Avast! can't update AT ALL

[sound-asleep]

I found a few similar posts but my situation seems worse (I think).

Normally I receive periodic messages that Avast has updated the virus database.  About a month ago I started getting red warning messages that the updates failed.

When I open the program and try to manually force Avast to update (click the appropriate buttons), nothing happens.

When I download the current vpsupd file to update that way, I get the following error message:

"Can't install VPS update.  Please report the following errorcodes:
Ver: 4.7.892
SI: 0x00000002
ST: 0x00000002
LE: 0x00000000


Is some kind of virus preventing me from updating Avast?  That would be nasty...

Thanks for any help.

SA

[DavidR]

What version of avast are you using Home or Pro ?
Check your system date, especially month and year.

Is your license/registration is in date ?
Check the about avast Registration Key, Updates expiration date, see image.

How long have you had avast ?

[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).
    I hope you haven't bought a license from a site on this list: http://www.avast.com/eng/fraudulent-sales-of-avast-products.html

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 from "Auto-detect" to "No proxy" (I'm assuming you're not connecting to the Internet via proxy).
     You can run proxycfg -d in a DOS window to make your computer connect direct, without proxy. You can run proxycfg -h for help.

You can search the board for 0x00000002 and you'll find more info 

[sound-asleep]

I'm using the Home edition, build 4.7.892.  Actually, my version numbers match yours for the Xtreme Toolkit and ActiveSkin as well.

The VPS file (virus database) has a compilation date of 12/07/2006.  I guess it hasn't been quite a month.  But I am definitely unable to update the virus database.

I've tried turning off my firewall (Windows Firewall only) to update, doesn't work.

My system date is correct and my "Updates expiration" date is April 1, 2007.  I can't remember when I started using Avast exactly, sometime in 2006 (April?).

Around the same time that Avast stopped updating, my browsers have had increasing slowness.  I think I've picked up some kind of malware that Ad-Aware and Spybot can't find.

As a sidenote.  The last time I rebooted my system (because Firefox and IE were REALLY slow), I had to manually stop something called "XPCOM: EventReceiver".

[Lisandro]

But I am definitely unable to update the virus database.

Please, post the last 50 lines (approximately) of your log files:

C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\log\Setup.log
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\setup.log

[DavidR]

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.

If that doesn't work try, uninstall, reboot, install, reboot.

It would probably be best to download the latest version of avast and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again. Use that when you reinstall.

[sound-asleep]

I've already tried to "change/remove program" in the Windows "Add or Remove Programs" list.  I get the following error:

A setiface error has occurred: 2
Try to reinstall or contact support, please.

Here are the last ~50 lines of the first log requested:

INST_OP_UPDATE_INSTALL_PACKAGES
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   general   Old version: 37c (892)
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   general   SGW32P::CheckIfInstalled set m_bAlreadyInstalled to 1
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   internet   SYNCER: Type: use IE settings
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   internet   SYNCER: Auth: another authentication, use WinInet
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   Part prg_av_pro-37c is installed
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   Part vps-65401 is installed
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   Part news-4b is installed
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   Part setup_av_pro-37c is installed
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   general   Old version: 37c (892)
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   file   SetExistingFilesBitmap: 904->141->141
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   general   GUID: 4a8ba228-b1e6-4ed2-92ab-1d2df5768edb
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   general   Entering:UpdateInstallPackages
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   Load C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\prod-av_pro.vpu
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   LatestPartInfo: news = news-4b
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   LatestPartInfo: program = prg_av_pro-37c
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   LatestPartInfo: setup = setup_av_pro-37c
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   LatestPartInfo: vps = vps-65401
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   FilterOutExistingFiles: 141 & 141 = 0
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   FilterOutExistingFiles: 141 & 141 = 0
07.12.2006   05:31:28.000   1165498288   package   ArePartsInstallable: 1
07.12.2006   05:31:30.000   1165498290   package   vps: updated [065401]
07.12.2006   05:31:30.000   1165498290   system   RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
07.12.2006   05:31:30.000   1165498290   file   Fix security on: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\*.*
07.12.2006   05:31:42.000   1165498302   file   Fix security on: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ENGLISH\*.*
07.12.2006   05:31:43.000   1165498303   system   RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
07.12.2006   05:31:43.000   1165498303   file   Fix security on: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ENGLISH\HELP\*.*
07.12.2006   05:31:43.000   1165498303   system   RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
07.12.2006   05:31:43.000   1165498303   file   Fix security on: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ENGLISH\HtmlData\*.*
07.12.2006   05:31:43.000   1165498303   system   RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
07.12.2006   05:31:45.000   1165498305   file   Fix security on: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\images\*.*
07.12.2006   05:31:45.000   1165498305   system   RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
07.12.2006   05:31:47.000   1165498307   package   Transferred files: 0
07.12.2006   05:31:47.000   1165498307   package   Transferred bytes: 0
07.12.2006   05:31:47.000   1165498307   package   Transfer time: 0 ms
07.12.2006   05:31:47.000   1165498307   file   NeedReboot=false
07.12.2006   05:31:47.000   1165498307   general   Return code: 0x20000000 [Something done]
07.12.2006   05:31:47.000   1165498307   general   Stopped: 07.12.2006, 05:31:47

