[FIX]Avast + Other Anti-Virus Software Will BREAK the Game

[MDIGN]

[UPDATE] WARNING: DO NOT RE-ENABLE AVAST (or other anti-virus) until you've added your Steam folders to your whitelist. It still flags it after the download has completed.

When downloading FFXIII:LR Avast and other softwares will hijack the download and false-flag it. This will break your game and make it unplayable. It can and has broken files mid-download while keeping the broken file in your game folder. This means that 'Verify the Integrity of Game Cache' will NOT always work for everyone. In my case I ran the verification and it told me all files were valid, but they were not.

Tl;DR:
[Fix #1] (PLEASE TRY THIS FIRST)
-Disable anti-virus
-Verify the Integrity of your game files
If this doesn't work try Fix #2

[Fix #2]
-Delete local game files (Unless you know exactly which files were broken :/)
-Disable Avast or any other anti-virus COMPLETELY
-Redownload the game

Better Fix:
If your anti-virus allows it, place your Steam folder into the white-list.
For Avast follow this: http://i.imgur.com/wSRj6W5.png
Tip given by: Seyiji

Worked for me and others.
EDIT: Added a standard fix as requested by user Macula

[Blademaster]

And yet another reason why avast/macafee/norton suck.

[MDIGN]

Any mods here to get this stickied? There's like 5 topics discussing this issue.

[MDIGN]

EDIT: Added a new warning regarding re-enabling shields.

[Guldo]

oh no do you know if comodo flags it. im downloading the game right now.

[C-LOS N Y C]

lol who uses anti viruses these days? come on

[Guldo]

by the way this is off topic but are we getting the remake of final fantasy 7 next year.

[Seyiji]

Just add an exception to your Antivirus that white lists the steam folder.

Originally posted by Manslayer49:

by the way this is off topic but are we getting the remake of final fantasy 7 next year.

All signs point to yes since it has been stated that it is a timed console exclusive. If you watch the recent trailer notice at the end it says "play if first on Playstation"

[Ryrin]

Uninstall that bloatware

[Guldo]

Originally posted by Ryrin:

Uninstall that bloatware

you callin comodo bloatware.

[MDIGN]

Originally posted by Seyiji:

Just add an exception to your Antivirus that white lists the steam folder.

Update: Edited OP to include your suggestion.

Originally posted by Manslayer49:

oh no do you know if comodo flags it. im downloading the game right now.

I do not know, I don't have it. However, assuming they both have similar virus definitions I'd imagine so. Never hurts to be on the safe side though.

[😎Macula😎]

OP include also to Verify Game Cache option it checks all files and redownloads only files that are missing no need to redownload whole damn game because of that.

[MDIGN]

Originally posted by Macula:

OP include also to Verify Game Cache option it checks all files and redownloads only files that are missing no need to redownload whole damn game because of that.

Originally posted by MDIGN:

It can and has broken files mid-download while keeping the broken file in your game folder. This means that 'Verify the Integrity of Game Cache' will NOT always work for everyone. In my case I ran the verification and it told me all files were valid, but they were not.

It appears that you haven't read the OP. :/

[Seyiji]

Originally posted by MDIGN:

Originally posted by Seyiji:

Just add an exception to your Antivirus that white lists the steam folder.

Update: Edited OP to include your suggestion.

Originally posted by Manslayer49:

oh no do you know if comodo flags it. im downloading the game right now.

I do not know, I don't have it. However, assuming they both have similar virus definitions I'd imagine so. Never hurts to be on the safe side though.

I've had multiple games throw false positives in the past and this was the only acceptable solution. Just don't go installing skeevy doings in your steam directory without first checking the files and confirming they come from a legit source. If in doubt leave it out (of your steam directory) :3

[😎Macula😎]

Originally posted by MDIGN:

Originally posted by Macula:

OP include also to Verify Game Cache option it checks all files and redownloads only files that are missing no need to redownload whole damn game because of that.

Originally posted by MDIGN:

It can and has broken files mid-download while keeping the broken file in your game folder. This means that 'Verify the Integrity of Game Cache' will NOT always work for everyone. In my case I ran the verification and it told me all files were valid, but they were not.

It appears that you haven't read the OP. :/

Oh sorry, must have missed it while speed reading whole thing.

But damn that makes things more difficult.

[MDIGN]

Originally posted by Seyiji:

Originally posted by MDIGN:

Update: Edited OP to include your suggestion.


I do not know, I don't have it. However, assuming they both have similar virus definitions I'd imagine so. Never hurts to be on the safe side though.

:winkkit:

I've had multiple games throw false positives in the past and this was the only acceptable solution. Just don't go installing skeevy doings in your steam directory without first checking the files and confirming they come from a legit source. If in doubt leave it out (of your steam directory) :3

This was a first for me, which is why I hadn't added Steam to my whitelist already.

Originally posted by Macula:

Originally posted by MDIGN:

It appears that you haven't read the OP. :/

Oh sorry, must have missed it while speed reading whole thing.

But damn that makes things more difficult.

I'll add it just in case in order to prevent unnecessary redownloads.