Virus definitions won't update

[ranger32080]

I'm getting the message that the virus definitions need updating but they won't. It sat there for over an hour checking... so I clicked off and trying back and the thing just flashes and says that they need to be updated. So, I hit the update button again and it does nothing. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Pondus]

https://support.avast.com/en-eu/article/Repair-Antivirus/

[ranger32080]

Thank you. I'll go look now.

[ranger32080]

My laptop won't let me get past the uninstall phase. When I hit uninstall, I get a popup stated that Setup has already started, please try again later.

[DavidR]

What version of avast do you have ?
Mine is avast! free 20.4.2410 which is the latest free version.

What is shown in the C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\defs folder ?
What does the Avast UI > Menu > General > Update screen show ?
See attached images.

[ranger32080]

I tried uploading pics, but i guess their file size was too big...or that the server took to long.

Program Version: 20.4.2410 (build 20.3.5.5200.0)
Virus Definition Version: 200603-2
# of Definitions: 12,847,563
UI Version 1.0.518

The definitions folder shows a long list of smaller folders with dates from 6/4, 6/9, 6/17, 6/19, 6/20, 6/24 = Today

The update screen shows that the definitions are not up to date and that it's blinking red and white. However, it does show the version 200603-2 underneath it

[DavidR]

Don't do full screen images, crop to show only what is relevant, as I did with mine. 
I take it you used the Attachments and other options ?

Your virus definitions are indeed out of date by some time, those other ones like my second attached image (in previous post) have _stream after them ?
If so these are streaming updates that will to a certain degree keep the virus signatures up to date.  But it is important to get the normal ones working correctly.

Have you done a full system shutdown and a restart ?
That should hopefully stop the "Setup has already started, please try again later" message and hopefully do the Avast Repair - Try it from the Avast UI > Menu > Settings > General > Troubleshooting - Repair App.

[ranger32080]

I was taking pictures of the laptop screen with my phone and trying to upload them that way. Yes, I was using the Attachments and other options.

Yes, they all had stream after them except one 20060302 file from 6/4.

I'm running that Repair App thing now.

[DavidR]

Yes, high definition images from your phone are likely to be very large without editing.

Hopefully, that will resolve it.

[ranger32080]

I let the repair app function run nearly 18-19 hours and it was still running when I decided to turn off the computer... Is it normal for it to run that long? I'm letting it run again now. Hopefully, it finish...

[DavidR]

That certainly isn't normal, I haven't often even needed this and when I did it was around a minute or so.

[ranger32080]

It's still running, so I don't know what to do

[DavidR]

I think you are now looking at a clean reinstall.

Clean Reinstall:
1. - Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, avastclear.exe https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility and save it to your HDD. Make a note of the steps required or print the page.
2. - Download the latest Avast off-line installation file for your Avast Program (see https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=234638.0) and save to your HDD.

Follow the instructions in the link in 1.

[ranger32080]

I was able to get it all finally fixed. When I ran the Avast Clear, it ran for 3 hours. I decided to go ahead and put the laptop in safe mode to uninstall it. When I did, it gave me the option to repair the app and so I did that. It only took a few moments. I closed everything down and went to bed. Just turned the laptop back on and was able to run the definitions update. Thank you for you help David.

[DavidR]

You're welcome.

Your perseverance paid of