My name is Carrie and I installed Ad-aware 2008 7.1.0.8 free version. Right from initial installation I got a message stating "connection to server failed" "download update failed". I suspected that that meant that the program would do its job properly, but i kept trying to use it for spyware scans anyway. During the times when I've run the scans anway When I open Ad-aware, it will start to set up the connection, but only for about 1.5 seconds. That was another red flag to me. Then, when it's open to status window, I click update and I quickly get the error message "no connection to download server". I read through the help suggestions, which said that failing to connect could be because my firewall was blocking it. I checked that out and I found that firewall hadn't even been on. I also checked my internet connection and various other capacities of the control panel. Also, I have tried uninstalling/re-installing 3 times with and without the firewall on to see if it made a difference...all to no avail. I've tried everything I know...can anyone help? Oh, by the way, what does it mean when there's a green bar after the number of privacy objects found?
thanks, CH

Hi carrie
You can manually update the Detection Database with the latest Definitions File by following the steps below:
- Close Ad-Aware 2008.
-Download the latest Definitions File in a ZIP file.( http://lavasoft.com/support/securitycenter/blog/ )
- Save the file to a temporary location.
- When complete, unzip the contents of the file to the installation directory of Ad-Aware 2008, which is usually C:\documents and settings\All Users\application data\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware 2008
Let us know how it works for you.
Cheerio
Raziel

Hi, Raziel. Thank you for responding to my post. I will try your suggestion but the issue I have with it is that ever since I first started using Ad-Aware, a fully functional download meant that I didn't have to go manually fetch updated definitions. That was always taken care of by clicking download when I opened the program. It frustrates me that I seem to be one of the ones with faulty ad-aware file and I wish I knew where the problem was.

I'll let you know how it goes
Carrie

Do a complete removal and download a new file from the Lavasoft site.

http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=19002 (2007 removal)

http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?showtopic=19003 (2008 removal/install)

Use the above links if you need them.

@ Raziel, sorry I did not mean to jump in.

@ Pierre, no problem.