scan results saying error

[catcor]

I'm using avast 5.0 the free version.Every time i do a scan my scan results say "Error:the system cannot find the path specified(3)" i don't know if my scans are even working?or is there something wrong with my program? can someone help.I'm using windows vista. thanks!

[DavidR]

What is the full text of the error, surely it also tells you the file name and location ?

[catcor]

On a quick scan it says "C\users\allusers:error the system cannot find the path specified(3)"

[DavidR]

Expand the column width it should give the full path to the file/folder (see below). Remember this is a notification of a file that can't be scanned, not that it is suspicious or infected, just that it can't be scanned.

Though given the time it has been this obviously isn't an essential file. If it is repetitive as you suggest in your first post to offer any more advice we really need to know the path and file name.

E:\Images\CapturedScreenPrint\expandcolumn.gif - Expand Column Width, hover the mouse pointer over the column header divider until the pointer changes (see image, click to enlarge) left click and hold down the key whilst dragging the pointer to the right.

[catcor]

im sorry people but thats all its says,it doesnt says it is suspicious or infected files, just that it can't be scanned.

[DavidR]

Is there any information in the report file, C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Alwil Software\Avast5\report it will be QuickScan.txt or something like that (I have changed the file in my report settings) ?

Once you run the Quick Scan at the bottom of the scan info is a Show report file, that should show a text file with the data (the bottom of the file shows the latest scan data).

Whilst this may not reveal the info I'm after, you may have to modify the content of the report file (Quick Scan, Settings, Report file, Reported items) and check the Soft errors and Skipped items. This could greatly increase the size of the report file, but may help to get to the bottom of what can't be scanned and once we do that you can reverse the report file settings.

[catcor]

the only thing i can find is in real time shilds in last file scanned but i keeps changing every mintue,this is one
' c:\user\user1\appdata\local\microsoft\windows\temporayInternetFiles\contents"""""""" i dont no if that helps??

[DavidR]

You have to do as I suggested modify the report settings (click on the image to expand) and look in the report file. You are looking at the on-access real time that has zero bearing on the on-demand scan.

[catcor]

i have done what u suggested but it didn't change anything when i did a quickscan results,sorry i am bit slow with these computer things.Is the report file somewhere else??

[DavidR]

You have to make the changes in the Report file for the Quick scan, if you have - After completing the scan you should be able to access the report file "at the bottom of the scan info is a Show report file" I gave in the Reply #5 above. See image1 of the scan info and Show report file, see image2 of an extract of my report file, after I made the changes I said, showing the OK files being listed (there were no skipped files in my scan).

[catcor]

OK Ive done another scan it went to the result page saying the same error messsage then i close it to go that b3701.gif but it just goes to 'start quick scan' with nothing. so this is what I'm thinking because it doesn't complete my scans it wont give me any result
 
so should i bother anymore or just delete avast and try another anti-virus program

[DavidR]

As soon as you close the scan the results won't be redisplayed, so you have to copy and paste any relevant information about the error in that report file, whilst it is open. Otherwise you will have to go directly to the report file, that is why I gave you the location of the file where the scan results/data are stored.

If it is displaying this error "C\users\allusers:error the system cannot find the path specified(3)" that is presumably in the after scan display (that you were trying to expand the column/copy), for this to happen the scan should already have completed.