Author Topic: Messengers not working with Avast!  (Read 6247 times)

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Ninne

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Messengers not working with Avast!
« on: February 23, 2009, 08:48:47 AM »
I just installed Avast! today, downloaded the Norton removal tool and got rid of Norton, but I'm having a problem with my Yahoo!/Windows Live messengers not displaying text. When I receive a message I get a popup saying something about an ActiveX control and whether I click "yes" or "no" there isn't any text displayed in the window. I don't see sent or received messages. In Windows Live when I click the button to go to my hotmail all I get is a blank screen.

It goes without saying that I'm really frustrated by this and would like some help.

I use Windows XP, browse with Mozilla Firefox, and Avast! is up to date as far as I can tell.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2009, 09:05:23 AM by Ninne »

Offline FreewheelinFrank

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2009, 09:13:52 AM »
Could you post a screen shot of the message? That might help.
     Bambleweeny 57 sub-meson brain     Don't Surf in the Nude Blog

Ninne

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2009, 09:18:07 AM »

Offline alanrf

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2009, 09:18:18 AM »
I use fully updated Windows XP Pro SP3 and the current release of Windows Live Messenger and the latest release of avast (I also use the current production release of Firefox).  I have, within the last 5 days conducted a number of tests of Windows Live Messenger and its components with the group of folks that I support on avast (mixture of Windows XP and Vista - all on latest version of avast).  

While we did determine that there was a lengthy outage of the "phone between computers" connection in Windows Live that now appears to have been corrected we detected no other problems in the Windows Live Messenger component connectivity in the last week (text message, remote assistance, "phone" connection, webcam connection, etc).  This was testing intra-US and US to Europe.

I have not tested the Yahoo equivalent and I cannot speak to that.

Ninne

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2009, 09:21:19 AM »
I just tried going to the Windows Update site too with IE and got another blank page.

Offline alanrf

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2009, 09:27:20 AM »
Here is what I get on going to the Windows Update site using IE:

click on the image to enlarge.

Offline FreewheelinFrank

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2009, 09:29:24 AM »


The warning looks like a Norton warning to me- certainly nothing to do with avast!
     Bambleweeny 57 sub-meson brain     Don't Surf in the Nude Blog

Ninne

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2009, 09:31:22 AM »
Yeah, I don't get that. I get a blank page that says "Done" at the bottom, clicking refresh does nothing.

I'm only running network, standard, and web shield, too. I've checked all the Avast! settings, the FAQ, everything I can think of and can't find a fix for this. Like I said, I'm a little frustrated, keeping my computer safe is one thing but keeping me from talking to people is a little overprotective.

Quote
The warning looks like a Norton warning to me- certainly nothing to do with avast!

Well it's certainly not a Norton warning, all traces of Norton are gone and I never got it until I installed Avast! This has to be an Avast! issue.

I uninstalled Norton, ran the removal tool, and restarted my comp. So it really should be gone, I'm not sure what else I can possibly do.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2009, 09:34:22 AM by Ninne »

Offline alanrf

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2009, 09:39:42 AM »
As Frank told you - that is not an avast warning.

I have told you what I get with avast. 

You have to believe what you choose to believe.

One option would be:

Run the Norton removal tool (making sure you have the right one) again.

Uninstall avast

Re-install avast

Let us know what happens ... we want to assist if we can.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2009, 09:43:02 AM by alanrf »

Ninne

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2009, 09:44:39 AM »
It HAS to be an Avast! warning, I don't have Norton. Like I said, I even downloaded the removal tool that I read about on this website and ran it, it's gone.

"You have to believe what you choose to believe", what kind of thing is that to say?

I'll try a reinstall and see what happens.

Offline alanrf

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2009, 10:00:18 AM »
Well, it says in the Window it is from Yahoo ... I find it hard to understand what clearer "this is not an avast warning" will satisfy you.

Offline FreewheelinFrank

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2009, 10:15:27 AM »
I used to get similar warnings when I ran the Symantec firewall. I suspect Norton somehow interferes with  ActiveX security settings.

Do you have the Symantec/Norton firewall installed?

It is possible that Norton changed Window's ActiveX security settings when it was installed.

Go to Internet Explorer tools>internet options>security>custom level
under security settings, are the following enabled?

init & script ActiveX controls not marked as safe
run ActiveX controls & plugins

This almost certainly has nothing to do with avast! It has the hallmark of a Symantec FUBAR.

 ;D
« Last Edit: February 23, 2009, 10:17:19 AM by FreewheelinFrank »
     Bambleweeny 57 sub-meson brain     Don't Surf in the Nude Blog

Ninne

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2009, 10:22:57 AM »
Well, I took your advice and looked into it some more. I downloaded and ran about 3 more Norton removal tools and reinstalled Avast! again and everything seems to be fine now.

I'm not really sure what I did wrong the first time, maybe I did have the wrong tool and didn't realize it, or maybe I just needed to reinstall, I dunno. In any case, thanks for your help. Frank is right, I guess it had to have been a Symantec fubar then, damn thing just wouldn't go away.  :P

Well, it says in the Window it is from Yahoo ... I find it hard to understand what clearer "this is not an avast warning" will satisfy you.

Well, it said that for everything...Internet Explorer, Yahoo, etc. I see your point though, obviously I screwed up somewhere. I'm just glad it's fixed now.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2009, 10:25:44 AM by Ninne »

Offline FreewheelinFrank

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2009, 10:31:28 AM »
I suspect a component of Norton was still interfering with ActiveX security.

Glad you're sorted out now.

While you're here, I'd recommend you check for out-of-date and insecure software and update- this will greatly improve the security of your computer.

Secunia Online Software Inspector (OSI)
Secunia Personal Software Inspector (PSI)
     Bambleweeny 57 sub-meson brain     Don't Surf in the Nude Blog

Ninne

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Re: Messengers not working with Avast!
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2009, 10:33:15 AM »
Thanks, I'll do that.