WebShield stops Windows Update

[cato]

Hello,

I've just spent the weekend reinstalling 4 computers for a client. All came with the Win XP SP1, and therefore I installed Avast! 4.603 before I connected them to the Internet.

Then I installed SP2 - from a CD - and then I went to Windows Update to get additional updates. That's where the problem starts.

After almost 12 hours on the phone with Microsoft SP2-support (in the US) some smart soul told me to disable Avast! and try Windows Update again - and of course - it worked just fine.

In other words - Avast should really think twice before they release a version that obviously haven't been tested against the most frequently used service online for most PC-users.

I'm amazed!

When will this be fixed? Can you please pay my phonebill?



Cato
Oslo - Norway

[niko]

Hi Cato and welcome on this forum

That's where the problem starts.

As someone say here: help us help you: please, can you give more informations about your pb? Thanks Cato

[DavidR]

What browser, if not IE?
What firewall?
What error messages or reasons were given/displayed to stop you accessing windows update.

I have no problem accessing windows update with either IE or Avant and web shield running.

Have you allowed ashWebSv.exe access to the internet in your firewall?

[kantjer]

I was also not able to use M$ update since I installed the 4.6 version with Web Shield enabled.

After some testing I found a (in my situation) work around:

ad "download.windowsupdate.com" (without the quotes) to the ignored addresses in the Web Shield configuration menu.

good luck

[cato]

I'm sorry for not beeing specific enough.

My problem on all 4 computers was that when entering Windows Update and after I start searching for updates - the green bar (searching for available updates) just keeps going and going and going - indefinately. IE then hangs. Exactly same software and scenario on all 4 computers.

I only run the WinXP SP2 firewall - which basically means no firewall.

Anyway - the smart soul at Microsoft finally told me to disable Avast completely, I did, and then tried Windows Update again, and it worked perfectly. In other words - I don't really know which part of Avast blocking me - but it certainly was Avast!.

I have no other software installed, and nothing that possibly could interfer.

Again - this happened on 4 different computers.

BTW: Windows Update only works through IE.

[kantjer]

My problem on all 4 computers was that when entering Windows Update and after I start searching for updates - the green bar (searching for available updates) just keeps going and going and going - indefinately.

cato, that is the exact same problem I had, try my work around

[cato]

And how exactly do I get into the WebShield configuration menu?

[kantjer]

lm click the blue ball in the taskbar and select the Web Shield. You can find the ignored address setting on the first tab.

[cato]

Yes! Thank you.

That worked fine.

I hope though that the developers of Avast will release a new version that automatically fixes this, because it's impossible to figure out if you're not an expert.

[DavidR]

BTW: Windows Update only works through IE.

Not entirely correct, it does work with Avant (that is what I use for updates), and probably many of the other browsers that use the IE core back end, such as Maxathon, Green Browser, etc.

Web Shield on.