Author Topic: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze  (Read 29969 times)

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Tabvla

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Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« on: October 21, 2013, 03:36:38 PM »
OS : Windows XPSP3 with all updates
Avast : Free AV running since August 2013.  Updated today to Avast 2014.  No "extra" software installed.

After installing Avast Free 2014 update today, on rebooting, Windows starts normally until it reaches the "Windows is starting up..." screen at which point it freezes. 

- If the Mouse is moved, the pointer will move, so there is still some communication. Nothing else does anything.
- If the system is left for 10 minutes plus then the screen goes blank

Any suggestions?

T.

Offline Midihead

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #1 on: October 21, 2013, 05:32:26 PM »
Your problem sounds similar to what I and several others have been experiencing with upgrading to version 9.0.2006 on Windows XP (see http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=137154.0. My screen goes black as soon as it gets to the Welcome screen on one of my XP machines. For me, the culprit appears to be the aswSP.sys file in the system32\drivers folder. If this file temporarily disabled, then the computer will boot but I think the Self Protection may not work correctly as a result.

On the other XP computer, it will boot but my shields keep deactivating themselves every minute or so. Also, the internet on both PCs wouldn't work with the firewall enabled.

I have a support ticket open which was just escalated to level 2. They have updated the ticket type to Bug.

Tabvla

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2013, 05:59:34 PM »
Midihead, thanks for your reply.

If you let the boot process continue for a long time (about 30min) you will eventually be able to login.  However, about 2 min after the logged-in User Desktop is displayed the computer will BlueScreen with dire warnings of system damage.... etc.

I can also confirm that Safe Mode on this computer is now no longer available so there is no going back.

The problem of course is that if you cannot Start then there is usually not much you can do.  However, I can remove the system disk and access it from a different computer.  Based on your comments I am thinking of removing the disk, accessing it from a different computer and then simply deleting the system32\drivers\aswSP.sys file or changing its name. 

Not sure what impact (if any) this will have on the a Restart....  ???

If I can then restart the computer I can uninstall Avast and using a reliable Registry cleanup utility I can clear out the Registry of any remaining entries.

Any thoughts on the above?

T.



Offline chris..

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2013, 06:37:57 PM »
Hi,
I think you can rename aswSP.sys to ".bak" with an other HDD or with recup console.
I don't know if this file cause issue but I spent WE with the same issue (logged in user desktop near 30 min but without BleuScreen , same freeze in safe mode).
I hope for you just to, delete/rename file will be OK before you erase/rename (like I have done with an other pc) all 5 registry files.
Now it's good for me except I'am afraid to install avast again , I think I 'll go back to v8 at least a month  ;D

Tabvla

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2013, 06:58:31 PM »
Thanks for your thoughts Chris.

T.
« Last Edit: October 21, 2013, 07:09:31 PM by Tabvla »

Offline chris..

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #5 on: October 21, 2013, 09:01:01 PM »
If you will try to delete file , thanks to post the result

Other think : before your issue (first boot after 2014 install) , did you noticed an advertissement about "fssfltr_tdi.sys" file don't work anymore ?

Tabvla

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2013, 11:14:26 PM »
The following may be a possible solution for those users who cannot get XP to start or cannot login or get a BSOD after login.

You will need the following:

1. Access to another computer  ( any Windows computer will do that has a USB port )
2. SATA/IDE to USB patch cable  ( these are not expensive and all computer shops keep them )

The procedure is as follows

Before you start disconnect the computer with the Avast problem from the Internet.

1. Switch OFF the computer with the Avast problem and remove the mains cable from the wall
2. Remove the System Disk from this computer.  I will call this disk DISK_AP (Avast Problem)
3. Start the other computer
4. When the other computer has started use the patch cable to plug into a USB Port DISK_AP
5. Using Windows Explorer go to DISK_AP
6. Go to the folder Programs on DISK_AP
7. Scroll down until you find the two folders Avast and Avast Software
8. Change the names of these folders to STOP_Avast  and   STOP_Avast Software
9. Go to the Windows folder on DISK_AP
10. Scroll down to the folder system32
11. In the system32 folder on DISK_AP click on drivers
12. Scroll down the list until you come to a set of drivers that all start with asw
13. Change the extension of each of these files from .sys to .bak
14. Click on the USB icon in the System Tray and click on the DISK_AP to safely remove it
15. When Windows tells you that it is safe to remove, then remove DISK_AP from the USB port
16. Reinstall DISK_AP into its computer
17. Start
18. The computer will now start without any problems

Once the computer has started you can then decide what you want to do next........ for example....

a) Uninstall Avast 9.xxx and reinstall Avast 8.xxx
b) Uninstall Avast and install a different AV product

Whatever you decide to do you will need to clean up the Registry when you are finished.  One of the best and safest Registry cleaners is Advanced Uninstaller Pro 11 which is available at this link:-

http://www.advanceduninstaller.com/

REMEMBER !!!   Always create a Restore Point with System Restore BEFORE doing anything to the Registry !!!

Good Luck   :)


Offline Alikhan

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #7 on: October 21, 2013, 11:16:19 PM »
I wouldn't mess with the registry at all...

Just wait for the Avast devs to come out with a fix.

Until then, have you tried a repair or a clean install?
Windows 10 Home 64-bit • Avast Free (latest stable version) •  Malwarebytes 4 Premium (On-Demand) • Windows Firewall Control • Google Chrome • LastPass • CCleaner • O&O ShutUp10 •

Tabvla

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #8 on: October 21, 2013, 11:25:00 PM »
Alikhan, it is very difficult to do ANYTHING when you cannot get Windows to start or if you can you get a BlueScreen.

The Avast Devs can come up with any fix they like but that won't help if you can't start Windows.  And how do you propose doing a repair and clean install if you cannot get Windows to start....?

T.

Offline Alikhan

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #9 on: October 21, 2013, 11:26:27 PM »
Alikhan, it is very difficult to do ANYTHING when you cannot get Windows to start or if you can you get a BlueScreen.

The Avast Devs can come up with any fix they like but that won't help if you can't start Windows.  And how do you propose doing a repair and clean install if you cannot get Windows to start....?

T.

Can't you boot into Safe Mode with networking?
Windows 10 Home 64-bit • Avast Free (latest stable version) •  Malwarebytes 4 Premium (On-Demand) • Windows Firewall Control • Google Chrome • LastPass • CCleaner • O&O ShutUp10 •

Offline chris..

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #10 on: October 21, 2013, 11:44:55 PM »
Alikhan, it is very difficult to do ANYTHING when you cannot get Windows to start or if you can you get a BlueScreen.

The Avast Devs can come up with any fix they like but that won't help if you can't start Windows.  And how do you propose doing a repair and clean install if you cannot get Windows to start....?

T.
Yes when Os is out , it's too late to apply patches (I just hope at this time that no many users have their pc quite dead)

@Alikhan:as far I'm concerned it was not possible to boot in safemode (with or without network , even last know good config not able anymore)

The only way is to do something like tabvla said : with an other hdd clean (or maybe by DOS command with console windows on cd)

Offline Alikhan

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #11 on: October 21, 2013, 11:46:51 PM »
Doesn't pressing F8 before the Windows logo load suffice?
Windows 10 Home 64-bit • Avast Free (latest stable version) •  Malwarebytes 4 Premium (On-Demand) • Windows Firewall Control • Google Chrome • LastPass • CCleaner • O&O ShutUp10 •

yomiguel54

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #12 on: October 21, 2013, 11:56:37 PM »
Alikhan, it is very difficult to do ANYTHING when you cannot get Windows to start or if you can you get a BlueScreen.

The Avast Devs can come up with any fix they like but that won't help if you can't start Windows.  And how do you propose doing a repair and clean install if you cannot get Windows to start....?

T.
Yes when Os is out , it's too late to apply patches (I just hope at this time that no many users have their pc quite dead)

@Alikhan:as far I'm concerned it was not possible to boot in safemode (with or without network , even last know good config not able anymore)

The only way is to do something like tabvla said : with an other hdd clean (or maybe by DOS command with console windows on cd)

Offline essexboy

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #13 on: October 21, 2013, 11:58:15 PM »
Go to this thread   http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0 and start from here :

Quote
If you cannot  Boot the computer

Please print these instruction out so that you know what you are doing

•Download OTLPENet.exe  to your desktop

DionC

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Re: Avast Free 2014 Update causes Windows to Freeze
« Reply #14 on: October 22, 2013, 04:21:39 AM »
Alikhan, it is very difficult to do ANYTHING when you cannot get Windows to start or if you can you get a BlueScreen.

The Avast Devs can come up with any fix they like but that won't help if you can't start Windows.  And how do you propose doing a repair and clean install if you cannot get Windows to start....?

T.
Yes when Os is out , it's too late to apply patches (I just hope at this time that no many users have their pc quite dead)

@Alikhan:as far I'm concerned it was not possible to boot in safemode (with or without network , even last know good config not able anymore)

The only way is to do something like tabvla said : with an other hdd clean (or maybe by DOS command with console windows on cd)

I upgraded Avast on three computers only to discover that they all malfunctioned after the upgrade.  Not sure what everyone else's problem is with safe mode - it worked fine for me on all three machines.  My computers all booted up but would not work properly.  But, I couldn't open Control Panel to perform the uninstall from there.  I had to use safe mode (no network, no command prompt).  (I have never had a restore to a restore point work successfully, so I didn't even go that route).