34 replies to this topic

[slowday444]

So I'm trying to keep the security on the laptop, which normally is only used when staying at the homes of our children, free. I had been using Avira and now there are all these update issues so I installed MS Security Essentials, which also is having update issues. I know many of you are using Avast. Any opinions or problems you've had? Thank You!

[login123]

No problems here w/ either one. The Avira slowdown didn't bother me (use it on a laptop), and Avast works ok on the desktop. Avira is of course said to run a bit lighter. I can't confirm that.

Have you given any thought to using Returnil or Powershadow when the kids use the computer? They don't slow down the operation, and protect the OS from any changes.

[slowday444]

login123, on Oct 30 2009, 03:37 PM, said:

No problems here w/ either one. The Avira slowdown didn't bother me (use it on a laptop), and Avast works ok on the desktop. Avira is of course said to run a bit lighter. I can't confirm that.

Have you given any thought to using Returnil or Powershadow when the kids use the computer? They don't slow down the operation, and protect the OS from any changes.

I've used paid Sandboxie for a couple of years! Actually, my children are adults and own homes. We visit and I take the laptop so I don't have to use their PCs.

[razz]

Big fan of Avast here. Zero problems.

[aqua]

also avast will update to 5 very soon..i'm still using avira,,but i think i'll change sonn to avast.
btw avira update problem today...."high utilization of servers" lol!!!

[Icedrake]

Using latest Avast 5 beta 2 version. Zero problems, with this version and the latest stable version (4.8).

[DennisD]

Have had fleeting tries with other A\V's out of curiosity, but always return to Avast which I've been using for nearly three years now with no problems at all.

Have never had one updating glitch in all that time either. Flawless.

It is heavier than others, but I was happy with it when I was running with 512mb memory and most folk have far more than that to play with these days, and it's a small price to pay for reliability.

[Corona]

I have 512 memory and still Avast is my A/V of choice. I'll get Avast 5 when it comes out around Thanksgiving.

[Tarq57]

+1 for Avast. Been using it for about three years. Very stable, does a good job (especially as part of a layered security strategy), and has very good forum support, when needed.
Avast 5 likely to be released round the end of November, Support for 4.8 likely to continue for around a year after the release of 5.

I'd install 4.8, rather than the Beta of 5. You'll have about a years use out of it before having to think of updating.

[Corona]

Why is it that today my Windows Security Center does not recognize my Avast? It tells me I have no AV. I haven't done anything new to it. I did update Avast to the latest update yesterday. Avast is running.

[Corona]

I even deleted it and reinstalled it. Still got that red Security alert in the taskbar.

[hazelnut]

Try rebuilding the repository from instructions on Rebuilding the WMI Repository here, it sounds like it's just got a bit confused

http://windowsxp.mvp...g/repairwmi.htm

[Corona]

I'm not familiar with command line computing. Would the app Dial A Fix help solve this?

[Tarq57]

There is a manual way of doing it, which is basically the command line translated from nerdish into wannabe geek.
The instructions are for XP.

Quote

1. Go to control panel and open Administrative tools.
2. Click on services.
3. Go down to Windows Management Instrumentation.
4. Stop this service. Stop Security Center service too.
Set them to Automatically start.
5. Exit out of this area, to your desktop.
6. Right click Start, and choose Explore.
7. Go to c:\windows\system32\wbem\repository.
Delete this subdirectory ONLY.
Leave the others there.
8. Exit back to your desktop and reboot your computer (you might need to boot twice).

This will rebuild the deleted folder, and the database.
Once restarted, Windows Security Center should show the correct info.
Antivirus, and firewall, should now be recognized.

[Corona]

Before I do this scary thing, should I System Restore? Well, I do have an Erunt back-up anyway. But, just asking.

And, what on earth do you think would cause this malfunction in the first place? You know me...no pr0n, "He's a clean man", Filehippo, single user, no network, etc. Weird.

[Tarq57]

It's not scary, don't worry.
It seems complicated, but it's not.
When you open "services", you'll see an interface with the services listed, and they can be ordered alphabetically. When you right-click each service, there are various options, including "stop". Stop those listed. Check under the "startup type" each is set to automatic (which is the default - you shouldn't have to change a thing.)

Then you can close that.
Then use Windows explorer (or the method listed - it's just another way of getting to the same place) to locate the file indicated. Right click and delete it. (You may need to enable "view hidden and system files" to find/see it. Put that setting back later.)
Then reboot.

This is a fairly common requirement, believe it or not. Hopefully it's the second (and last) step of this troubleshoot.
Windows Security Centre sometimes gets itself all bewildered, the poor thing, and just needs a bit of a poke to put it right. This is that poke.
I've had to do this myself, once, (+ twice more, for practice) and seen it suggested dozens of times. It usually works.

[Tarq57]

Oh, step one (which I should have posted first, but just barged into the repository reset following the earlier post) is to check your system date and time.
And were there any other AV's installed prior to Avast, or even still installed now?
If the above steps don't work, I can talk you through a full install. If you had (or have) another AV I can supply you with the uninstall tool.

[Tarq57]

Oh, step one (which I should have posted first, but just barged into the repository reset following the earlier post) is to check your system date and time.
And were there any other AV's installed prior to Avast, or even still installed now?
If the above steps don't work, I can talk you through a full install. If you had (or have) another AV I can supply you with the uninstall tool.

Believe it or not, you don't have to visit porn sites to get an infection. Totally legit sites can be hacked. (The webshield and network shields are excellent at preventing this sort of thing. Disabling automatic scripting in the browser is an almost fail safe way of preventing a lot of this sort of exploit.)
All that has to happen is the site is using out of date or vulnerable software. (You wouldn't know.)

[Corona]

No to all. And okay. I'm going to try it.

[Corona]

Quote

When you right-click each service, there are various options, including "stop". Stop those listed. Check under the "startup type" each is set to automatic (which is the default - you shouldn't have to change a thing.)

You mean stop all Services? That's not right.