Seeking help with Avast on Vista Dell 960

Hi to all,
I recently purchased a computer, loaded Avast. The motherboard apparently had an issue (slow Ethernet problem), and I was given another computer with Vista installed on it too. To possibly make life easier, they also installed the previous C: drive as D: for me to copy files over, or use them on D:

I tried to copy Avast programs folder to C:, but no idea if that can now be activated. Are there any easy answers, or do I have to wait many hours to re-download, and start from scratch? I now find that I cannot delete the Avast folder from the current (new) C: drive.

Talking to Avast support, they suggested $179 tech support. Can't afford that. But.. he mentioned having Defender on this computer will cause issues! (And suggested the slow internet access was caused by Defender being loaded... EVEN if turned off! Is this true of all anti-virus? Do I un-install Defender? Or can I? The local tech guy said Defender should not cause problems. I also run Malwarebytes Premium.. and like the program.

Hopefully one of you will have some good answers for me.

I just recovered a XP laptop from malware issues. It does run on-line but SLOWLY! It will ONLY be used rarely on-line.. but it is taxed with Avast being so large a program, and yet, I'd like to purchase one AV license that will hopefully work for both computers. My subscription is about to expire.. so good time to jump ship, if other options are better. Suggestions? I read of someone hoping to upgrade a XP and know that is not possible with this old laptop, and learning Vista is easier than learning Linux too! Help! And many thanks, jerry

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I did reinstall Avast last night. Their forum suggested loading their cleaner, since I had program files on both C and D. I also downloaded their off-line program (with over a hour of waiting). Both were on my desktop. Going off-line to uninstall all of my MS protection (Defender disabled), I ran the cleaner first as directed. It erased C then another pass for D... AND MY DESKTOP too! So then I was loading AGAIN for over an hour w/o any protection. I don't know if their loader limits on- going activity, during such a long download. I did have Malwarebytes running the whole time. So it is installed again, and up to date. I have read your suggested link before, but going thru all the steps on this new computer.. and will adjust my MO on line.

My Avast says I have some 30 slow-down issues, but they want more money to fix them. Suggestions on programs that can scan/fix issues (not really malware, but clean-up/tune-up aspects?). I have/use CCleaner. Free is good!

I just read about Malicious Software Removal Tool, which during full scans was reported to find malware in email related folders. And a suggestion to produce a quick easy desktop icon. Your input on that program if current, and run during off hours? The full scan method apparently much better than the quick start up. I may find a conflict, or you might know if I should expect one, or just delete it? Loading all suggested updates now.

I again had one system hang running Avast and MWB Premium. I do hope this doesn't happen often. It just halts, and requires power off to recover. It's why I took the first computer back.. same symptom. This is not new.. (Indiana University surplus offers them, with diagnostics run, and new OS). Anyone else had this problem with a Dell Optiplex 960 running Avast and MWB Prem?

Many thanks for the assistance. Jerry

 

This is an old computer with an old OS - it's no greyhound! But quite apart from AV conflicts there can be many reasons for it being slow on Ethernet, starting with the speed of your router/modem's connection to the internet. Do you know how to interrogate your router to find out at what speed it is syncing? Because if that is low no amount of tinkering with other things can overcome it. If you don't know then give us the make and model and maybe we can help. You might also want to carry out a speed test -

http://www.speedtest.net/

Unlike the sync speed, which is your theoretical maximum, a speed test is much closer to what you will experience in the real world on a specific computer.

 

The speed (?) test came back with a 20 ms ping, .38 Mbps download, and .10 Mbps up. So, in other words a 56K dial-up would be better and faster...

What model numbers do you need? Modem or computer? Currently no router.

 

Unfortunately we can't interrogate a modem without special software, you can only do that with a router. Has this modem previously been used and found to be satisfactory with any other computer? If so we need to come back down the chain and look at the speed of the connection between the computer's NIC and the modem. Anything present in your system tray that provides any info about the connection speed? (I don't have a Vista system so can't give you specifics).

 

Earthling and others,
I spoke with my IP.. they said my bandwidth was as good as could be expected. Signal to noise ratios very good. She tried to say signal loss could occur from computer to modem... right.. 3 feet Ethernet cable? Their tech didn't notice any "issues" on their end.. but the modem is one unknown source.. maybe I will ask them to swap this with a new one? It has however, successfully "transported" 180 patches and full Avast program down-load, in the last 24 hours. I'd say it's OK. Maybe not??