Here are the last ~50 lines of the second log requested:

05:31:25 vrb/pkg  Removed obsolete file vpsm-65400.vpu
05:31:27 min/pkg  vps: needs to be updated [065401]
05:31:27 vrb/sys  RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
05:31:27 vrb/pkg  FilterOutExistingFiles: 141 & 141 = 0
05:31:27 nrm/pkg  Transferred files: 5
05:31:27 nrm/pkg  Transferred bytes: 9500
05:31:27 nrm/pkg  Transfer time: 624 ms
05:31:27 vrb/int  Sending stats 'http://download48.avast.com/cgi-bin/iavs4stats.cgi': 00000000 204
05:31:27 vrb/fil  NeedReboot=false
05:31:27 min/gen  Return code: 0x20000000 [Something done]
05:31:27 min/gen  Stopped: 07.12.2006, 05:31:27


05:31:28 min/gen  Started: 07.12.2006, 05:31:28
05:31:28 min/gen  Running setup_av_pro-37c (892)
05:31:28 nrm/sys  Operating system: WindowsXP ver 5.1, build 2600, sp 2.0 [Service Pack 2]
05:31:28 vrb/sys  Computer WinName: J
05:31:28 min/sys  Windows Net User: SYSTEM
05:31:28 min/gen  Cmdline: /refresh /noreboot /updatevps /verysilent
05:31:28 vrb/gen  Operation set to INST_OP_UPDATE_INSTALL_PACKAGES
05:31:28 min/gen  Old version: 37c (892)
05:31:28 nrm/gen  SGW32P::CheckIfInstalled set m_bAlreadyInstalled to 1
05:31:28 nrm/int  SYNCER: Type: use IE settings
05:31:28 nrm/int  SYNCER: Auth: another authentication, use WinInet
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  Part prg_av_pro-37c is installed
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  Part vps-65401 is installed
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  Part news-4b is installed
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  Part setup_av_pro-37c is installed
05:31:28 min/gen  Old version: 37c (892)
05:31:28 vrb/fil  SetExistingFilesBitmap: 904->141->141
05:31:28 min/gen  GUID: 4a8ba228-b1e6-4ed2-92ab-1d2df5768edb
05:31:28 vrb/gen  Entering:UpdateInstallPackages
05:31:28 min/pkg  Load C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\prod-av_pro.vpu
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  LatestPartInfo: news = news-4b
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  LatestPartInfo: program = prg_av_pro-37c
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  LatestPartInfo: setup = setup_av_pro-37c
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  LatestPartInfo: vps = vps-65401
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  FilterOutExistingFiles: 141 & 141 = 0
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  FilterOutExistingFiles: 141 & 141 = 0
05:31:28 vrb/pkg  ArePartsInstallable: 1
05:31:30 min/pkg  vps: updated [065401]
05:31:30 vrb/sys  RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
05:31:30 vrb/fil  Fix security on: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\*.*
05:31:42 vrb/fil  Fix security on: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ENGLISH\*.*
05:31:43 vrb/sys  RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
05:31:43 vrb/fil  Fix security on: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ENGLISH\HELP\*.*
05:31:43 vrb/sys  RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
05:31:43 vrb/fil  Fix security on: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ENGLISH\HtmlData\*.*
05:31:43 vrb/sys  RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
05:31:45 vrb/fil  Fix security on: C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\images\*.*
05:31:45 vrb/sys  RemoveProtectedDaclFlag, SetNamedSecurityInfo returned 0x0000053C
05:31:47 nrm/pkg  Transferred files: 0
05:31:47 nrm/pkg  Transferred bytes: 0
05:31:47 nrm/pkg  Transfer time: 0 ms
05:31:47 vrb/fil  NeedReboot=false

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

[DavidR]

I've already tried to "change/remove program" in the Windows "Add or Remove Programs" list.  I get the following error:

A setiface error has occurred: 2
Try to reinstall or contact support, please.

Try Windows, Run and type:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe "C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\setiface.dll",RunSetup
What do you get?

Setiface error may also cause other problem one could be unable to update. The above command should reinstall the setiface.dll. If that works you could try the repair again and also a manual VPS update and report what happens.

[sound-asleep]

David - I copied and pasted that line into the Run dialog and received the same error, setiface 2.

Any other ideas?

[Lisandro]

Any other ideas?

1. Uninstall avast from Control Panel first (if you can). Boot.
2. Use Avast Uninstall for complete uninstallation. Boot.
3. Install again by this command on the folder you've donwload and save the install file: setupeng.exe /forceinstall
    Where setupeng.exe is the name of the executable.

[sound-asleep]

Thanks, this finally allowed me to uninstall and reinstall Avast (using the utility, not from the Control Panel, which still didn't work).  The virus database has now been updated.

Thanks for all your help.

[Lisandro]

Thanks for all your help.

You're welcome... feel free to come back and ask for help if you need any 

[DavidR]

Glad that your problem is now resolved and a belated welcome to the forums.

Stick around and browse the forums, especially the sticky topics at the top of each of the forums. They provide a wealth of information to help you get the best from avast.

[jkspencer]

I had the same problem.

I am trying the uninstall download program now.  It does not look like my virus database has been updated since 2006.  I never had time to look at it until now....