Avast Question

Will Avast Home update itself without user intervention? Also, can scans be scheduled? If the answer to either of these questions is no are there any free products that do both? This will be installed on a teen's computer so I would like these tasks to just happen rather than rely on her to initiate.

 

avast will update itself, but you cannot run a scheduled scan to my knowledge. There is a member named Rejzor who is the resident avast guru and he may know a way to schedule a scan with the avast home version. Check back he will be along soon, I am sure.
IMHO, avast is a very good choice for your needs.

 

If you use Avast's default configuration, then it should intercept most bugs. Running a scheduled scan will probably not reveal anything new. As for the kid, you should teach her about safe surfing and general PC maintenance. If she doesn't take care of her PC, then she risks loosing all data. It's part of growing up.

 

Yes,the update module is fully automatic. However scheduled scans are only available in avast! Professional. In Home Edition you need to use Windows Task Scheduler and ashQuick.exe (avast! quick scan module).

If you're interested,i can provide you with full info on how to schedule such scan.

 

I am

 

Me too RejZor!

 

... and me please!!!

Steve

 

I'm still overclocking my machine. I'll be back very soon And then i'll write the guide

 

avast! Home Edition Scheduling

First,open Task Scheduler from Control Panel.
Right click on empty space and select New Task.

http://img90.exs.cx/img90/2189/aswschedule11zu.png

Now just append the path which you want to scan at the end of text in Run: field. Make sure there is one space between ashQuick.exe file path and path that you want to scan!

For example:

RUN: "C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashQuick.exe" "C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe"

You may also scan entire folders:
RUN: "C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashQuick.exe" "C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\"

I'm not 100% if it will work with Task Scheduler,but such commandline worked in my AEC tweak tool for avast!. Also tell me if it won't work,i'll re-think the stuff. Also you cannot turn of archive scanning for ashQuick and you cannot pre-define actions for virus found event (you'll get popup with options).
For full control over scheduling i recommend Professional Edition since it gives you more freedom.

 

thanx pal

 

Thanks RejZoR.

Merry Christmas.

Steve

 

Thank You !!!!

 

OH, one more question, can Avast! Home be installed on more than one PC? If so, Do I use the same license key?

 

Ofcourse,as long as its for personal use only.
If you have 4 machines at home,you can use same Home Edition key for all 4 machines. Just don't share the same key with your friends and so. They should register their own key. It's FREE anyway and takes just few seconds to obtain the Home Edition license key.