I know Vista is not Win 10, and no T1 here or fiber optics down my road, (more like dueling banjos!),.. I do well to have land-line phone service and this DSL. Yet, compared to the lame XPs I'd been running (with one just cleared of malware).. this Vista looks like a Magic Carpet to me! (Uh..when running.. however...

.. as stated earlier, it is a IU surplus computer. First one had repeated issues. It would just freeze. Had to power-down, re-boot. They gladly gave me another computer, and included the first hard drive too (as D), and I have 3G of ram (and can cheaply add more, if that would make a difference). BUT... I'm having the exact same problems now.. the system will just stop in it's tracks. This appears to be coincidental (today) with Avast Streaming update history.. and happened exactly when I selected a message to load from Gmail (using Firefox, but Chrome failed too on the first system). As soon as I clicked to open the email.. the screen freezes! Ctrl-Alt-Del, or Ctrl-Alt-Esc do nothing, mouse doesn't work.. (nor does waiting). And one (remembered) specific previous hang when attempting to open a Ebay listing for example. Running the same model of computer, but not the same one, with different primary drive C: (Old drive, now D: is present.. but not being actively used to my knowledge). Software of Vista, Avast, Malwarebytes premium running, (with MS streaming me updates successfully). The DSL Modem is a common aspect of both crashing when high volume was experienced. The symptoms are IDENTICAL. I don't "think" the first drive was infected.. but don't know that for sure. Should I do Malware scans?? I've never had one to cause the computer to freeze.. however I am a novice at potential malware symptoms!

Avast history says I've loaded 180 updates (system in general) in the last 24 hours! I just looked at my "Performance Information and Tools" which was showing most aspects to be scored at 5.7 or 5.9, but graphics brought the total score down to 1! And yet, it says today that new hardware is installed (not that I knew about!!).. but clicking on that link updated the driver (I assume) for the graphics, and my score jumps to 4! HOW MANY updates does it take? LOL Reminds me of my old truck.. fix one thing, something else shows up as broken!

Process Explorer warning (a hour ago) says C:\Users\Newuser~1\Appdata\local\temp\Ixp001.tmp\IE-redist.exe is not a valid Win32 application! (avast had said IE was not up-to-date. Updates selected and loaded, but have not rebooted yet why typing here).

Looking at network info, Intel 82567LM-3 Gigabit Network Conn, says "update driver", which I've not done yet. And I just connected to Dell, to find their Users manual.. and likely the links to their specific driver update service, since Intel (online) says to go to the Dell source.

LAN info says IPv4 connectivity "Internet", Ipv6 Limited. Speed 100Mbps.

I ran MRT yesterday (taking about 4 hours of constant 450G of disk searchin) finding no bad files.. however having many page faults from Task Manager (?) I think).. but on-line that aspect is reported a lot for some reason. No other apparent memory issues.

Am I just wading thru days or weeks of undiscovered updates to install?? Or does anyone else know of this hang problem, and/or a solution (other than a good CB radio, and a cold beer)?

Many thanks to those who have stopped by, with helpful words! Highly appreciated! Jerry

 

"Streaming updates" in my last post was only a reference to MS Updates being on automatic, and selecting all which show as optional or critical. I certainly have drive space. The crashes.. seem to occur with the Avast ball showing activity, (and updates).. and then attempting to open or view another web page. There seem to be a million settings in this OS.. (which I'm slowly trying to learn).. so maybe I have something deselected, or not set correctly. The IU computer tech seemed to know his business.. yet was surprised with my problems. I hadn't "changed anything critical" (that I knew of).. just loaded the AV and AM, and the hangs started. Different computer, same problem. Different day, same... s___?? Like going from a hung congress to Trump speak?

 

You need to be sure the basics are in place, i.e. Vista is at SP2 and fully updated to 8/15, and that all devices have the latest drivers. I wouldn't normally recommend using a driver update program but in this case, as you don't know the history of this machine, it might be the best way forward. MG offers several driver updaters - take your pick

http://www.majorgeeks.com/mg/sortname/driver_updaters.html

After all that you will be better placed to assess any remaining problems.

The drive from the previous machine, the D drive, shouldn't be affecting anything providing the BIOS is set to boot first from the right drive and not from the old drive. If the drives are identical this may not be obvious though as IU added the D drive it is almost certainly booting from the right drive.

