XP Firewall

[Blaser]

What settings do I need to make to my XP Firewall to allow AVast to start without the AAVM - initialization error: AavmStart: avworkInitialize failed, 0000A438.
Thanks

[Eddy]

1) I suggest you get a real firewall. Preferably a router with hardware firewall.
But if you can not afford it you get Sunbelt Kerio Firewall or ZoneAlarm.
Both have a free version for home/non commercial use and are much better and offer more flexibillity as well as security to the user.

2) Already searched for AAVM  - initialization error on this webboard?

3) What exact version of Windows?

4) What exact version of avast?

5) Any other problems/errors?

[DavidR]

I don't believe this error has anything to do with your firewall. Try a repair of avast. Add Remove programs, select 'avast! Anti-Virus,' click the Change/Remove button and scroll down to Repair, click next and follow. You need to be on-line to do this.

As Eddy said a (full) firewall with outbound protection would be better.

Zone Alarm free http://www.zonelabs.com works fine with avast and has a reasonably friendly user interface. There are others, Comodo, Jetico, etc.
See some firewall tests for comparison, some are freeware but many are paid for versions http://www.firewallleaktester.com/tests.php. Also see http://www.thefreecountry.com/security/firewalls.shtml

Any malware that manages to get past your defences will have free reign to connect to the internet to either download more of the same, pass your personal data (user names, passwords, keylogger retrieved data, etc.) or open a backdoor to your computer, so outbound protection is essential.