Fixed: Clamwin update error

thegeeb · 09-18-2008

Does anyone have any idea how to fix this? Both our computers run on windows XP. My husbands computer runs just the XP OS, mine has the XP OS Media setup. We switched over to Firefox and clamWin. His computer received updates just fine. Mine gets the error message below.

ClamAV update process started at Wed Sep 17 16:59:16 2008
WARNING: Invalid DNS reply. Falling back to HTTP mode.
Reading CVD header (main.cvd): nonblock_connect: connect(): fd=1792 errno=111: Connection refused
Can't connect to port 80 of host database.clamav.net (IP: 64.246.134.219)
WARNING: Can't read main.cvd header from database.clamav.net (IP: )
Trying again in 5 secs...

It trys 3 different IP addresses then gives up.

Self Made Geek gone blond

LoneWolf · 09-18-2008

Hello thegeeb and welcome to PCHF.

It may help to know what version of ClamWin you have installed.

Please post that.

thegeeb · 09-18-2008

Hello Lone Wolf. That would be version 0.94

LoneWolf · 09-18-2008

Thank you.

I did some hunting around and from the look of it there are quite a number of people experiencing similar difficulties getting ClamWin to update.

Some things you might look at:

I get this error when running freshclam: Invalid DNS reply. Falling back to HTTP mode or ERROR: Can't query current.cvd.clamav.net . What does it mean?

There are 2 completely different problems that give this symptom:
(a) There is a problem with your DNS server. Please check the entries in /etc/resolv.conf and verify that you can resolve the TXT record manually: $ host -t txt current.cvd.clamav.net If you can't, it means your network is broken. You'll be still able to download the updates, but you'll waste a lot of bandwidth checking for updates.
(b) This also happens to laptop users who (1) enable automatic database updates, but (2) their PC is hibernating at the scheduled update-time, and (3) their laptop takes a couple of minutes to re-connect to the network (DHCP, etc.) when they wake up. When you wake the laptop up, ClamAV notices that it's past time for an update, so it immediately tries to download the update. When the update fails (because the laptop still hasn't connected to the network), ClamAV gives that error. (ClamAV does try again 10 seconds later, but that's not long enough for my laptop to connect). How can we solve this problem? One work-around for now: After the PC has (finally!) connected to the network, manually tell ClamAV to download an update "now".

I get this error when running freshclam: ERROR: Connection with ??? failed . What shall I do?

Either your dns servers are not working or you are blocking port 53/tcp. You should manually check that you can resolve hostnames with: $ host database.clamav.net. If it doesn't work, check your dns settings in /etc/resolv.conf. If it works, check that you can receive dns answers longer than 512 bytes, e.g. check that your firewall is not blocking packets which originate from port 53/tcp. An easy way to find it out is: $ dig @ns1.clamav.net db.us.big.clamav.net

If that doesn't help you might try completely uninstalling it and reinstalling making sure that there aren't any programs running while you do so as that can cause a bad install.

With the importance of having a reliable anti virus I can't help but suggest Avira AntiVir Personal - FREE Antivirus
No problems with it whatsoever in the three years I've been using it on over a dozen machines.

thegeeb · 09-18-2008

Thank you LoneWolf. I've pretty much tried all the suggestions you gave. Think I'm going to give the Anti virus program you mentioned a try. This is the first time that I have used a site like this, and I must say that I am impressed with the help. Thank you again, and have a great day!

Thegeeb

LoneWolf · 09-18-2008

Originally Posted by thegeeb

Thank you LoneWolf. I've pretty much tried all the suggestions you gave. Think I'm going to give the Anti virus program you mentioned a try. This is the first time that I have used a site like this, and I must say that I am impressed with the help. Thank you again, and have a great day!

Thegeeb

Thanks and you are quite welcome.

I'm confident AntiVir PE will do the job for you. About the only thing some folks complain about with it is the daily nag screen which suggests users purchase the Pro version but for good protection I think closing a window once a day isn't a big deal and even if it is there are some workarounds to be found on the web.

From the reading I did last night I really get the impression ClamWin just doesn't like some setups and the problem isn't at your end.

thegeeb · 09-18-2008

Again, thank you LoneWolf,

I downloaded the antivirus program this morning. And if it's just a matter of a nagging advertisement to purchase the full item, I can certainly live with that.

