Backup and Restore settings don't work as they should

[InvisibleMan]

Hello.

I have an issue which I noticed was there when I was using Avast Free Antivirus 21.6 and it's still there  on Avast 21.8

I'm on Windows 7 SP1, and I only have File and Web shields enabled in the components during installation.

The backup and restore settings don't work properly both on the same computer and on another one of a similar configuration, just with Windows 10 instead!
I tried doing it both from the Settings Troubleshooting, and by double clicking on the avastconfig file after creating it.

Only some settings are backed up and restored: like showing animated icon, or scan settings.

But the Core Shields (both File and Web) and the Malware/Potentially unwanted programs are not affected by restoring (if I change them to something else before doing it)!
Also, Global Exceptions aren't affected by restoring either.

I tried rebooting computer right after resetoring, and it didn't make a difference.

Even though, when I double click on the avastconfig file, there are things selected like "Shields" and "Global Exceptions".

Also, if "Passwords" are not unchecked before the restoring attempt there, it even shows some error that it can't access the file.

So, basically, backup and restore are almost useless this way, and I am forced to screenshot all the settings to manually recreate them if necessary on this or other computer.

Please, can this bug be fixed?

[Asyn]

- Which version/build of Avast Free..?
- OS..? (32/64 Bit..? - which SP/Build..?)
- Other security related software installed..?
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..?

[InvisibleMan]

- Which version/build of Avast Free..?
- OS..? (32/64 Bit..? - which SP/Build..?)
- Other security related software installed..?
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..?

Oh, I already mentioned some of that.

But here's in the list:

- 21.8 , the latest build (not a beta one) (with only two components: File and Web Shields installed)
- Windows 7 SP1 64-bit with all updates (I didn't even have any problems with updating for recent Avast versions)
also, Windows 10 64-bit, updated to most recent. I don't know the build.
- None security software is installed. Just the Windows default Firewall.
- None. I've been using Avast for at least 10 years, and on these particular computers I never used any other AV from the start, but versions 20 and 21.

Restoring the settings after Backing them up only restores a few of them (e.g. Notifications, Updates, Scan settings).
But it ignores all the settings for both the shields, Malware/Potentially unwanted programs, Global Exceptions list, etc.

I tested it all in many ways (first changing all those settings to random, closing the main window and then trying to do restoring).
I rebooted after restoring. I restored both from within the program, and by double clicking on the avastconfig file.

It's all the same. It's as if only some settings are being restored by the Restore function.

[Asyn]

1. Enable debug logging (Menu > Settings > General > Troubleshooting > Enable debug logging) and reproduce the issue.
2. Follow instructions: https://support.avast.com/article/33/ and post the File-ID or name of the Support-File here afterwards.

[InvisibleMan]

1. Enable debug logging (Menu > Settings > General > Troubleshooting > Enable debug logging) and reproduce the issue.
2. Follow instructions: https://support.avast.com/article/33/ and post the File-ID or name of the Support-File here afterwards.

I'll try. But when I tried to do it from the program, it only has the option to Enable debug logging.

But it doesn't have the button to send logs under it, as it's shown on the screenshot on the page by the link you provided.

[Asyn]

But it doesn't have the button to send logs under it, as it's shown on the screenshot on the page by the link you provided.

The button is only available in paid products, you need to download the support tool.

[InvisibleMan]

Trying to install the tool.

What ticket number I should input there? I don't have any...

Update: I decided to just go through it without the ticket number.

[InvisibleMan]

1. Enable debug logging (Menu > Settings > General > Troubleshooting > Enable debug logging) and reproduce the issue.
2. Follow instructions: https://support.avast.com/article/33/ and post the File-ID or name of the Support-File here afterwards.

Here is the Support File I generated and sent (I only filled the email filed there, since I had no ticket number):

File ID: IZQ8V
File Name: 20211014_1055_IZQ8V_2565269668.zip

I added the avastconfig I used there into the report as well.

So, when reproducing the problem:
 first I enabled the debug logging, backup-ed the settings into a file,
then changed some settings,
then tried to restore settings back both by double clicking on the abastconfig file,
and then even through the program's interface and the restore settings button.

Some settings got restored, but some didn't at all, just like it was happening before.

The Web and File Shields, Malware / Potentially unwanted programs and a few of the removed global exceptions didn't restore either.

Specifically, I mean the settings in these areas of the program, as shown on the following screenshots:

[Asyn]

File ID: IZQ8V
File Name: 20211014_1055_IZQ8V_2565269668.zip

OK, I'll forward it, let's see...

[InvisibleMan]

File ID: IZQ8V
File Name: 20211014_1055_IZQ8V_2565269668.zip

OK, I'll forward it, let's see...

Thank you!

I also just got one theory, that maybe (just maybe) it could be the interface itself not showing the settings in those areas (even after rebooting the computer).
Even though the settings themselves could be internally restored.

I don't know if that's even possible, so that's just a theory.

[Asyn]

You're welcome.

[InvisibleMan]

Is it possible to see in those debug logs the other issue I just noticed?

I had one file in a quarantine since earlier today, and right now I'm tring to restore it, but it says that it can't be restored.
When I tried to Extract it instead, it was recreated in a folder I specified, but now I can't remove it from quarantine.
It's just stuck there. Nothing helps, closing or opening Avast's main window, pressing the Restore or remove buttons for that file don't do anything with that file.
It's stuck in Quarantine.

Would it be possible to see in those debug logs I sent, since it was sitting there from earlier, if there's also some another bug in the program with the quarantine?

[InvisibleMan]

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=203825.0

Here is the same exact issue I'm having!

So it was there even in 2017, and still there.

That file that got into quarantine was because I enabled the behavior shiled to get better protection.

But it immediatelly put there a file that never got my coputer into problems for years, and now it's stuck in qurantine just like in the issue described by the link I provided above.

[InvisibleMan]

Alright.

I just tried to do all those actions to restore or remove the file from quarantine, with debug logging enabled.

Then I sent another report with the support tool.

Here's File Id: BVFMP
And file name: 20211014_1126_BVFMP_2565269668.zip

Can this report about this bug be reviewed as well about the stuck file in quarantine?

Or should I create a new topic for this issue for it to be reviewed?

[Asyn]

File ID: IZQ8V
File Name: 20211014_1055_IZQ8V_2565269668.zip

OK, I'll forward it, let's see...

Thank you!

Dev-Info: Thanks for report. It should be fixed in first beta of V21.10