.
this shows a lack of proper testing before releasing the program updates, even considering the big user base. back when I used avast (after a few years of use), I had the program updates set to "manual" and only the virus database updates on "automatic", because of the frequent bugs in the program updates. after a new release I checked the forum to find out what problems are with the last version. I only upgraded if those problems were not relevant to me. I guess this is the safest approach, since each upgrade doesn't bring overwhelming changes.
That makes a lot of sense! I'm set up for program to alert me when new updates available, but like a dummy I went ahead and 'upgraded' [HA!] without checking feedback. Now I'm paying for it...
More than a little confused here: tonight Avast dropped out and locked up access to both Outlook Express and the Internet, never done that before. Prior to that I was disconnected from my ISP dialup server 3-4 times, which is unusual too. Had to restart 4 times before Avast would kick in and allow O/E & I/E programs to run.
While playing with it I tried to force Avast to update definitions. It would connect to Avast server, report that it was downloading files, then say, 'Connection terminated...', again and again, I lost count. Various servers it supposedly connected to were 46.165.208.197, 46.165,208.200, download.119.avast.com, download745, download340, download362, download378, download322, downoad318, 199.189.106.12 and I got tired of watching terminate connections after it supposedly started to download definition updates.
Could not download any definitions from any Avast servers.
So I wanted to uninstall and reinstall. Downloaded the aws.clear Uninstall program to desktop then thought to check the Avast exe files on desktop for reinstall. Supposedly, according to Avast User Interface, I have version 7.0.1456. But the last two versions downloaded to my desktop are 'Avast Pro Antivirus_setup.exe' for File Version 7.0.1426.0, and 'Setup_ais.exe' Version 6.0.1270.0.
Maybe they're older versions because it was automatic update last time, I guess that might explain it. Plus I lost my mind with all this sometime last month anyways...
Thanks, I'll try to uninstall and reinstall.