For those who use AVAST or similar, and had it killing TLF, how did you fix it?

[x4000]

There are some other folks running into issues of the same sort, and I recall that some of the alpha testers said "after fiddling with AVAST for a bit it worked" or something to that effect.  Other forums for unity games have some players where they are just having to completely uninstall AVAST because even adding an exception for the game in question wasn't working.  For those who solved the issue, can you enlighten the others of us? 

Other Solutions To Crashes:
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From Here: http://www.arcengames.com/mantisbt/view.php?id=14308

"I have managed to get the game to run now. I read several people post similar issues in some other unity games, and a common thread seemed to be that people still on Vista could run the game. I launched the game from the app folder in Steam, and set it to run in Vista Compatibility mode, and am able to play it just fine. (Windows 8.1 machine) "

There is also a whole long list of things to try in that same thread: http://www.arcengames.com/mantisbt/view.php?id=14308

And in particular, some great things from Kerbal Space Program: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/24536-Self-help-for-crashes-look-here-first-if-KSP-crashes

From Red_Machine on the Steam forums:
"Another Unity Engine game (Guns of Icarus Onlone) is having the same problem now. It used to work fine, but I tried launching it just now and it crashes in exactly the same way."
"No worries now, turns out Stardock's WindowBlinds was conflicting with it. Disabling it allows me to run Unity-based games."

[topper]

I have Avast Free Antivirus

Starting from the alpha, the game would crash during initialization every time. (sometimes immediate black screen, sometimes it would get a few steps of initialization complete). When I would use Steam to "verify integrity of the game cache" after these crashes, it would consistently need to redownload at least one file.

I added C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Last Federation\ to the program exclusions and that worked through 0.862. After that alpha patch, the same problem as before showed up again.

I solved it that time by adding the entire C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam to the exlusions list for the file shield. What folders does the game access other than
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Last Federation\ ? I would rather have a smaller list of exclusions.

How to add exclusions:
Under settings, for file shield, see the second image in the below link:
http://en.kioskea.net/faq/12294-avast-internet-security-create-an-exclusion
Make sure you verify your Steam cache for the game after doing this!

I might have changed a few other Avast settings too related to deep scanning, but this is the one I can remember for the moment that is repeatable going from "game will not load" to "loads fine".

[x4000]

Thank you for the update there!  Two notes:

1. The one file that Steam always has to re-download when verifying the cache is just a log file, it's harmless.  There will always be one file, but no more.

2. I have no idea why it would have to include the whole steam folder, that's a bit odd... sort of.  TLF doesn't use anything directly from any of those other folders at all -- everything is within its own folder, and it doesn't even put settings elsewhere.  However, Steam itself does inject itself into the TLF process via adding some threads in there (so that you get the steam overlay, etc).  It's possible that Avast was also objecting to that.

[topper]

2. I have no idea why it would have to include the whole steam folder, that's a bit odd... sort of.  TLF doesn't use anything directly from any of those other folders at all -- everything is within its own folder, and it doesn't even put settings elsewhere.  However, Steam itself does inject itself into the TLF process via adding some threads in there (so that you get the steam overlay, etc).  It's possible that Avast was also objecting to that.

I was mostly just wondering if there were any other subfolders of Steam that might be affected by game files. It was strange that the game was fine pre .862 with only its own folder on the exclusions list. I did not bother to try anything else other than adding the top folder for Steam to make it work after .862. I might try some other things when I have time, to narrow down where the problem is coming from.

[x4000]

Makes good sense.  And I'm really not sure of what we could have changed in an alpha version that would cause it to need more permissions outside of its own folder -- it really doesn't do anything out there of its own accord, there aren't any files out there.

[swang30]

as a PSA, please put your Steam library in any place but c:\Program Files (x86) if at all possible.  I have a separate drive (logical, not physical) for games, and my steam library is there.  Avast never complains...

Program Files and Program Files (x86) has a higher security level because Windows trusts it more...

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Avast actually detected an installation I had of the original System Shock game as a virus, I kid you not. After that and Avast's shields suddenly turning off for no good reason, I uninstalled it and am now in the process of experimenting with other programs like Bitdefender right now. Which is a real pity because Avast used to be so good but now I'm running into a lot of problems with them. To say nothing of the amount of adverts they have popping up now. Getting really tired of companies with too big a head deciding to make crap products...

I point this out to let you know that it's definitely an Avast issue. Why their detection engines have been freaking out, I haven't figured out.

[chemical_art]

When I made my new build in February I installed avast. However last month it got bad, interrupting basic internet functions to the point steam didn't work. So I had to ditch it.

[Mick]

I just use Windows Defender.

[tbrass]

Potential solution: move your install folder.

In my Win8.1 boot, I install all games (inc. the Steam application) to c:\games (as opposed to Program Files), and have never had a conflict with Avast (free).

In Linux, of course, I don't have to use Avast 

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I just use Windows Defender.

Please tell me you're joking....

[Mick]

I just use Windows Defender.

Please tell me you're joking....

Why, because I don't install snake oil?

[Tridus]

I just use Windows Defender.

Please tell me you're joking....

Lots of people do that. If your computer is properly secured,home antivirus isn't that effective. Particularly when it has a habit of breaking games like Avast does.

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I just use Windows Defender.

Please tell me you're joking....

Lots of people do that. If your computer is properly secured,home antivirus isn't that effective. Particularly when it has a habit of breaking games like Avast does.

Well, I guess that depends on how secure your computer is. But if you're running Windows naked, well, you get what you get. I still wouldn't run windows without some sort of antivirus and malware protection.

[johnpeat]

Background: I used to fix PCs (hardware/software) for a living and still do regular work for friends/family/former customers - I've therefore seen 1000s of PCs with every manner of virus/spyware/malware and every combination of "Anti" product you can think of.

Obviously what I'm about to say only affects Windows users!!

Unless you are the sort of person who feels they are at 'heightened risk' of encountering '0-day' malware(you know who you are) - Microsoft Security Essentials (Windows Defender on W8) is all you need.  That's advice I've given for years and it's yet to bite me (it'll happen I'm sure - but I'm OK for now!)

I've recommended other products in the past but the AV (paid and free) market is now awash with compromised products using dishonest techniques to try to 'sell' themselves to users whislt being ever less useful at what they're supposed to be doing. 

Oh. what's that?  Do  I hear someone coming with those virus 'tests' which show that "X" is not as good as "Y"??   Save yourself the trouble - I don't care - in the real world those tests mean nothing.  Out here in reality, people clicking the wrong things (or just being unlucky) will have bad things happen to them and NO software will stop that completely - meanwhile, the wrong AV software is slowing your PC, breaking your games etc.

As for running 'naked' - I sometimes recommend people with older PCs do that, it's a reasonable trade-of for them but it's obviously a risk.  That said tho, all AV software slows your PC - the people who spend eons tweaking the PC will generally be delighted with the benefits you get from not having AV

End of the day, the BEST defence against malware is using your brain - no software can compensate for people who click those "FREE BEER HERE" links or open attachments from women wanting to  marry them or whatever else it is people seem to love doing which stops their PCs dead (and 99% of it is porn or piracy, of course)

Bottom line for this thread - if AVAST is interfering with the game, DUMP IT - even if you decide to use another 'free' option or PAY for one, keeping an AV which is breaking legit software makes no sense...

p.s. if you really want to protect yourself, spend your time and money on backup solutions - backup EVERYTHING and OFTEN - then it doesn't matter what you run into because you can remove it effortlessly and you'll lose nothing in the process...