External Hard-Drive Question

[Sunny]

My avast taskbar icon is still blue, shouldn't it have updated automatically to the orange one? Anyway, under the Program Settings > Update (connections) tab, the 'My computer is permanently connected to the Internet' box is checked. The only other option there is 'I only connect to the Internet using a dial-up modem' which is unchecked.

Under the Troubleshooting tab, all boxes are unchecked, including:
'Check for full screen applications (e.g. games) before displaying popups'
'Delay loading of avast! services after other system services'
'Disable rootkit scan on system startup'
'Disable raw disk access in avast! boot-time scan'
'Disable avast! self-defense module'
'Skip checking of digital signatures of infected files'

Should I check any of these?

For the virtual memory settings, it is set to 'System managed size':
Total paging file size for all drives:
Minimum allowed: 2MB
Recommended: 286MB
Currently allocated: 361MB

[Jintan]

Disable that "permanently connected" one. I read into it that it will then try to access the Avast servers every first chance after an idle time, such as after you bootup the system. Also in Avast locate the option to update the program (not the database). If that says you have a current install of Avast, then just go here and download the Avast installer and run that. Don't worry - it will disable the existing install, then overwrite it without causing any issues. Be sure to reboot after.

[Sunny]

I've updated avast to the orange one now. It says I'm on a 30 day free trial and will need to purchase a license to stay protected?

Under the troubleshooting tab, the following are checked:
'Enable rootkit scan on system startup'
'Enable raw disk access in avast! boot-time scan'
'Enable avast! self-defense module'

The following are unchecked:
'Skip checking of digital signatures of infected files'
'Load avast! services only after loading other system services'

Is all of this ok in terms of what needs to be checked and unchecked?

I have already unchecked that 'permanently connected to the Internet' update box.


Also, what did you make of the 'low virtual memory' info?

[Jintan]

For the Avast startup problems, this one gets my vote as one to uncheck:

'Enable rootkit scan on system startup'

Unless you are doing high risk activities, such as torrenting, and especially illegal software downloading, that may be smart money (though those behaviors sure aren't). But checking for a rootkit each startup may be going a bit far in preventive actions, especially if it impacts regular system performance.


For the Avast registration, unless you desire to purchase the full version you just need to register it, but providing you email info. Just look for the fine print that says something like "No thanks, just register my copy.


Not real sure about those virtual memory settings. Let's compare them with some data. Go to Start - Run, type cmd and press OK. At the prompt copy/paste the entire hilighted command below:

start /wait msinfo32.exe /report Components1.txt /categories +SystemSummary && notepad Components1.txt && exit

The scan will take a bit, as msinfo32 compiles the data. Once it completes a log will open. I haven't been able to fine tune the command so it will not do an entire system summary, so all I would like you to post from that log is the top portion. Everything below this:

[System Summary]

And above this:

[Hardware Resources]

Should be a fairly small amount of well detailed data.

[Sunny]

For registering Avast, where do I provide my email info and will I only be able to see the 'No thanks, register my copy' option after the 30 day free trial?

Here's the Virtual Memory Settings log data:

[System Summary]

Item   Value   
OS Name   Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition   
Version   5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600   
OS Manufacturer   Microsoft Corporation   
System Name   SUNNY   
System Manufacturer   NEC Computers International   
System Model   Packard Bell EasyNote   
System Type   X86-based PC   
Processor   x86 Family 6 Model 13 Stepping 8 GenuineIntel ~1393 Mhz   
BIOS Version/Date   Insyde Software Corporation R1.00, 07/10/2005   
SMBIOS Version   2.3   
Windows Directory   C:\WINDOWS   
System Directory   C:\WINDOWS\system32   
Boot Device   \Device\HarddiskVolume2   
Locale   United Kingdom   
Hardware Abstraction Layer   Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"   
User Name   SUNNY   
Time Zone   GMT Daylight Time   
Total Physical Memory   256.00 MB   
Available Physical Memory   25.46 MB   
Total Virtual Memory   2.00 GB   
Available Virtual Memory   1.96 GB   
Page File Space   496.64 MB   
Page File   C:\pagefile.sys   

[Hardware Resources]

[Sunny]

What do you make of the info Jintan? Also, I'm still unsure how/where to provide my email info to register Avast?

