Avast 5 released to public too soon ?

[swamirogers]

I agree.  I can't even get the silly thing to install.  Check this thread out: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=54184.0

[jeffj4873]

Actually if you look at the complaints from the last three revisions in the Beta folder, you'd know dang well it was released to soon. Heck with .366 version I had automatic Bsod's on startup. Though .377 is better, It is way to sensitive. Also brought to my attention, is it may not work well with Powerdvd which is installed on my system. I tried to add  program like Carbonite from HR Block to store certain files on Internet to protect them. I know 5.0 doesn't like that program. Plus there are 3-4 threads like this one cause I started one myself 3 days ago.

[zone12]

No offense guys but it seems that all the hardcore avast people don't have problems. Yet most of the newer ones do.

[Philbee]

one thing i have made sure of is to not install any other security software besides avast 5.0.337.  i am running the free version.  i also disabled the on-access portion of windows defender.  i rarely, if ever use windows defender for anything.  when i was using avast home 4.8, i also used MBAM and SAS as on demend scanners for spyware.  but i have not installed them since i have read that avast 5 may have some conflicts with them.

it is possible web shield may be slowing down my internet connection somewhat, but this is difficult to be sure of, so i have not messed with the default configuration in avast 5.

i wish i didn't have to be as cautious as i am, but after reading the horror stories on the forum, i have decided "better safe than sorry".

[sded]

No offense guys but it seems that all the hardcore avast people don't have problems. Yet most of the newer ones do.

Actually a bunch of the usual suspects were here for the open beta testing so their problems were solved early.  Submit your new problems in the same way to get them solved too.   And with the tremendous number of downloads of Avast! 5, there certainly aren't a lot of new problems reported here, just some very frustrating ones that need to receive the proper priority at Alwil as well as user inputs.  Even the people from Wilders have some pretty good comments at http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=263285 .

[DavidR]

No offense guys but it seems that all the hardcore avast people don't have problems. Yet most of the newer ones do.

Why do you think that is ?
I did nothing special, just installed 5.0 over 4.8 and it worked and I'm supposedly on an OS (XP) that is susceptible to this problem according to others.

Me I only had one of the beta builds (about midway through the beta testing) for a short time on my live system, I felt it wasn't right for a live system at that time and went back to 4.8. During that time though I have been monitoring the beta forums and at the time of the release the beta forums weren't awash with serious problems. So I downloaded the release version and installed it.

One thing different from the beta trial though with the early builds it was recommended to do a clean install and that is what most did. Subsequent to that many would have been updating from beta to beta so not so many issues regarding updating.

However, towards the end of the beta it was suggested it would be OK to install over the top of 4.8 for those who didn't already have the beta installed. Some experienced problems, though not masses of them and a clean reinstall resolved the problem. They too would be updating beta to beta so no major issues for most.

The major difference on the release is the much greater volumes of people updating by installing 5.0 over 4.8 (as suggested on the website) so the flood of topics from those experiencing problems. But given the same large volumes of updates, I don't know if this is as severe as it looks, yes if it is effecting you it is very severe.

[jeffj4873]

DavidR, I agree with what you are saying, mostly. In the overall scheme of thing the volumes complaining could be only 3-4%. Avast may know that. However, since we don't work around BSOD's all day they come off as Catastrophic. I realize some of you guys know a whole lot more computer stuff that I do, I never learned how to read code. I do know that when I work on my computer, a BSOD really ticks me off. I never spent the time Beta testing anybody's software for them. I have plenty of other things to do. I do know that I don't like losing work because of a BSOD. Since I had been using 5.0, I didn't get much of any small glitches, I got BSOD's. So I warrant my concerns that it shouldn't have been release this early.

I put back 4.8, at least for another revision or two. Even 4.8 has it's gliches. Somebody tell me why it can't read it's own download for updates continually. I have had this error three days in a Row.

"Information about current update:
Last encountered error: Invalid file signature. Setup will terminate.

Total time: 1:08"

Now this version has been released now for a LONG time and still this error. But it is NOT a BSOD, so I can live with that.

[Yanto.Chiang]

Perhaps it is just me, but I feel that Avast 5 final has been released far too soon as it is still very buggy and with far too many BSOD's, and without any real explanations and official fixes for these glitches coming from the developers. I appreciate that they might be under pressure to complete Avast 5 but it does not do the reputation of this program any good to release it in this sorry state   

Hi enddays,

Are you involved in Beta test and give any contribution about the error report since ALWIL and all of team did the test?

