Wierd Screen retention issues Since installing Avast

[J23]

Hi. I have learned a fair amount about avast in the past few days and really like it. Love it actually. Only thing is that when I am running a virus scan if I am watching an avi (for instance) in WMP and I click on the eq or whatever the graphic equalizer remains on my screen. Nothing short of reboooting removes it. In fact as I am typing this it is super imposed over the forum. Damn strange. I am on a Dell studio xps 16 running Windows 7 rc 7100 64 bit. Never seen anything like this before. Has anyone in here? I have no idea how to addres this. The graphic just sits on top of whatever I do. I could not see the "have...after part I just typed as the Graphic Equalizer banner is covering the screem. Avast also does this on it's own. If I right click on it whatever I call up on my screen stays there, on top of everything else until I reboot. Help?
J23

[Lisandro]

If the leftovers were avast related, I'll suggest the following:

There is a workaround to these graphical artefacts remnants of menus, etc. that you could give a try.
Edit avast4.ini using Notepad [Common] section, add the following line to the section SunbeltKPFHack=2, save the file, you will be prompted by the avast! self-defence module if this is OK answer Yes.
See http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=37609.msg315764#msg315764

McAfee Site Advisor causing similar issues with avast: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=40840.msg342656#msg342656

Igor says the last word here:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=22698.msg188440#msg188440

See here, please:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=37609.msg315764#msg315764

But, sorry, your problem could be not related to avast, as the leftovers are from the graphic equalizer.

[J23]

Thanks for the fast reply. I just need to know are you saying in the end that this cannot be avast whatsoever and the various edit and what not links you have kindly sent me are to fix something re my laptop or & I can assure you (having run Windows 7 since Jan 20th) Windows 7 itself? That is imposable. This has NEVER happened before. Ever. I have updated my ATI 3670 card thru every update and NEVER had a blip in this area. Just needing clarification before I proceed with your suggestions. Again thank you for helping. Good to see such an active forum.
Regards,
J23

[DavidR]

A very basic explanation of what the editing of the avast4.ini file does, it changes a setting on how avast interacts with other applications, where those applications may conflict with avast.

[J23]

If the leftovers were avast related, I'll suggest the following:

There is a workaround to these graphical artefacts remnants of menus, etc. that you could give a try.
Edit avast4.ini using Notepad [Common] section, add the following line to the section SunbeltKPFHack=2, save the file, you will be prompted by the avast! self-defence module if this is OK answer Yes.
See http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=37609.msg315764#msg315764

Hi I am about to do this. Just a few questions. Where is the avast ini file that I am opening into notepad? Is it in Avast (the gui ) or in the program sub section found in the program file tree of Windows.? This might be obvious but I choose to error on the side of caution.
Thanks for the hand,
J23





But, sorry, your problem could be not related to avast, as the leftovers are from the graphic equalizer.

[bob3160]

If the installation was made to the default folder, you'll find it at:
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA

[J23]

This is what I am looking @. Which folder/file from here? Is log ini. in this case? If not which sub dir am I editing? Sorry to be such a bother.

[bob3160]

If you where to unblock known file extensions in your folder options, you would see that the file now listed as:
avast4    is in fact avast4.ini

Hope that helps

[Sesame]

J23, As bob3160 pointed out, currently, you appear not to let the system show file extensions.  I avoided to reply you first time around since I'm not familiar with Windows 7 but, now thinking of it, I could have googled.
http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-7/show-file-extensions/
Follow the instruction of the site above and you will see the "avast4.ini" file in front of you.

[DavidR]

This really has to be one of the worst default actions Microsoft has taken with OSes, hiding 'known' file types. All it does is confuse users and begs the question 'known to whom,' Microsoft, but not many users.

[bob3160]

This really has to be one of the worst default actions Microsoft has taken with OSes, hiding 'known' file types. All it does is confuse users and begs the question 'known to whom,' Microsoft, but not many users.

Beta testers should know how to fix those minor things....

[DavidR]

The problem it isn't just beta testers we are talking about but you average user the hide extensions of known file types has been a default setting in all OS versions going back to win98 and possibly longer and still causes confusion (even for this beta tester).

[bob3160]

The problem it isn't just beta testers we are talking about but you average user the hide extensions of known file types has been a default setting in all OS versions going back to win98 and possibly longer and still causes confusion (even for this beta tester).

That should be "novice" beta testers...

[DavidR]

Well with the windows 7 it should probably be called 'cannon fodder' as there wasn't much in the way of restriction on who could get it, so many who really shouldn't be beta testing security applications much less an OS.

That however, makes little difference to the default settings of hiding 'known' file extensions.

[J23]

This really has to be one of the worst default actions Microsoft has taken with OSes, hiding 'known' file types. All it does is confuse users and begs the question 'known to whom,' Microsoft, but not many users.

Aha. See I did have show hidden extensions but did not un check nor notice the un check box in addition as one did not need to do this before. BTW-To other posters I am far from a novice. Been working and building pc's  since Dos. Sometimes you just miss something. OS X has a crap load of stupid defaults as well. Windows 7 is, imho, the best OS ever. Still does not make it perfect. These sorts of extensions confuse the average user. I think it is reasonable for MS to adopt the "Do no harm" on this one.
Regards,
J23