If it is difficult to resolve the low virtual memory problem, what about what I suggested in a previous thread of just re-booting/complete system restore of my laptop to take it back to the factory settings. I've done this before a couple of times in the past and it essentially becomes brand new again. I would save all my work to an external-drive beforehand. Is this ok in regards to all the work we have done and is there anything else I should save, e.g. something to do with Avast or MalwareByte logs? If I do this, I will have Norton automatically installed again and thus will need help uninstalling using otm.exe and HijackThis again.

[Jintan]

Any time you do not mind offloading, restoring and returning your data a fresh start is a good choice. Just not one a lot of folks would like to opt for.

If you right click the Avast taskbar icon and select Registration information, in the display that opens from that is the option to register. Just need to be online when doing it.

[Jintan]

Missed a question - no meed to save anything from our work, since you will be starting anew after the factory restore.

[Sunny]

Hey Jintan, I've just forwarded 4 emails to you about the spam/failure to send messages we discussed earlier in this thread. Have a look and let me know what you make of it.

Also, I've got 2 days left of my free trial of Avast (orange ball version) and I'm unable to register it. I'm having the following problem:

I provided my email and received a 'licence key'. The email says I should click the 'Maintenance' tab > click 'Registration' > insert 'licence key'.

However, under the 'Maintenance' tab there is a 'Subscription' option instead of/where the 'Registration' option should be and there is a 'insert licence file' instead of 'insert licence key'. When I click 'insert licence file' the option to upload a licence file emailed to me appears and there is nowhere I can paste my licence key. What can I do to resolve this? I only have 2 days left of my free trial.

[Jintan]

I received the forwarded emails. I am wondering if this is not an issue of your Hotmail account itself being compromised, as we have yet to pick up anything on your system. A fair bit of time has passed, so not sure if we discussed it already - have you contacted Hotmail about these emails?

I kinda think your are describing the previous version of Avast's registration procedure, but have the more current version installed. If you right click the taskbar icon and select "Start avast! Antivirus", then click the "Registration" option, I believe all you have to do is put your personal/email info in there, and the copy will be registered.

[Sunny]

I haven't contacted Hotmail. How do I contact/report these issues to them?

For Avast, there is no 'registration' option anywhere. There is a 'subscription' option where the 'registration' one should be. Do I have the wrong Avast package installed?

[Jintan]

If you right click the taskbar icon, and select "About avast!", if that display does not show you have the free version installed then yes, you installed the wrong version. If it shows you do have the free version, right click the Icon, select "Open avast! user interface", click the Maintenance tab in the left column, and that should then show the Registration left column tab.

For Hotmail contact, go here and enter into the Search box "privacy and security", then in that list follow the links for contacting Hotmail. Any that refer to someone else using your account should get you to the right location.

[Sunny]

Clicking on 'About Avast' only shows the following:

avast Internet Security!
Program version 5.0.507
Virus definition version: 100505-1

Once again, under the maintenance tab, there is no 'registration' option but instead there is 'subscription' option where the registration one should be.

Any idea what could be wrong here? Shall I uninstall and reinstall again?

[Jintan]

Look in Add/Remove Programs. If the Avast listing there does not include the word "free", then you apparently did install the trial version of the paid version. You can of course always make the purchase and upgrade, but if not, go ahead and uninstall Avast. You will need to right click the taskbar icon and disable the shields before doing that.

Go here and download the avast! aswClear.exe uninstaller to your desktop, but save it for later (don't try to uninstall Avast with it).

Then go to Add/Remove Programs and uninstall Avast. Reboot, then click and run the Avast uninstaller, which should then remove any parts that remain.

One additional reboot after that (required to save changes like changes to the Registry), then go here, download and install the free version. And again reboot to finish that install.

[Sunny]

Thanks for the help with avast. I've sorted it out now. I do have another question though:

I noticed that Malwarebytes' has a new/third scan option. In addition to the 'Perform quick scan' and 'Perform full scan', it now has a 'Perform flash scan - will analyze memory and autorun objects. It is only available to licensed users.'

What do you make of this new scan? Remember I still have an external hard-drive with autorun.inf file albeit it is locked via that USB Vaccine.