Simple questions about Avast AV

16 years ago

I don't use Avast myself, but I have a friend who has it on her computer (installed for her by a neighbor). She is very computer illiterate, and she mentioned to me that she was getting messages that her antivirus "wasn't working." When I checked, I saw that Avast needed to have a license key inserted, so I went to the web site and requested a key for the free version of Avast. The key showed up in my email and I inserted it and successfully activated Avast, updated it, and then ran a scan (no infections found). So it's set up, current, and running in the background.

Now to the questions. In the free home version of Avast, do updates occur automatically, or do I have to show her how to go in and manually update the virus signatures? Can scans be scheduled to occur automatically, or is this a manual function also? And, once the program is activated with the license key, does this last indefinitely, or does it have to be renewed periodically?

I'm asking these things because I only visit this friend once or twice a year, and I want to make it as simple for her as possible, knowing her capacity to mess things up if left to her own devices....

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

grandms
16 years ago
In Avast, the updates occur automatically. If she has the new version 5, it can be set to run at scheduled times. There is also a screen saver that she can activate that scans whenever her screensaver runs. If the scan is interrupted, the scan picks up again each time the screensaver goes on.

As for activation, it lasts a little over a year. She will receive a message that it needs to be reactivated and there will be instructions to do this. If I recall correctly, my current activation was this past September, and it will need to be re-activated in next November.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
16 years ago
the key last about a year then you just have to do what you did and get a new key and insert it, it does get the virus definition updates automatically daily, it can be set in the settings to also auto update the program too other wise it will pop up saying there is one and she has to ok it, now with a big version update like the current one from 4.8 to 5 that has to be done manually by going to the site and downloading the new one and installing it just like it was done originally and a new key will have to be installed. However you do not have to rush and get version 5 because they will continue support for 4.8 for quite a while.

to change the settings in it to have it get everything she can automatically go to the avast ball in the systray right click and select settings in teh avast settings box click on update(basic) on the left that will open your options in there you want to set both of those options to automatic, virus database and program then click ok.

Now you do have to do a full scan manually but with avast that is not really as needed as other programs since it scans everything continually. But what I do is set the screen saver up in scan mode and leave my computer setting with the screen saver running and just let it scan, to do that go to the desktop and right click choose properties and go to the screen saver tab, look through the list of options and select avast then you can click on settings to select which screen saver to set for avast to use just pick a simple one so it won't use much resource (I use starfield i think) leave everything else as it is set, you can change how long to wait till the screen saver comes on if you want. click ok apply and now anytime the pc sits long enough for the screen saver to come on it will automatically begin doing a scan and will continue till done if un interrupted, if interrupted it will begin from where it left off the next time.

there is a method to set up the windows task manager to run a scheduled scan also if you want those directions let me know I can link them
Related Discussions
propagating AVs, experiences, questions
Q
Comments (19)
I planted six leaf cuttings with petiole in peat pellets (I know, I know - I've since removed them and have put them in water for several days). After a week of being in peat pellets the petioles on three of them had withered away. Well that should tell you something. Don't use the peat pellets. lol If you read everything in the world about starting leaves you will probably go crazy and confused. I will reiterate what I said before. You need to have a very porous potting medium. I think one part African violets soil mix with two parts perlite will do just fine. If you want to use straight vermiculite, like Dave does, that will work too. You just have to make sure that the medium is not too wet. If you going to error, then error on the dry side. African violet leaves can practically root in dry soil. Now I just said practically. Don't try to root them in dry soil. OK? Cover the vessels with some kind of covering either by putting them in a box with a plastic lid or in plastic bags. Don't put the containers in direct sunlight. It will cook the leaves. Again after three months are so (maybe sooner) you should start seeing mouse ears appearing. Then you want to wait until each plantlet has four leaves larger than a dime before separating them from the mother leaf. That should take care of it. Good luck, Larry
...See More
Newbie needs help! AV questions
Q
Comments (3)
Hi Linda, If you want a humidity tray, I can tell you what I did to make my own. It's pretty simple. I use plastic plant trays (the ones that are 11"x22") and put outdoor PVC drainage grates (see link for example) inside of them. The Lowe's website didn't really have that many, but if you go to any big hardware store like Lowe's or Home Depot you should be able to find them where the PVC pipes are. They come in a lot of different sizes (you don't necessarily have to use the square ones), just find ones that will fit inside of your water trays. They even have round ones for individual plant trays. And it's a lot cheaper than buying a pre-made humidity tray! Good Luck, Christine Here is a link that might be useful: Square PVC drainage grate example
...See More
Probably a simple light question?
Q
Comments (4)
Just a guess but if you did have to much lighting on them for to long wouldn't the leaves show some signs of burning via discoloring or other signs of stress ? Under the "normal/natural" rules what a plant need to flower are right lighting (for AV's case it would include time and itensity) right watering right air tempature ( with right watering makes for ideal humidity conditions for flowering as well) right fertilizing amounts (and type) Leaves healthy or not can always be removed. In your case to it could help expose the hard to see or breaking out flowerings (thats just my thinking thou maybe you'll get a second opinion befor doing that) With all of the factors to concider, I think if your AVS where slot machines in Vegas you hit the mother load jackpot of jackpots. Should you make changes to what you already are doing and what sounds to me as your doing right...... well, If it isn't broke don't fix it.
...See More
AVAST, where is the 'results'
Q
Comments (9)
Jane, I have the free version which is version 5.1.889. If you right click on the Avast icon in the taskbar then click on "Open avast! user interface" at the very top right hand side of the window that pops up you may find the options for HELP CENTER---SETTINGS---UPGRADE. If you click on the SETTINGS button, at the very bottom of the window that opens up there should be a box that is titled--> BEHAVIOR. In that box there is a little box where you can place a check mark to the left of where it says, "Automatically open the Scan Results when Scan is finished." Under that it says, "The Scan Results window will only be opened when there are any results to be shown." I believe that is what grandms was referring to. What version of Avast! do you have? Not sure if your version has that depending on which version you have. I think! My free Avast! is set to scan in "realtime" and does not save a log unless I schedule a scan at boot time or if I manually schedule it to scan after clicking on the "Scan now" button. It will then save the results in the Scan logs area. To find the Logs (if any are there) click on the SCAN COMPUTER button found just under SUMMARY in the User Interface window. Then, from the list click on Scan Logs that is located at the bottom of the list. If there were any scans scheduled for boot time or you clicked the SCAN NOW button there should be a log, otherwise there will not be a log. If you do see a log just click on the dated entry and then click on the "View results" button at the bottom right of that window.
...See More
kudzu9
Original Author
16 years ago
Whew...that was fast! And I think that takes care of me. Thanks to both of you.
maime
16 years ago
Avast updates is the only voice I hear on some days. It keeps me company. LOL
zep516
16 years ago
Really should get a radio, or a cat too!

Simple questions about Avast AV

Comments (5)

grandms

ravencajun Zone 8b TX

Related Discussions

kudzu9
Original Author

maime

zep516

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Simple questions about Avast AV

Comments (5)

grandms

ravencajun Zone 8b TX

Related Discussions

kudzu9Original Author

maime

zep516

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

kudzu9
Original Author