Can't play music with Avast running...

[lilsassy]

Since installing Avast 4 Home, I can't play music files in my major players.  I'm running Windows 98 and there are no errors in Device Manager on my hardware.

Windows system files play fine (start-up, shut-down, etc.).
Voyetra Audio Station plays CD's fine.
I have not been able to play WAV, Midi, or Mp3 files in RealPlayer 10, Windows Media Player 7.1, JetAudio, or MusicMatch Jukebox.  They all bring up the music file information (title, length) but won't play the file.  They are all blocked.  When I open Avast it shows that particular player or the last music file I tried to play in that player as the last file scanned.  When I shut down Avast, they all play.  I tried moving the Standard Shield setting from High to Normal, but they still won't play.  

What do I have to do to get Avast to allow these files to play?

Thanks!  

[Eddy]

Strange.....
Any error or something unusual in Avast's log file?

[lilsassy]

There are two errors in the log file from a system scan I ran two days ago after the initial install.  It reads:

12/3/04 5:14:26 PM   é |Ì|   4294607903   ODBC function CREATE TABLE LocalObjects (Id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, Type INTEGER, Label VARCHAR(50), Comment VARCHAR(255), CreationTime INTEGER, Creator INTEGER); failed. Error description: [Microsoft][ODBC Microsoft Access Driver] Table 'LocalObjects' already exists..  

12/3/04 5:14:30 PM   é |Ì|   4294854499   During the parsing of C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\avast4.xml XML document, following error occurred: C.  

Does it mean anything?

Thanks!  

[Eddy]

Change ODBC to XML in the avast4.ini and let us know if the problem is solved.

[lilsassy]

Guess what?  This morning I booted up and my music files were playing.  I have no idea why.  I changed nothing.  Yesterday evening I rebooted quite a few times and the only times the music players played music was when I booted up without Avast auto starting.  

I will continue to check and if they start hanging again, I will do as you suggested above.

Thanks!  

[lilsassy]

Well, I SAY I'll changed ODBC to XML as you suggested, but I'm not finding it in Avast4.ini!  

[Lisandro]

Well, I SAY I'll changed ODBC to XML as you suggested, but I'm not finding it in Avast4.ini!  

This setting is on the [Common] section of <avast>\data\avast4.ini file.
If it's not there, just add it:
Database=XML

More details? Click on 'Settings' in my signature.

[lilsassy]

Thank you for that information.  My Avast4.ini file already says Database=XML.  I will check out your Settings page also.  

[igor]

Do you have avast! sounds on or off? If on - does it help if you disable all avast! sounds from the program options? (if the problem appers again, I mean)

[lilsassy]

As a matter of fact, my music files weren't playing again today when I turned the computer on.  I checked sounds in Avast and they were enabled.  I disabled them, but still could not play music files.  I rebooted and the music files played.  I'll post again if my music files cut out again while Avast sounds are disabled.

Thanks!  

[Eddy]

Check your system and event logs for any errors.

[lilsassy]

There have been no new event messages in Windows 98's Msievent.log file since before I installed Avast.  The only new event notices in Avast are concerning Virus Database updates.

Is there anything else I should be checking?

[Eddy]

You could start DrWatson. It may tell us more about what is happening.

[igor]

I'm afraid DrWatson won't tell us much unless a real crash occurs

It may be some kind of conflict or bad initialization of sound libraries. I don't know if it has any relevance, but avast! loads WINMM library at the startup (so that it can play sounds later). It may initialize the sound subsystem(?)... and maybe the particular hardware doesn't like initializing so early (for example, it may need its own applications to load first)... don't know, it's just a theory.

What soundcard do you have?

[Eddy]

If you are correct Igor, than it should be possible to find out with Startup Delayer and Avast set to load last imo.

Or (if there are any) installing new sound drivers and/or motherboard drivers may help.