Outlook Express

[catnip]

Since installing Avast! earlier this evening, I get error messages on both send and receive. 

What have I done wrong?

[Lisandro]

We need more info to guess...
Operational system, firewall, which error message did you receive, version of avast... 

[catnip]

How foolish of me!

In Thunderbird, the error messages are somewhat different from Outlook Express (which doesn't work, either, now).

OS=WindowsXP Home; Avast! version=v4.6
Firewall=Zone Alarm v.5.5.094.000

Incoming error message in Thunderbird=

Failed to connect to server mailin1.worldlynx.net

Outgoing error message in Thunderbird=

Sending of message failed.  An error occurred sending mail.  Unable to connect to SMPT server mailout1.worldlynx.net.  The server may be down or may be incorrectly configured.  Please verify that your mail/news account settings are correct and try again.

My first problem after installation was that I couldn't access any websites.  Sometime during the process, Avast! said it recognized Zone Alarm; that there was a conflict; and that I should disable a particular module, the name of which I don't remember.  When I did that, I was able to access web sites.

Previosly, I had uninstalled NAV 2004 before installing Avast!

I hope this info will help, and I'd like to thank you for your rapid response.

I probably have too many utilities, but here's a list, just in case they're contributing factors.

Spybot S&D, Ad-Aware SE Plus, Spywareblaster, TrojanHunter, Counterspy, and WinPatrol.

[Lisandro]

My first problem after installation was that I couldn't access any websites.  Sometime during the process, Avast! said it recognized Zone Alarm; that there was a conflict; and that I should disable a particular module, the name of which I don't remember.  When I did that, I was able to access web sites.

Most probably, WebShield provider.

Previosly, I had uninstalled NAV 2004 before installing Avast!

This could be a source of problems but I don't believe your one, particulary, is related to Norton uninstallation.

I get error messages on both send and receive.

Into the firewall settings, the following programs should be allowed to connect:

ashServ.exe (avast! antivirus service)
ashWebSv.exe (avast! Web Scanner)
ashMaiSv.exe (avast! e-Mail Scanner Service)
ashUpdSv.exe (avast! Update Service)
avast.setup (avast! Update executable)

[catnip]

Before answering your response, I thought this might be of some interest.  After posting my message, I called my ISP to see if they might be having problems, or perhaps something had happened to my settings.

The person I spoke to suggested that I disable Zone Alarm, and use XP's firewall. 

When I did that, both Outlook Express and Thunderbird worked fine.  The one mistake I made before restarting my computer, however, was neglecting to turning off XP's firewall, so that they both loaded on startup.  I'm not sure if that caused problems.  There didn't seem to be anything amiss.

Now to your response:

In Zone Alarm, two of the five programs you listed were missing; ashserv.exe, and ashupdsv.exe.

After adding them and allowing all of the programs to connect, the problem was solved in Outlook Express.

Thunderbird doesn't seem to like Zone Alarm, though.  It works only with XP's firewall.  I simply won't use Thunderbird.

By the way, I believe you were correct about WebShield provider.  I recognized the "Shield" part when I read your answer.  I would hope that the fact that this feature is disabled, doesn't have an adverse impact on my protection.  I presume that when Avast! and Zone Alarm come up with a 'fix,' it can be reactivated.

In the meantime, I'm grateful for your help.

Thanks, again.

[bob3160]

Hi catnip,

The person I spoke to suggested that I disable Zone Alarm, and use XP's firewall.

Did the person you spoke to also inform you the the Windows firewall only protects you from incoming traffic
and does nothing to protect you from any information leaving your computer???
The windows Firewall is only 1/2 a firewall.
I suggest that you allow full access to all of the avast! components mentioned by Technical
and stick with ZA at least it also protects your outgoing information.

[szc]

Yes, Bob is right. Abandoning ZoneAlarm just because some guy from ISP's "technical support" said it is recommended, is not quite clever to do... especially if he said, you can replace it with Windows XP SP2 firewall and be protected same level as you were protected before, it tells us that he doesn't know much about those things.

I also have ZA freeware installed on my system and never ever had problems, neither with web shield, nor with any other part of avast! Also, all mails (OE) are being processed normally without any problems. Try going into ZA settings page, choose E-MAIL PROTECTION tab on the left side, and then in BASIC MAILSAFE SETTINGS, set that option to OFF (if it's still set to ON). You don't need it, since avast! mail scanner is checking your e-mails. Try receiving mails now... maybe it will help...

Cheers !

[Abraxas]

catnip :

I probably have too many utilities, but here's a list, just in case they're contributing factors.....
TrojanHunter, Counterspy...

catnip , you realise of course not to be running resident protection with counterspy, etc. ,  while your running Avast!, as you can  only RUN one or the other.

[catnip]

Hi, Gang...

Thank you all for checking in with your advice and information.

I don’t know the protocol for responding, so I’ll answer all of you in this one post.

Hi! to Bob and /szc\:  You are the second and third persons to tell me about the deficiencies of the Windows firewall.  Almost verbatim!  I’m not sure the ISP guy was recommending I stick with it; my intention was only to see if it made a difference.  Since it did, I assumed the problem was between Avast! and ZA.  As noted in my previous post, that turned out to be the case, since adding the missing Avast! programs to ZA’s Program Control page allowed Avast! and ZA to talk to each other.  With one possible exception.  I have ZA Pro, and on the E-MAIL PROTECTION tab, instead of BASIC MAILSAFE SETTINGS, MAILSAFE is separated into INBOUND and OUTBOUND, so I set each of them to OFF.  However, on the ANTIVIRUS MONITORING page, the following message appears: “There is no antivirus running on your computer that ZoneAlarm can detect. Make sure you are running antivirus software.”  That seems odd, since all 5 recommended Avast! programs are active in ZA’s Program Control.  I hope this warning doesn’t mean what it seems to mean.

Incidentally, I checked the Avast! icon’s menu, and there are no Stopped programs, so I guess that ZA’s Program Control corrections may have reset the Web Shield (if that was the one turned off) to “on.”

And hi! to Abraxas:  I didn’t know for sure whether or not Counterspy would conflict with anything else, but I had it in the back of my mind to consider uninstalling it, anyway.  Your information made up my mind for me, and it’s gone.  I found 16 references to it left in the Registry.  I don’t know if it’s worth deleting them.

I’d like to thank you all.  I’m very pleased with the help you folks have given me.

Ciao!

[bob3160]

“There is no antivirus running on your computer that ZoneAlarm can detect. Make sure you are running antivirus software.” 

catnip
Just turn that feature OFF in ZA Pro.  All it means is that you arent running the AV program ZA would like to sell you.
This has been a bone of contention with ZA since they first started that feature. A search in theses forums will reveal many posts.
MS Security recognizes your avast! AV program and it lets you know if it's not running or not up-to date.
Hope that puts your mind at ease.

[catnip]

Bob3160

Thanks for the info.  I turned the feature off, as you suggested. 

Since ZA recognized NAV when it was installed on my machine (and it probably recognizes a select few of the others), I never paid any attention to the come-on at the bottom of the page.

I agree...that's bloody dishonest.

And, yes, my mind is in complete repose, now. 

Arivaderci, however it's spelled!