 

I will double check all drivers, and possibly do that on the Dell site for their downloads, and/or a forum, if they have one, just to ask the "dying question". Two recent incidences. Firefox has a "New Tab" window, handy for placing bookmarks. I proceeded to place Wundermap interactive radar into one (which does produce a detailed radar map icon).. the the system hung. I rebooted.. and just happened to have a power failure a few minutes later. (Bad day to stop doing heroin!). When power came back up, I had 3 files on desktop FAPC324.tmp, FAP45F3.tmp, and FAP6E9C.tmp. (I'm starting to think virus here.. several things appear very screwy or at least new to me). Anyway, back to Firefox and a quick google search for "unknown files on desktop after powerfailure.." hit return in the query box, and hit hangs again. Reboot. When it hangs, it's typically looking to load some web page, or email. I then turned off Avast Mail shield for 10 minutes.. no faults. I turned it off for an hour, and have been visiting several sites (all assumed to be safe.. but at this point.. even a good healthy virus would be welcome)..and so far.. NO FAULTS, with many different pages loaded.. with the Mail Shield off!!!!

Will check back after I get updates all in order. But the above really makes me wonder. (And the old C drive, now D, is 150G, while the primary is 300G. And the system had to be installed as per this new MB serial numbers.. so if the old system was still on D (which I'd doubt, since he had plenty of time to wipe, run diagnostics, and even run defrag..) I don't think that is the problem). Would seem odd too, that 2 different drives have identical latency issues, to cause identical failures? MRT ran at 50% processor usage, for 4 hours straight reading disk files. But maybe it is less critical of disk queue length problems?? Will check for SP2, brb

 

I was going to print the updates list, but MS doesn't allow selecting it, and a screen shot might not be readable. (Will do if asked). However, in the list of 220 updates on operating system alone, KB948465 (SP2) is 4th up from the bottom (nearly the first one loaded). 40 or so loaded since 8/28, and it's only showing 1 which needs to be loaded. I would assume "Automatic" would bring up all, but don't know for sure. Will look that the program you suggested, and try it.

With Mail Shield off, it's still running. But will mention.. I used the first Dell to remove malware from a XP machine, with thumb drive for programs and log transfers. I had Avast and MWB both running when I did the recovery, but these days, nothing is guaranteed. Should I run any other malware scans on this?
Thanks!

 

After much frustration attempting to download drivers direct from Dell, I didn't have much luck. Their system does a scan, but suggested items for the original build (I assume), as I don't have the drives targeted. The other updates (4 or 5) looked good, but uncertain if they loaded correctly, as their scan would show the same drivers being needed. The BIOS appeared to be a good load, so all was not lost time. All the while, the system hung many times. Today I picked up 2 modems from my IP. The first set had a broken switch AND bad power supply! But going back, the second one did the trick! Amazing difference in down load speeds, and no crashes so far. I tried going back to Dell, with no better luck, so I loaded Driver Booster, and it loaded the "very outdated" PCI bridge, finding everything else as OK.

Thanks guys for all the help.. maybe I can get some work done, and some sleep!
Jerry

 

Your persistence appears to have paid off. Well done and thanks for the update

 

Problems continue! HELP!!
New modem made an improvement.. but still have hangs. I looked at files on my D drive, with my documents saying "Unavailable"! No idea what is going on there. Looked at other files, with them being updated on the then current date, when I had otherwise not accessed D:. So I disabled it.. without any apparent faults. I still get hangs!

In Default programs, and assoicated settings, it shows a Custom install. It will not accept Mozilla only, to be selected. I unchecked "enable" for Internet Explorer, thinking I'm getting conflicts between them. I tried using the non-Microsoft option, and it would not allow that. I tried going to file associations, and on Firefox, all of those are grayed out, but with a check mark in the box. Clicking set all makes no difference. I've read many articles, with one suggesting opening IE, selecting a proxy Lan, setting that to 0.0.0.0 and port 80.. but other sites said that would cause updates to not work.

Any ideas? I've not done malware scans. Does any known malware cause a browser to hang, and apparently produce no failure modes? Because I still have to power down for each hang, and reboot.

Very frustrating. I'm trying to learn Vista, and actually use the computer, but that seems to provide millions of possible setting options.

Thanks for any further suggestions. Jerry

 

The reason I disabled D: was because gmail always loads slowly. Near the bottom a yellow highlight said another occurrence at my IP was noted. Disabling D: cleared that. I also change preferences to optimize for best performance, but kept a few of the many options. (Fonts looked terrible w/o smoothing, etc).

Gmail still loads slowly.. suspecting IE conflicts. Anyone know the proper setup?