Custom Scan problem

[justinlee]

I have just observed a custom scan i set up and have noticed that the percentage does not go up as the scan progresses nor does the bar. It just stays at 0% and just ends when finshed. Also, i have set it up to scan my C:\Downloads folder and a download folder on a seperate partition called D:\ but the custom scan does not appear to include these when scanning.

Have i missed something? I am using Avast 6.0.1125

[DavidR]

It takes time to a) initialise and b) get an idea of the total of files to be scanned, etc. before it can possibly place any % scale.

So that takes time and you will see a delay before it is displayed, personally I never bother worrying about this function. Though I have never seen it remain at 0% until completion.

How do you know it doesn't scan it ?
Presumably you aren't sitting watching the whole scan.

Since you don't give us any idea what your Custom scan settings are, so we can't really be sure of anything.

[justinlee]

I have changed a setting from 'recognise file type by their name extension (fast)' to 'Scan all files' and now the percentage bar is working but it is still not scanning the downloads folder on C:\ and D:\ i have avast open alongside another window so as i work i am watchiing the scan.

Custom scan settings are as follows...

Scan areas

System Drive
Rootkits (quick scan)
Auto-start programs
C:\Users\Justin\Downloads
D:\Bittorrent Downloads

I orginally had it on scan by name extension but have changed it to scan all files but it still does not scan C:\Users\Justin\Downloads or D:\Bittorrent Downloads

Heuristics Sensitivity is set to high with code emulation. I scan for PUPs and follow links during a scan.

[DavidR]

Why choose system drive and then the C:\Users\Justin\Downloads it is on the system drive.

I don't see much benefit of scanning your bittorrent downloads folder, if a) you are using the P2P shield and or b) you have avast scan the completed bittorrent download (ashQuick.exe scan).

To be really sure if it is scanning the D:\Bittorrent Downloads folder, you would need to change the report functions on the scan settings to include all files scanned and not just the limited errors and detections, etc. That would however increase the report file size and not something that you would want to leave on that report setting.

[justinlee]

Of course! Ok so you're advice would be to remove the C:\Users\Justin\Downloads and D:\Bittorrent Downloads folder from the scan?

[DavidR]

No just the first one C:\Users\Justin\Downloads, as that is clearly a duplication in the same scan. If you are using the P2P Shields and or are scanning the completed download, then that is a duplication outside of the scan. If you wish to scan them I would change the report settings to be 100% sure that they are being scanned and then set the report settings back again.

But since some of those may have been scanned some time ago, new virus signatures may have been added since then so you could rescan.

However that said - With a resident on-access antivirus like avast, the need for frequent on-demand scans is much depreciated. For the most part the on-demand scan is going to be scanning files that would be otherwise be dormant or inert. If they were active files then the on-access file system shield would be scanning them before being created, modified, opened or executed.

I have avast set to do a scheduled weekly Quick scan, set at a time and day that I know the computer will be on. If for some reason my system wasn't on, no big deal I will catch up on the next scheduled scan.