(all varients) FIX the AVAST error engine failure after update.

[linuxgeek77]

Hello guys for those who dont have avast Linux here is the link to get it:

 http://www.avast.com/linux-home-edition#tab4

get the .deb file for Ubuntu/kubuntu/xubuntu


ANyhow lately Avast has been crashing with engine errors. what i found out was that the problem was due to the fact that the size of the virus definitions database reached a system limit. it was a messup from avast linux team. that they overlooked this. Anyhow here is a quick way to fix it that will take you 30 seconds

NOTE: KUBUNTU USERS USE KATE (instead of gedit)
XUBUNTU USERS USE MOUSEPAD (instead of gedit)

1) open the terminal
2) a)type this command to open the file you need to edit:

sudo gedit /etc/init.d/rcS

b) type your password and hit enter

3) when the text file opens add the line:

sysctl -w kernel.shmmax=128000000

4) make sure the line you added is before:

exec /etc/init.d/rc S

5.- This is how it should look like:

 #! /bin/sh
    #
    # rcS
    #
    # Call all S??* scripts in /etc/rcS.d/ in numerical/alphabetical order
    #

    sysctl -w kernel.shmmax=128000000

    exec /etc/init.d/rc S

6) save it

7) Reboot
AND THE NEXT TIME YOU RESTART -AVAST WILL WORK 100%


THANK YOU. please report back if it works for you

I personally find avast to be one of the best Linux A/V available to scan windows partitions and/or incoming emails

credits go here

WOrks with linux mint. AS i use linux mint.

[ibbill]

oops no luck still the engine failure rechecked all again have the same as you but no luck.

thanks

[ibbill]

oops slaps self 3 times reboots computer duh it worked perfectly thanks ever so much.

[bradshawd]

The reboot did it..

Happy bunny once again..

Many Thanks for this fix.

D

[linuxgeek77]

The reboot did it..

Happy bunny once again..

Many Thanks for this fix.

D

your welcomed

[Pesmontis]

It worked nicely (Ubuntu 9.10, avast! antivirus 4 v1.3.0-2_i386),
very good of you to post this fix

[slumbergod]

Thanks, the fix worked for me (Xubuntu 9.10)

[P4man]

Can you please update your post and change

sudo gedit /etc/init.d/rcS

into

gksudo gedit /etc/init.d/rcS

?

Sudo is for console commands, gksudo for graphical ones. Doing it the wrong way may cause havoc on your file permissions. More info here:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/graphicalsudo

(coming to post here after someone rendered his machine unbootable after following your how to, and I think this might be related).

[zveroboy]

Thanks a lot. Worked for me on Ubuntu 8.04.

[Elmer Fudd]

10.04 - worked for me. Thanks.

It's June. This is an easy fix.
Why not incorporated yet - in the install ??