Cannot delete from virus chest

[Adam Kertesz]

Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit, Anniversary Edition
Avast free Antivirus.

There is an - incorrect - entry in my virus chest. After right clicking on it, the menu shows a "Delete" option, which is not working. Why?
(Avast repair already tried, did not help)

[DavidR]

What avast version are you running (17.4.2294) ?

I have that latest avast version on this XP Pro system and I have just tested that delete from the avast chest of an eicar.com test file and it was deleted as expected.

First there is no rush to delete anything from the virus chest, a protected area.
If you haven't already got avast free version 17.4.2294, I would hold off on that update for now as it some issues depending on what other software and functions you use (web cams, video streaming and some virtual machine functions).

[Adam Kertesz]

17.4.2294, yes, the latest.

I know, I don't have to delete, just don't like to see unnecessary things hanging around

No webcams, no video streaming and no VMs here

Not only it cannot delete, it cannot restore or do anything else with it

The data exists in
C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\chest\index.xml

[Eddy]

Ofcourse you can't delete that file.
It is part of avast.
It stores info about files that are in the chest in it.

[Pondus]

Avast Antivirus: Using the Virus Chest  >>  https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB21#artTitle

[DavidR]

17.4.2294, yes, the latest.

I know, I don't have to delete, just don't like to see unnecessary things hanging around
No webcams, no video streaming and no VMs here
Not only it cannot delete, it cannot restore or do anything else with it

The data exists in
C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\chest\index.xml

OK on the first batch, you can't delete anything from the explorer interface of the chest, as I said that is a protected area as sre other avast locations. The Avast Self-Defence module is protecting those.

You have to open the AvastUI > Protection > Antivirus > Virus Chest - now select the file and the Delete option.

[Adam Kertesz]

 To Pondus and DavidR:
This is exactly the place where I wanted to delete it - and it's not working! Click on Delete - a confirmation message comes up, I click on Yes and nothing happens; click on restore - nothing happens, click on anything else - nothing happens.

[DavidR]

I can't see why this should be happening in this 17.4.2294 version, it did happen in an earlier version and that was (meant to have been) fixed.

I would suggest that you try an avast Repair.

[Adam Kertesz]

To DavidR:

As I have written in my original post, I have already tried repair, and it did not help. For your  (and my) sake, I tried it again. It did not asked for a restart(?), but I have restarted. Then windows 10 started to act up, finally restored to a two-days old restore point. Still no luck.

[DavidR]

OK I hadn't gone back to your first post.

Unfortunately System Restore isn't a complete backup it doesn't restore absolutely everything and the avast self-defence module could also prevent any changes to avast. This could have knock on effects in avast, some time ago the self-defence module would interfere with with system restore.

Whilst I can't see this having a direct impact, you could try the factory restore of avast - avastUI > Settings > Troubleshooting - Restore Factory Defaults.

If this don't have any effect, then a clean reinstall would be the next step.

[Adam Kertesz]

To DavidR

I tried the factory restore of avast - avastUI > Settings > Troubleshooting - Restore Factory Defaults.

No luck.

In the meantime, Avast collected (without notifying me) another file in the virus-chest, which also cannot be deleted.

When I will be in the mood, I will try a clean install. For the time being, just let it be.

(I'm in an oldie mode: in the mood, let it be)

Thanks for your support

[DavidR]

You're welcome.

[REDACTED]

i have the same issue (atleast for the most parts)

i have a file in the UI quarantine (only 1), but there is no encrypted files  present in ProgramData\chest folder. there is however the index file wich is not encrypted and contains only the specific info for the enrty. so my question is. can i just delete the index file as there are no other entries in it, and the program should generate a new one, or manually edit the index.xml removing the referred entry?

i have tried to remove this by deletion, it has deleted the file apparently from the chest but the index entry still remains and has been present thru multiple updates of the main client etc. (no full reinstall)