downloading cumulative updates for Home 4.8

[tryinhard]

In the process of trying to get 5.0 Free to work for me, I have uninstalled 4.8 no less than half a dozen times, and had to reinstall it the same number when 5.0 went into continuous reboot every time.  Putting in the basic 4.8 program is no problem, but getting the updates in place again takes about 4 hours with dial-up.  Assuming I keep trying to install 5.0 without success and have to revert back to 4.8 again, is there any quicker way to retrieve the updates??

[DavidR]

The quickest way to get updates is by first downloading the latest 4.8 version still available through the avast site (which will have a fairly recent full VPS as part of the install file) and then use the auto update which does incremental updates.

This allows for downloading avast 4.8 http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download#tab4.

[tryinhard]

Thanks, David, but that's what I have been doing--latest program version, and auto updates, but they amount to better than 30MB, and that's about 4 hours for us poor dial-up people.  If that's the only option, it's unlikely I will try 5.0 again unless somebody comes up with a killer idea for what is causing my reboot problem.  It is just too time-consuming, and the attraction to 5.0 is growing less by the minute.

[DavidR]

The latest update of the complete VPS amount to 30MB plus, but if that system is on-line there is no need to download the complete VPS database.

avast has had incremental updates through the program for many, many years and these VPS updates are frequently measured in KBs not MBs if you haven't been connected for some time. Even if you have it would still be smaller than downloading the complete database.

I really don't understand what the problem is, if you have saved the latest avast 4.8 installation 4.8.1368 it will have a pretty complete VPS, so the quickest way to update the VPS is by updating through the programs interface - right click the avast 'a' icon, select Updating, iAVS Update. That will never be the 30MB of the complete VPS.

So if you try 5.0 again it shouldn't be too onerous going back to 4.8 if you have to. I too am a dial-up user.

[tryinhard]

Well, David, the problem seems to be that 4.8.1368 goes back to, I believe, November 27, 2009, and when I go to update, it lumps all the past increments into the update for whatever day I interrogate, and just grinds away until it covers the whole thing.  I remember in the past seeing the increments listed as they were loaded, but not since I have been wrestling with this 5.0 mess.  I don't know about anyone else's dial-up, but my normal connection speed is 26.4 KBS, and download speed from program sites is normally below 3.0KBS.

[DavidR]

Whilst 4.8.1368 was released in Nov 2009, the version available for download should still contain a recent VPS version. Even if it didn't and had to go back as far as Nov 2009 that would still be much less than downloading the full cumulative VPS at 30MB.

If you have a friend on broadband ask if they would download the full VPS Version, avast! VPS Update - Manual Download, this has both the 4.8 and 5.0 virus definitions available to download. Once downloaded to a USB or CD you can transfer the file to your system and double click the executable file to install a cumulative VPS version.

[tryinhard]

Sounds reasonable, but unless some of the 5.0 questions and issues get resolved, I won't be going through all the hassle.  I appreciate your comebacks.

[DavidR]

Well what hassle, I though you were going back to 4.8 and wanted to know how to get the cumulative VPS updates without having to download the 30MB file after installing 4.8 and that is what I have been trying to do.

[tryinhard]

David--I am back at 4.8 and have gotten there successfully after every attempt at loading 5.0, which has failed.  I have kept trying the new program because I believe it will have some merit if it ever gets sorted out, and the hassles have been the 5.0 program itself, plus the update reload for 4.8 every time.  I noted that I had been through this numerous times--perhaps you just overlooked that.  Your suggestion to have someone else download the update package would be ok if there was anyone in my area that had high-speed--that and whether or not there was the option to "Save" that information--I wouldn't bet there is.  In any case, I thank you again for your efforts, but no further replies on this issue from you will be necessary.