Cannot update Avast 4.6 Home Edition

[jandap]

Have just installed AVAST4.6 Home Edition on to Win XP Home;
Service Pack 2, as 'D' Windows. Processor AMD AthlonXP 2400,
2000MHz,512MB RAM, 250Gig hard drive.BTInternet/Yahoo Browser. BTInternet Broadband Dialup.Firewall OFF. Have registered and inserted the correct licence key, but when I try to update get this.
DOWNLOADING PACKAGES and underneath:
ERROR: Cannot connect to server. Update did not finish.
Then AVAST ANTI VIRUS SET UP and underneath:
SUMMARY: Information about current update: Total time 1:06
I have followed the directions implicitly in the AVAST Video and set as LOCAL HOST and port 12080 but to no avail. I would be very grateful if some kind soul could put me out of my misery and explain where I have gone wrong.
Thanks in advance.
Jandap

[kshensley]

Check your firewall, Windows XP SP2 has an automatic firewall. My colleague tried Avast at my suggestion and he had the same problem, we found that Windows firewall had automatically blocked the updater and we had to open the firewall and allow access by Avast,

[jandap]

I do have the Win XP Firewall OFF.
Still no joy.
Jandap

[Lisandro]

Basically, check:

1) If the servers.def file is corrupt or 0KB (C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\servers.def).
    You can try and download the servers.def file, http://files.avast.com/iavs4x/servers.def and replace the one in the avast setup folder.

2) If your subscription allows the update right now (i.e., if it is not expired).

3) If your firewall settings and allow avast.setup to connect.
    If you're not sure, just turn off your firewall (to be sure the update failure is not due to it).
    Maybe you should 'remove' avast.setup entry, try to update, receiving a new alert from the firewall, allowing it and checking it to remember.

4)  Check your proxy settings into avast!:
     Left click the avast icon > Settings
     Update (Basic) > Details > Proxy
     Make sure your browser is not set to "Work Offline" (this option is generally in the File menu).
     If it doesn't help, try switching the proxy settings from "Auto-detect" to "No proxy" (I'm assuming you're not connecting to the Internet via proxy).

[jandap]

Thank you for your replies.
I have upgraded from AVAST 4.6 to AVAST 4.7.
I have d/loaded servers and pasted them into AVAST Set Up Folder.
The subscription is new as from 17th. August 2006. Licence key installed.
I have turned OFF Win XP Firewall, I do not have any other.
I have checked proxy settings.
Proxy Server SettingsShow:-
Direct Connection (no proxy)-(This is ON)
Auto Detect (off)
Specify proxy server (off)

Test Connection

When I click this icon I get from all three server settings.
"Unable to connect"

I am not connected to the internet via a proxy.
I have BT Yahoo as my browser and BTInternet Broadband as my dial up.
I am still no nearer to upgrading. I do appreciate your help though. Please keep trying for me.
Jandap

[Spiritsongs]

   Hi :

     Tell us the "history" of antiVIRUS program(s) on this
     computer ; also the current presence of any
     antiSPYWARE and/or antiTROJAN program(s) .

[jandap]

Hi Spiritsongs,
                       I had GRISOFT Anti Virus but uninstalled from it's own uninstaller and then edited out all references to GRISOFT in my registry. I am sure there is no trace of it on my machine.
I also have NO Anti Trojan program
I have SpyBot SD and Lavasoft Ad-Aware, but these progs. will not run unless I direct them to.
Thanks for your reply, any more suggestions would be appreciated.
Cheers
Jandap

[Eddy]

Do you have the "tea-timer" installed and enabled?

[jandap]

Sorry Eddy, what's a 'tea timer'?
Jandap

[Lisandro]

Sorry Eddy, what's a 'tea timer'?

The resident module of Spybot...

[Spiritsongs]

   Hi Again :

      When you say "Grisoft Antivirus", do you mean AVG from
      the Grisoft Company ? When I remove an antivirus
      program, in addition to using its "uninstaller" AND
      removing entries from the registry, I also use my
      computer's "Search" function, selecting "All files and
      folders" and selecting the appropiate search "term(s)",
      which in your situation would be "grisoft" and perhaps
     "AVG"; have you done this ?

      Which version of Ad-Aware do you have ? The "Personal",
     "Plus" or "Professional" ?

[jandap]

 
To all you lovely people who tried to help me.
EUREKA! Problem solved. I slept on it and this morning cancelled golf (It was raining in any case) and worked on my machine.
I discovered that as part of BT/Yahoo Broadband package that there was another Firewall on my machine, one I knew nothing about, provided by Symantec/Norton.
I went to add/remove and removed that part of the package.
AVAST then updated it's virus prog silently until eventually I had the mellow tones of 'Updated'.
I now have an up to date virus checker courtesy of AVAST and feel much more secure.
I have also enabled the Win XP Home firewall and included AVAST in the exeptions.
Thank you all once again for your very considerable help and support.
Jandap

[Lisandro]

I discovered that as part of BT/Yahoo Broadband package that there was another Firewall on my machine, one I knew nothing about, provided by Symantec/Norton.

Huummm... This is why I hate both Yahoo and Symantec 

I have also enabled the Win XP Home firewall and included AVAST in the exeptions.

I still think you must have a real (outbound) firewall... 
There are a lot of good and free ones 

[DavidR]

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.

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

- Zone Alarm free http://www.zonelabs.com works fine with avast and has a reasonably friendly user interface. There are others, Jetico, Sunbelt Kerio, etc.

[jandap]

Thanks DavidR,
                        I have d/loaded and installed SYGATE Personal Firewall on my Win XP Home machine. It basically configures itself as every time I go to a new site it asks me if it's ok.
Incidentally I have two hard drives. 'D' Win XP Home and 'C' Win 98 SE. On the latter I have Grisoft AVG Free and Zone alarm running, no problems at all with these, both inbound and outbound protection.
I now feel that both my internal drives are well and truly protected. Now to have a go at the external Freecom USB drive, mainly used to store digital photo's.
Thank you all very much again. You are without doubt a grand bunch.
By the way I cancelled golf 'cos of the rain and so I could resolve this problem and then 'she who shall be obeyed' got me running around doing all sorts of jobs. Oh well can't win 'em all!!
Cheers.
Jandap