[artagatis]

Perhaps it is just me, but I feel that Avast 5 final has been released far too soon as it is still very buggy and with far too many BSOD's, and without any real explanations and official fixes for these glitches coming from the developers. I appreciate that they might be under pressure to complete Avast 5 but it does not do the reputation of this program any good to release it in this sorry state   

Hi enddays,

Are you involved in Beta test and give any contribution about the error report since ALWIL and all of team did the test?

First of all I introduce myself, I just register, and tell them I'm Artagatis that version 5 of avast! R, I downloaded and automatically uninstalled version 4.8, but version 5 is inactive and can not be activated, by clicking on the icon opens the instructions but said that implementation remains inconsistent even if you press the button start system or fix, then the icons disappear, then tried to uninstall 4.8 to start from scratch and I said that this enabled self-protection avast! and I should uninstall it via Safe Mode or troubleshooting page.
Is there someone who can advise? I am unprotected

[Alan Baxter]

Interesting question.

Once the beta testers stop finding problems, bringing in the public to look for other issues is about the only alternative.  And with a very large number of users (claimed 100 million), sure looks like just a trickle of problems here, mostly incompatibility issues with other programs that just didn't have enough exposure during beta testing.  Getting more "no problems" from most of the beta testers doesn't help mature the product.  Next update should incorporate lots of the new problem reports.  Most of us are very happy with "this sorry state"  

I mostly agree, although the issues I ran into don't involve compatibility problems.  I encountered three bugs during the first day after updating Avast 4.8 to Avast 5 last Saturday. Two of bugs are relatively minor.  I can work around all three of them.  If they're fixed in a future release, so much the better.

1) Bogus "Avast has detected a Virus in the operating memory" warning dialog after I did a Quick Scan.  I wouldn't call this minor.  I heeded the warning and immediately did a boot scan, which took two hours and found only the eicar test files.  Later I discovered this is a known bug.  Over two hours of my time wasted.  I'll ignore the warning from now on. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53787.0

2) The Avast main window keeps resizing itself to the full height of the screen after I click on one of its selections.  It doesn't always happen right away, and I haven't been able to narrow the trigger down to any particular selection.  I can live with this.  I remember that I did resize it up to full screen height on purpose for a while after first installation.  I wanted to see everything without scrolling.  The window seems to be remembering my initial preference.  Problem is it expands itself even when I don't need it too.  Workaround: ignore it as a minor annoyance.

3) I added the full pathname of an executable I wanted to exclude in the Settings > Exclusions dialog.  Although the documentation says the exclusion includes the real-time shields, the executable is still stopped by the File System Shield.
Workaround:  Added the exact same pathname to the File System Shield Expert settings.  I can now use that program.

[cod head]

I updated to 5 from 4.8 and had no problem on my Vista laptop.I updated the programme version first though to make sure that was up to date as someone once mentioned I believe that the programme update was to prepare for the new release.Then installed it over the top of 4.8.I have noticed in a few threads that failures seem to be happening more on those that are choosing custom installation.I may be wrong but I did not choose custom installation.

I hope everyone gets it sorted soon.Because to me the new version is a Lean Mean Flying Computer Machine.

[.: L' arc :.]

I have to say yes, it was sooner than I expected. There are some things that aren't smooth/fixed yet.

• Program upgrade from v4 to v5 has some issues
• BSODs
• Sandbox issues
• Wrong Boot Time Scan prompts
• Misaligned buttons in sliding popups (buttons are too close to the edge). From what I know, this issue is not in the previous builds
• Sometimes, shields will not turn on and requires reboot or worse, repair
• Sometimes, Attention in tray icon is still displayed even though all shields, updates, etc are fine. This occurs after the duration I set avast to be disabled passed and avast is active again
• Removable media scan does not all removable media (some are skipped)

[bob3160]

I have to say yes, it was sooner than I expected. There are some things that aren't smooth/fixed yet.

Amazing, I seem to remember you asking Alwil when are they finally going to release avast! 5  

[cod head]

I think that old adage applies Bob.You can please some of the people all of the time,all of the people some of the time.But you can't please all of the people all of the time.

[jeffj4873]

I can tell you BSOD's will not please much of anybody. If you got em in 5.0, you are not happy, if you didn't then you should be pleased as punch