AVAST ATE MY SETTINGS

[kelltic]

I installed the latest version of Avast yesterday and rebooted. When Windows loaded, I was horrified to find I had a new look. It took me hours to get the UI back to anything similar to what I'd had before. Why should an anti virus, or any program, mess with the system's User Interface? I hope this issue will be addressed soon. I will be afraid to update again.  

OS:  XP

[CraigB]

Avast doesn't change the system interface so i would be inclined to think you have some other issue as your the only person that has reported this happening, what av were you using before avast and how did you remove it ? have you used and registry cleaning tools that may have removed your setting's ?

[Shiw Liang]

Or did avast move some files to chest...

[CraigB]

Or did avast move some files to chest...

It could have if something fishy was detected on the quick scan after install but i would think you would get some kind of notification if there was a detection 

[kelltic]

Avast doesn't change the system interface so i would be inclined to think you have some other issue as your the only person that has reported this happening, what av were you using before avast and how did you remove it ? have you used and registry cleaning tools that may have removed your setting's ?

I was using the previous version of Avast. I didn't remove it. When the pop-up advising me to install the new version interrupted me for the umpteenth time, I shut down all open apps and let it install.

When I was trying to restore a desktop icon that had reverted, Avast prevented me from opening a program that makes changes to icons, until I "allowed" it. The program is FolderMagic and I've used it for years. So far, that's the only app I've tried to open that it has interfered with, but everything takes a lot longer to load. I was happier with the earlier version. Is there a way to go back to it?

No. I do not use registry cleaners. Horrible things.

I haven't made any other changes (counting Avast Update as a change) in months. The only program I've installed since January, was PDF to Word.

In answer to the other two comments:   
There is nothing new in the virus chest. Received no notification of anything fishy.

[giogio]

Wich version have you installed previously? the 4.8 (icon on the taskbar blue) or the 5 (icon on the taskbar red)?

Can you tell to us the configuration of your Pc?

[kelltic]

Wich version have you installed previously? the 4.8 (icon on the taskbar blue) or the 5 (icon on the taskbar red)?

Can you tell to us the configuration of your Pc?

Thanks for answering.
Red Icon, free version. By configuration, is this what you mean?

HP Pavilion Desktop
32 bit Windows XP, sp3
1535 MB Ram
NVIDIA GeForce 6200

It's a free program and a great anti-virus. I just hoped if I posted somebody would give it a look and fix it so I don't have to go through this again. I dug around in Event Viewer and saw Error 90 several times (from back in June) with this description:

The description for Event ID (90) in Source (avast!) cannot be found. The local computer may not have the necessary registry information or message DLL files to display messages from a remote computer. You may be able to use the /AUXSOURCE= flag to retrieve this description; see Help and Support for details. The following information is part of the event: Error in library avUInt: ActiveSkin not installed or not registered properly.

It caught my eye mostly because of the "ActiveSkin" reference.

Anyway, Thanks

[ady4um]

Maybe I misunderstood, so I'll ask. When updating Avast program, did you accept the 15 day free trial of AIS, or did you keep using the Free edition?

If you accepted the 15 day trial of AIS when updating, have you decided "to go back" to Free; or are you still using the trial?

[kelltic]

Maybe I misunderstood, so I'll ask. When updating Avast program, did you accept the 15 day free trial of AIS, or did you keep using the Free edition?

If you accepted the 15 day trial of AIS when updating, have you decided "to go back" to Free; or are you still using the trial?

I was using the free version before. I am using the free version now. I did not accept the 15 day trial.

Also, I notice that the Event Error is dated June of 2010. Over a year ago. There are no entries at all in Event Viewer - Antivirus after 6/17/2010.

[ady4um]

If you are still using the Free edition, then please, you need to clarify the following:

When I was trying to restore a desktop icon that had reverted, Avast prevented me from opening a program that makes changes to icons, until I "allowed" it.

What exactly do you mean? Maybe you allowed the AutoSandBox? If that's the case, you need to allow the "normal" run of the program you use to edit the icons, and set Avast to accept it always (so you won't need to allow it "each and every" time).

Anyway, I find "Avast update changing your theme/display/desktop/icons" as very unusual.

I was happier with the earlier version. Is there a way to go back to it?

Yes, use "Add/Remove programs" to uninstall Avast, use Avast Clear Uninstall Utility to "clean any remnants" and reinstall Avast Free 6.0.1203 (filehippo.com); but currently I don't think you really need to do all that. It's still your choice.

