Avast Blocking My External Hard Drive

[jno]

My Avast demanded to be updated yesterday, so I did. Now when I plug my external hard drive in (a little Maxell portable) nothing comes up and I can't back things up. I assume these two events are connected as there was no trouble till today.

Is there any way to tell Avast to permit it? Or of restoring the earlier Avast? (Though I assume the latter would be risky.)

(Please don't advise installing MSE instead as I had the same trouble with it in the past; that's why I installed Avast in the first place.)

[Old_Geezer]

Hmmm... maybe it wasn't the AV causing the issue then, if both times there has been problems detecting the drive.

You are suggesting the computer does not see the external drive at all, or that it sees it but doesn't allow you to do anything with it ?

[jno]

these are different hard drives (I try to back everything up twice). MSE failed to recognise one, now Avast doesn't know the other. The Avast was okay yesterday, though, so it looks pretty likely that it's the updated version that's causing the problem.

Total failure to recognise, in both cases: nothing about them showing in My Computer at all.

[bibblebub]

I use up-to-date Avast on W8.1 and don't have this problem.

If you right-click the Avast icon in the task tray you'll find the 'Avast Shield Controls' where you can disable it for a period - see if the drive is recognised when Avast is disabled. I suspect it won't make a difference.

[jno]

thanks for that advice, bibblebub, it did the trick.

[bibblebub]

Ah, so it is an Avast problem... just done a quick search and no obvious answer to the problem. You could try installing Avast again, maybe there's a repair (the installed software) option when you do that which might find something missing, but that is just a guess.

[jno]

I only do the second backup occasionally, so easiest just to disable Avast for an hour each time, disconnect from the internet and hide in a lead-lined cellar to deter trojans and trolls and so forth.

Thanks again.

[bibblebub]

trolls, eh? i was just looking at a new bit of video from the upcoming Hobbit film

[jno]

last scene of Hobbit 1 left me wondering - it zoomed in on Smaug's eye and you could see light reflected, but he was supposed to be in an underground cave. I look forward to seeing them explain that away. Perhaps they'll just blame trolls for everything like I do.

[bibblebub]

In the first scene showing the fall of Erebor there is a lot of natural light inside the stronghold.

[Robinia]

...

[woofgang]

Good morning. More weather last night and this morning. zzzzz

[Robinia]

Ah, I'm not alone. It has brightened up as forecast so I'm slapping some washing on a rock. I could do with a slap to liven me up, I was awake every hour too.

[netibiza]

Avast and advance, have no fear, Neti is here!
Brr gone chilly again now and I was out in shirtsleeves. Same old, same old here. Coffee, bought another new top, cat still mad and nose still dripping and painful, so what's new!!!

[jno]

it has got a bit chillier. I blame trolls.

[netibiza]

I blame Brexit and Trump, its a lot easier.

[jno]

I may be forced to go and buy some nice warm fish and chips (without the fish). Such a change from yesterday when I was sampling artisan fudge and boutique gelati at someone else's expense.

[Robinia]

Go mad, have a jumbo sausage jno.

The wind's cold but I can't go and play in the sun at the bottom of the garden because I'm expecting a van man so I'm eating chocolate biscuits.

[shaneystar2]

Avast me hearties
Lovely sunny day but very chilly.
Same old here too.Hope you're all ok.

[shaneystar2]

It's still same old. I fell asleep half way through Tennison and now I'm wide awake . I'll have to catch up on it.
Goodnight all.

[netibiza]

Morning all. Brr yes the weather has changed again and it is wet and cold. At last my chinese hairdresser is open again so I'll be paying a visit, dont know if my regular stylist is there but Ill give it a go!
Hope you are all well and happy!