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!

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.

Big fan of Avast here. Zero problems.

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!!!

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

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.

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

+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.

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.

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

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

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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

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

If you are happy your AV is installed why not just tell security center you monitor your own stuff.

No, it isn't right.
You only stop the ones indicated in the step by step.Windows Management Instrumentation, and Security Centre.
If they aren't' stopped, you will not be able to delete the repository file. (Try it, if you want. Windows will say "Unable. In use by another...")
After the file has been deleted, the reason for the reboot is (1) Windows will rebuild the file, using up to date information, and (2) the services you stopped earlier will restart with Windows. All should be good.


That's an option too. The security centre is not always a perfect warning system.
Personally, I like it present, in case something happens (hasn't yet) or I forget something (has happened) and there is almost always a warning produced.
So I treat it as a handy warning light, that can sometimes be wrong.
+ if you have something on your computer, and you're like me, you want it working correctly.

c:\windows\system32\wbem\repository

After following your full instructions I deleted the folder called Repository because you didn't specify any file within Repository. (It's still in my Recycle Bin.) I've rebooted and I still have the Security Center red warning on my taskbar. The 2 services you told me to turn off are running again after reboot which is normal. However the Repository folder within wbem has not rebuilt itself. Now there is no Repository folder within wbem. Should I put the one in the Recycle Bin back in wbem?

I know sometimes it can take a minute or two to rebuild itself. Try rebooting again and looking.

I did reboot again. Red symbol is still there. And what about that Repository folder still in my Recycle Bin?

Is this exactly how you did it Corona?

Disable the WMI service.

Delete the c:\windows\system32\wbem\repository.

Restart the WMI service.

Wait a few minutes until the repository folder has rebuilt itself (If you reboot immediately then the procedure may fail).

Reboot.

Okay, that's a little different than how I was told earlier. I'll give your instructions a try.

It looks like it's working now. Thanks Hazelnut!

...

Woops, spoke too soon. The red alert was gone after I did everything, but after I rebooted it came back up again.

No problem Corona, glad it worked for you.


Store the instructions away somwhere for when someone else needs them


edit...just seen your edit, back to the drawing board I guess.

See your pm's Corona.

If all else fails, and you are sure you are malware free, perhaps you could try uninstalling avast, rebooting twice (to remove drivers as rebooting once only disables drivers on security software) using the avast cleanup tool and reinstalling avast. Perhaps it may trigger the right response then as it seems like from what you say an avast update may have 'upset'' things a bit.

Assuming you are malware free, and the Avast services are actually running, the next step would be a full re-install from scratch.

Download the full Avast setup file (Direct download from Avast, 36.99Mb).
Download the Avast uninstall utility.
Disconnect from the internet.
Right click the Avast tray icon, select "Program settings>troubleshooting" and disable the self defence module.
Right click the tray icon and select "Stop on access protection".
Go to control panel>add/remove programs" and uninstall Avast.Reboot.

(You will loose any custom program settings you had, and anything that was in the quarantine will be deleted.)
Run the Avast uninstall utility. If there were any problems with the uninstall before (and you would know) you'll have to run it in safe mode. Reboot.
Install Avast from the setup file. Go through the setup prompts - if you are sure you are malware-free, you might prefer to skip the Boot scan, it can take a while.
Reconnect to the net, get updates.

I don't see how that is different to what I'd posted, except possibly for syntax. If something was unclear, please tell me, so I can change it next time.

You know what? I got rid of K-lite Codec pack, uninstalled Avast, rebooted, installed Avast, rebooted with boot scan, and now it's okay. I remember reading a post somewhere (probably here) about codec packs causing problems. Nowadays I don't even think I need it anymore. I used to for the past few years, just in order to hear different online stations. But they all work now without K-Lite so, heh, bye K-Lite.
And Tarq, no problem, I probably did something out of order. I do that sometimes.

Tarq & Hazelnut, thanks for your help.

Good news Corona, I'm sure Tarq will be glad to hear all is okay too

Yep, I'm glad all is well. Maybe K-lite was a factor. Don't know. And it probably doesn't matter.