ROFL, thanks all for your replies and suggestions, some points made me giggle even.
Thanks for that, I really needed a giggle. It has been a very weird and trying week.
(It started with a trip to a theme park that fell short to an allergy triggered migraine
that lasted for two+ days, followed by a shopping trip where my purse was snatched,
then the onset of respiratory issues complete with wheezing and bronchospasm, and
finally my computer is unprotected. I feel vulnerable; open for violation on every front.
I canceled my weekend plans, and am staying home in an attempt to feel less vulnerable.
Besides, I needed the two forms of ID that were in my purse for my weekend anyhow.)
But I digress...
AmazingIT and nmb: Thankyou both for the direction and the caution. I would sooner
reformat than mess with my registry. I would prefer the certainty that everything was
clean and in working order than risk the possibility of unknowingly fudging something.
mkis: You are probably right about a failed update. My avast was working fine one night,
my shutdown took longer than usual (and may have interrupted an update), then PooF!
The next morning it was as it still is. That night the only site I went to was about.com -
to look for a cell phone replacement suggestion [about.com had a questionnaire to help
narrow down newly available cell phone models to meet specific needs/desires. Sadly,
none were quite as suited to me as the one I lost. The model that was in my stolen purse
is no longer available thru at&t - tho I think I can still get it elsewhere; alas, I won't go
to any such site until my computer is protected again. I'm sticking to geek sites only].
I have tried updating and repairing the vps thru the control panel add/remove pop-up.
It says it DL'd the avast!5 vps update just fine, and runs as I expect it should. No Luck.
cjs: I am about to reinstall, as you have. I can't think of anything simpler/less extensive.
I too am using Windows XP sp3; tho I am not using Zone Alarm or IObit, as with my paid
version of avast, those services are included. I very specifically got an Internet Package
to prevent compatibility issues, so I doubt my configuration is a factor. If not for my/our
current issue, I'd recommend you sock away some cash to get this package too, lol. ^.~
Shiw Liang: not at all, it is a good suggestion, and my most likely next step. Thanks to
your suggestions last night, I finally learned how to boot into safe mode, I also now have
the utility for uninstalling avast, and all I need is to know the best way that I should re-
install it. Use my disk? Use a DL? Which one? You have been too kind to make me angry.
JonhSAvast: I did not update XP untill after my issue. I was temporarily holding off on the
updates just in case they would fudge my current project. I had everything in a beautiful
working order, and I was not willing to mess with it. It had been about a week since I last
updated windows (everything but .NET framework, and that monthly Windows Malicious
Software Removal Tool, which I never bother with). Since the project I am in the midst of
uses .NET Framework, I didn't want to change that just yet. I had about one more day of
work on that project to do, and all but the last two days backed up. A reinstall of one or all
of my programs won't set me back more than a few days. I am not willing to save my recent
work on the off chance that I have an infection that may have affected my project files. I
did do the updates after my issue, on the off chance that it would fix everything. No Luck.
I am not very angry, a bit glum perhaps, but not angry. I won't throw my computer out the
window, I'd rather learn more about these mystifying machines by fixing it, with your help.
I'd rather learn about tweaks and quick fixes, since I already know how to reformat/reinstall
everything. Not to mention that knowing these tweaks/quick fixes will undoubtedly come in
handy in the future. I also want to be confident that I am not creating a 'snafu' situation.
*Giggle* I have never heard that term before. SnAfU. TeeHee. I Like it. ^,^
So, Long post short: I expect I have to uninstall/reinstall avast! next. I will use the DL'd utility
to uninstall it while in safe mode, as is recommended. Please recommend an installation method.
I have that disk. Should I use that or should I use a DL to reinstall it? Thank You Muchly. ~Nom