Thegeeb

09-18-2008	#1
thegeeb Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 PC Experience: Some Experience	Clamwin update error Does anyone have any idea how to fix this? Both our computers run on windows XP. My husbands computer runs just the XP OS, mine has the XP OS Media setup. We switched over to Firefox and clamWin. His computer received updates just fine. Mine gets the error message below. ClamAV update process started at Wed Sep 17 16:59:16 2008 WARNING: Invalid DNS reply. Falling back to HTTP mode. Reading CVD header (main.cvd): nonblock_connect: connect(): fd=1792 errno=111: Connection refused Can't connect to port 80 of host database.clamav.net (IP: 64.246.134.219) WARNING: Can't read main.cvd header from database.clamav.net (IP: ) Trying again in 5 secs... It trys 3 different IP addresses then gives up. Self Made Geek gone blond

09-18-2008	#2
LoneWolf Wandering Cruncher Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 1,313 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Clamwin update error Hello thegeeb and welcome to PCHF. It may help to know what version of ClamWin you have installed. Please post that.

09-18-2008	#3
thegeeb Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: Clamwin update error Hello Lone Wolf. That would be version 0.94

09-18-2008	#4
LoneWolf Wandering Cruncher Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 1,313 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Clamwin update error Thank you. I did some hunting around and from the look of it there are quite a number of people experiencing similar difficulties getting ClamWin to update. Some things you might look at: *I get this error when running freshclam: Invalid DNS reply. Falling back to HTTP mode* or ERROR: Can't query current.cvd.clamav.net . What does it mean? There are 2 completely different problems that give this symptom: (a) There is a problem with your DNS server. Please check the entries in /etc/resolv.conf and verify that you can resolve the TXT record manually: $ host -t txt current.cvd.clamav.net If you can't, it means your network is broken. You'll be still able to download the updates, but you'll waste a lot of bandwidth checking for updates. (b) This also happens to laptop users who (1) enable automatic database updates, but (2) their PC is hibernating at the scheduled update-time, and (3) their laptop takes a couple of minutes to re-connect to the network (DHCP, etc.) when they wake up. When you wake the laptop up, ClamAV notices that it's past time for an update, so it immediately tries to download the update. When the update fails (because the laptop still hasn't connected to the network), ClamAV gives that error. (ClamAV does try again 10 seconds later, but that's not long enough for my laptop to connect). How can we solve this problem? One work-around for now: After the PC has (finally!) connected to the network, manually tell ClamAV to download an update "now". I get this error when running freshclam: ERROR: Connection with ??? failed . What shall I do?** Either your dns servers are not working or you are blocking port 53/tcp. You should manually check that you can resolve hostnames with: $ host database.clamav.net. If it doesn't work, check your dns settings in /etc/resolv.conf. If it works, check that you can receive dns answers longer than 512 bytes, e.g. check that your firewall is not blocking packets which originate from port 53/tcp. An easy way to find it out is: $ dig @ns1.clamav.net db.us.big.clamav.net If that doesn't help you might try completely uninstalling it and reinstalling making sure that there aren't any programs running while you do so as that can cause a bad install. With the importance of having a reliable anti virus I can't help but suggest Avira AntiVir Personal - FREE Antivirus No problems with it whatsoever in the three years I've been using it on over a dozen machines.

09-18-2008	#5
thegeeb Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: Clamwin update error Thank you LoneWolf. I've pretty much tried all the suggestions you gave. Think I'm going to give the Anti virus program you mentioned a try. This is the first time that I have used a site like this, and I must say that I am impressed with the help. Thank you again, and have a great day! Thegeeb

09-18-2008	#6
LoneWolf Wandering Cruncher Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 1,313 PC Experience: Experienced	Re: Clamwin update error Originally Posted by thegeeb Thank you LoneWolf. I've pretty much tried all the suggestions you gave. Think I'm going to give the Anti virus program you mentioned a try. This is the first time that I have used a site like this, and I must say that I am impressed with the help. Thank you again, and have a great day! Thegeeb Thanks and you are quite welcome. I'm confident AntiVir PE will do the job for you. About the only thing some folks complain about with it is the daily nag screen which suggests users purchase the Pro version but for good protection I think closing a window once a day isn't a big deal and even if it is there are some workarounds to be found on the web. From the reading I did last night I really get the impression ClamWin just doesn't like some setups and the problem isn't at your end.

09-18-2008	#7
thegeeb Bronze Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 4 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: Clamwin update error Again, thank you LoneWolf, I downloaded the antivirus program this morning. And if it's just a matter of a nagging advertisement to purchase the full item, I can certainly live with that. Thegeeb

Similar discussions...
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pending: Windows Update Error 1058	MikeeHalliday	Windows XP/2000	9	07-02-2008 03:23 PM
[Fixed] update.exe error [hijackthis log]	PeanutPie	[Fixed] Hijackthis! Logs	5	08-25-2007 05:06 AM
[Answered]update.exe error	PeanutPie	Windows XP/2000	2	08-25-2007 01:36 AM
[Fixed] Update Error	powertron	Windows XP/2000	2	09-27-2006 03:43 PM
Information: ClamWin Free Antivirus.	joe5	Anti-Virus (AV)	0	09-21-2005 06:23 PM

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode