When you install Sage 50 Payroll, if you have Avast antivirus on your computer you may get a message that a Sage file has been quarantined. This happens because Sage files are being moved to the Avast quarantine area - Virus chest.

Avast may delete the required Sage file. If the file is not in the Virus chest the problem may be resolved by reinstalling the software.

As a workaround:

1. Depending upon your version of Avast:
   
   
   • 2016 - Scan > Scan for viruses > Quarantine (Virus Chest).
     
     
2. Locate and right-click any Sage files > Restore and add to exclusions.
   If the file in the Quarantine (Virus Chest) has been renamed, for example, if PayImp.dll has been renamed to payide.rra, you must rename this file after it's been restored. To do this, browse to the payroll installation directory, find the .rra file, right-click and rename to PayImp.dll.
3. If the Payroll icon has disappeared from your desktop.

This is due to the Payroll.exe being quarantined. When opening Payroll, a message appears:

'The item that this shortcut refers to has been removed. Do you want to delete this shortcut?'

When selecting yes, the shortcut is deleted.

To prevent the issue occurring in future, you must add Sage directories to the list of excluded scan locations in Avast. Read more

If you're unsure how to add a folder to the list of excluded scan locations in Avast, please contact your local IT, or visit Avast's website.