[kelltic]

If you are still using the Free edition, then please, you need to clarify the following:

When I was trying to restore a desktop icon that had reverted, Avast prevented me from opening a program that makes changes to icons, until I "allowed" it.

What exactly do you mean? Maybe you allowed the AutoSandBox? If that's the case, you need to allow the "normal" run of the program you use to edit the icons, and set Avast to accept it always (so you won't need to allow it "each and every" time).

Anyway, I find "Avast update changing your theme/display/desktop/icons" as very unusual.

I was happier with the earlier version. Is there a way to go back to it?

Yes, use "Add/Remove programs" to uninstall Avast, use Avast Clear Uninstall Utility to "clean any remnants" and reinstall Avast Free 6.0.1203 (filehippo.com); but currently I don't think you really need to do all that. It's still your choice.

I guess it was AutoSandBox that jumped up, when I tried to open FolderMagic. That is new to me. I responded to it by setting Avast to accept it always. The AutoSandBox was set to Ask.  I just now disabled the AutoSandBox.

Yes. I found Avast update changing my theme/display/desktop/icons "unusual" too.

I've also found a new issue. Avast is not auto-updating virus definitions like it did in the previous version. I realized I hadn't heard the little voice or seen the notification popup, so I checked it. Had to manually update. Right now it's showing the last update attempt was:  9/13/2011  12:32:34 PM.  But, the last update is the one I made at 5:33 a.m. I'm assuming this is a glitch, or it wouldn't be "attempting".

No, I really don't want to go through the hassle of reinstalling the older version unless this gets more problematic. Thanks for the information on how to do it.

[ady4um]

I responded to it by setting Avast to accept it always. The AutoSandBox was set to Ask.  I just now disabled the AutoSandBox.

Although you are free to set it as you want, I want to be clear. I am NOT recommending to disable AutoSandBox. What I was saying is that you have the option to tell to AutoSandBox that a certain program (located in a certain folder) should be treated as "safe to run in normal mode". That means leaving AutoSandBox enabled, but it won't bother you with that specific program each time you run that specific program.

Yes. I found Avast update changing my theme/display/desktop/icons "unusual" too.

In fact, I've read before about problems related to display/desktop/icons and alike, but I have not read anyone saying that Avast (update) actually changed something like in your case.

I've also found a new issue. Avast is not auto-updating virus definitions like it did in the previous version. I realized I hadn't heard the little voice or seen the notification pop up, so I checked it. Had to manually update. Right now it's showing the last update attempt was:  9/13/2011  12:32:34 PM.  But, the last update is the one I made at 5:33 a.m. I'm assuming this is a glitch, or it wouldn't be "attempting".

Have you rebooted after Avast update? Please do it again (and report back about the database update).

[avadas.de]

Hi,

it it possible that your PC is a member of a domain network? I have seen issues like that (not caused by avast!) when the PC couldn't load the local profile for some reason and then created a temporary one. After a reboot the issue was solved, but very confusing to users.

[kelltic]

I responded to it by setting Avast to accept it always. The AutoSandBox was set to Ask.  I just now disabled the AutoSandBox.

Although you are free to set it as you want, I want to be clear. I am NOT recommending to disable AutoSandBox. What I was saying is that you have the option to tell to AutoSandBox that a certain program (located in a certain folder) should be treated as "safe to run in normal mode". That means leaving AutoSandBox enabled, but it won't bother you with that specific program each time you run that specific program.

Yes. I found Avast update changing my theme/display/desktop/icons "unusual" too.

In fact, I've read before about problems related to display/desktop/icons and alike, but I have not read anyone saying that Avast (update) actually changed something like in your case.

I've also found a new issue. Avast is not auto-updating virus definitions like it did in the previous version. I realized I hadn't heard the little voice or seen the notification pop up, so I checked it. Had to manually update. Right now it's showing the last update attempt was:  9/13/2011  12:32:34 PM.  But, the last update is the one I made at 5:33 a.m. I'm assuming this is a glitch, or it wouldn't be "attempting".

Have you rebooted after Avast update? Please do it again (and report back about the database update).

Yes, I understood about the SandBox.  Yes, I rebooted after the install. After your post I rebooted again. This a.m. the Update Screen shows me a Current Version, Release Date (9/14/2011 1:46:42 AM), Number of Definitions, and the Last Update Attempt as 9/14/2011 3:44:21 AM. That's it.

[kelltic]

Hi,

it it possible that your PC is a member of a domain network? I have seen issues like that (not caused by avast!) when the PC couldn't load the local profile for some reason and then created a temporary one. After a reboot the issue was solved, but very confusing to users.

Stand alone. No network. Nada.