Updates

Q: A red box has appeared on my screen saying: "Last encountered error: The package is broken." What should I do now?

A: First, try to update the avast! program manually. If the manual update completes successfully, the problem should be fixed and the next time there is an update available, the automatic update should work.
If you are unable to update avast! program manually, the best solution is to reinstall avast! completely (using the current version, downloadable from our website).

Q: Whilst trying to update avast!, I get an error message stating: "Server is down". How can I resolve this problem?

A: If you see this error message whenever you try to update manually, check if:

• Your firewall allows avast! and its components to access the Internet (see also this FAQ)
• Your proxy server is set properly (SETTINGS -> UPDATE (BASIC) -> DETAILS -> PROXY -> SPECIFY PROXY SERVER)

Q: What should I know about using avast! 4 in combination with a firewall?

A:

You may receive warnings from your firewall once you install avast! 4, because avast! tries to connect to our servers to look for virus definition file updates and for program updates. You should allow avast! to connect, otherwise the update feature will not work. Here is some useful information:


1) The components of avast! 4 that should be allowed to connect:
avast.setup
avastXX.setup (where "XX" are some numbers)
aswUpdSv.exe
ashServ.exe
ashWebSv.exe

2) How does the update service work?
At first, avast! tries to detect if the computer is connected to the Internet - it sends a 'packet' (message) to one of our servers and waits for reply. If the 'packet' is received, avast! "knows" that the computer is connected and the update may begin. If there´s no reply to the 'packet' sent, avast! will try to ping (connect to) the server again every 40 seconds.
If the ping is successful, avast! connects to our server and checks if there´s any new updates available. If there is, avast! will download and install them. If not, avast! will wait for 4 hours and then try to connect and check for updates again.
In short: avast! detects the connection to the Internet every 40 seconds and looks for new updates every 4 hours.

3) Optimization for dial-up connections
If you use dial-up connection only, there´s another way to detect if the computer is connected to the Internet or not. avast! can elicit the connection status from the modem status - so it will NOT ping our servers every 40 seconds. To set avast! this way, follow these steps:

1. In Notepad, open the file AVAST4.INI
   (C:PROGRAM FILESALWIL SOFTWAREAVAST4DATA)
2. Find section [InetWD]. If this section doesn´t exist, create it.
3. Into this section insert this row:
   UseRAS=1
4. Save the file and restart your computer.

1. In Notepad, open the file AVAST4.INI
   (C:PROGRAM FILESALWIL SOFTWAREAVAST4DATA)
2. Find the section [InetWD]. If this section doesn´t exist, create it.
3. Into this section insert this row:
   AssumeAlwaysConnected=1

Q: How do I upgrade from avast! HOME to avast! PROFESSIONAL?

A: First, there is no need to uninstall your HOME edition.
To upgrade, you have to buy the PROFESSIONAL edition first. Once you buy it, you will receive the license key for the PROFESSIONAL edition. Then simply connect to the Internet and enter the license key into avast!. It will download the missing components from our server and the HOME edition becomes PROFESSIONAL edition immediately.

To enter your license key into avast!:

1. Right-click on the blue a-ball icon in the system tray and select "About avast!..." from the menu.
2. In the window that appears, click on the "License key" button.
3. Enter the license key into the box.
4. Click on the "OK" button.