ashMaiSv crashes

[dwforslund]

I'm running Avast4 home and on boot up, I get the message that
ashMaiSv has crashed.   I have email checking turned on, but am
wondering if this means it isn't working.  I'm running WinXP Pro SP2
and Thunderbird email client.

[vojtech]

Plase send me by mail the latest file named unpSOMETHING.mdmp from Avast4\Data\Log folder.

[DavidR]

Besides what vojtech asked for.

Can you either post the exact error message or a screen shot of it ?
Is there anything more in the windows event log, either application of system logs ?

Have (or did) you have another AV installed in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?

Task Manager should show ashMaiSv.exe as running is it ?
You can also check the Internet Mail provider details, the Last scanned: and scanned total: should indicate if it is working and scanning. There should also be an icon in the system tray only when it is actively connected/scanning email when completed it goes.

[dwforslund]

There error is the usual Windows apology for the application
crashing.  It is sending something to Microsoft about the crash
which I would assume you get at some point.

This is the first time I've installed Avast4 and it is on a brand
new machine.   There is no ashMaiSv application running
which is what I would expect from the crash message.

Internet Mail has no scanned files.  The count is 0 and there is nothing
after the Last scanned: item. 

[DavidR]

I don't know if MS would bother sending anything to Alwil Software somehow I doubt it.

Secondly I'm just and avast user like you.

Did you send the unpSOMETHING.mdmp to vojtech if it exists ?
This could help in tracking the problem.

There may also be more information in the windows event viewer, application or system logs, you could paste that here.

[dwforslund]

I did send the dump files but didn't see anything
special in the event log other than that ashMaiSv
had crashed. 

[DavidR]

But what was the complete text of the event log entry, it may give some additional information.
Does this happen on every boot or haven't you rebooted since the crash ?

I guess we will have to see what comes of the mdmp file.

What other avast processes are running, they begin with ash or asw ?
It may be that this extends further than just the email scanner.

[dwforslund]

ashDisp.exe
ashServ.exe
ashWebSv.exe
aswUpdSv.exe

are the relevant apps that are running. 
The event log is:
"Faulting application ashMaiSv.exe, version 4.7.936.0, faulting module vlsp.dll, version 1.0.0.1, fault address 0x00007510.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp."

It happens every time I reboot.

Dave

[dwforslund]

Well I stopped the mail scan service from avast (which
actually wasn't running).  Then I started it up from
avast and it now seems to be running.    Perhaps
the crash is associated with not everything in the
system being up when it starts up on a reboot?

[dwforslund]

Well I spoke a little too soon.  I came up and seemed
to be checking email and then it crashed as before.

[DavidR]

The event log is:
"Faulting application ashMaiSv.exe, version 4.7.936.0, faulting module vlsp.dll, version 1.0.0.1, fault address 0x00007510.

That is what I was after the faulting application may be tagged as ashMaiSv.exe but the real culprit is the faulting module vlsp.dll that as far as I'm aware in and avast dll.

A google search for vlsp.dll returns many hits, http://www.google.com/search?q=vlsp.dll some relating to a wireless card, do any of them ring any bells, if so you could try to update the software/vlsp.dll

http://www.greatis.com/appdata/a/v/vlsp.dll.htm
http://www.castlecops.com/lsp-73.html

A forum search for vlsp.dll also returns a couple of hits, other than yours.
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=22768.msg189752#msg189752
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=18324.msg155944#msg155944

[dwforslund]

Well then the problem is related to the Venturi software.  I'm a Verizon customer and use the Motorola Phone Tools to connect to my V3C telephone to manage the phone directory and related items on the phone.   I really don't want to remove that application as it is quite useful to me.   So I need to see how I can use Avast and the Motorola software.   I don't understand how or why the two are related.
That software is fully updated, so I'm not sure how to get a better version.

[DavidR]

It certainly look that way, I don't know if they have software updates for the tools and in particular the vlsp.dll.

I'm taking a swag (scientific wild a***d guess) that the v in vlsp is virtual (Label Switched Path) and somehow hook all applications connecting to the internet to monitor the traffic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Label_switched_path

If it is what I'm thinking a process that hooks all program connecting to the internet then ashMaiSv.exe can't avoid it, again I would be guessing that the vlsp.dll is somehow not able to handle the localhost proxy used by ashMaiSv.ex, something more common with AVs. I don't know if there is any way to exclude processes in the phone tools so it doesn't monitor ashMaiSv.exe and possibly the ashWebSv.exe as that to uses the localhost proxy means of filtering content.

[vojtech]

I have built a version that ignores the vlsp.dll. How to test it:
1) Download http://www2.avast.com/~peterka/4.7.942/ashMaiSv.zip
2) unzip it and put both files to avast4 folder
3) start the 'Internet Mail' provider

Please report if it works and scans mail.

[dwforslund]

That seems to be working now.  It has scanned a number
of email messages with this new version without any
errors or crashes!