Author Topic: archive files  (Read 4337 times)

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amanda1955

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archive files
« on: March 09, 2009, 02:33:32 AM »
I have been using avast home for awhile and it does a good job, but whenever I try to scan archive files, it goes through them but at the end of the scan it says unable to scan archive files error, so is there a way for avast to be able to scan them. successfully.   I am using Windows XP with Superantispyware

Offline DavidR

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Re: archive files
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2009, 03:23:50 AM »
Firstly you don't say why avast can't scan then and it does when they are reported, typically for archives it is because they are password protected.

Files that can't be scanned are just that, not an indication they are suspicious/infected, just unable to be scanned.

Many programs (usually security based ones) password protect their files for legitimate reasons such as AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy, there are others (and avast doesn't know the password or have any way of using it even if it did know it).

When you run scans with the above programs and you delete harmful entries that they detect, a copy is kept (in quarantine/restore/backup) in case you need to reverse what you did. These are usually password protected, you should do some housekeeping and delete old backup/recovery/quarantine entries (older than two weeks or so), this will reduce the numbers of files that can't be scanned.

By examining 1) the reason given by avast! for not being able to scan the files, 2) the location of the files, you can get an idea of what program they relate to. You may need to expand the column headings to see all the text. If you can give some examples of those file names, the locations and reason given why it can't be scanned might help us further ?
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amanda1955

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Re: archive files
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2009, 05:24:36 AM »
thanks for that. it  is not really a big issue, just wondered.

Offline DavidR

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Re: archive files
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2009, 08:40:10 PM »
No problem, glad I could help.

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Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security