Update: Windows can't copy files

[Ben Powell]

Since mid July, virus database updates have failed. When the system is rebooted, it spends 15 minutes spinning the drive before announcing that "Windows was unable to copy %1 to %2...'.  As soon as I go on line, Avast repeats the download and sets the system up for the next failure. What is the cure for this problem?

Compaq P3 1Ghz., 384MB, 40MB, Windows ME, ZoneAlarm. 

[Lisandro]

I suggest an installation from the scratch:

1. Uninstall avast from Control Panel first.
2. Boot.
3. Download the latest version of Avast Uninstall and use it for complete uninstallation.
4. Boot.
5. Install again the latest avast! version.
6. Boot.
7. Check and post the results.


Oh, before, you can test removing avast entries into ZA program settings and boot, trying again to allow avast to connect the Internet.

[igor]

I can't say for sure, but the symptoms look like a hardware problem with your hard drive to me...
I'd suggest to run a disk check, including the surface test.

[Ben Powell]

Thanks, Tech!!

I admit that I am surprised by success in this case. It took a couple of hours to download the installer, and I did not want to get hung up in limbo, so I double clicked it to make sure it was good. It ran, without giving me a cancel option, do I let it uninstall the original program.  I followed up with the uninstall utility and then ran the installer again.

At reboot, Windows reported inability to copy that file again, but it did not hang and did not repeat the attempt. Subsequent updates to the virus db have not required reboots and have gone smoothly.

[Lisandro]

I admit that I am surprised by success in this case.

Sometimes the simpler the better. Sometimes we're lucky