help! Avast Internet Security trial expired, no internet connection

[essexboy]

OK try the new software then - as all looks good there

[edders]

Well things are no better, worse even.

I have installed the 'Plusnet Assist Software' from my internet provider.  At the same time I found out that they offer me a McAffee based internet security/anti virus programme (Plusnet Protect) for free, so I stuck that on too.

The Plusnet Assist ran happily in the background whilst AIS was still installed (although expired and turned off).  The actual interface with the software seems to be a webpage- I don't recollect anywhere to verify the actual connection settings that I'm looking for.  The new Plusnet Protect antivirus indicated that it could auto remove some antivirus versions, so thought it might not hurt to stick it on without fully uninstalling AIS.  However it wouldn't install with AIS 6 still present, so I proeeeded to uninstall AIS again.

This time the Windows uninstall 'stalled' at the registry section.  After 6 hours it had progressed no further with the uninstallation, and it wouldn't close or cancel so I had to turn off.  I completed the uninstallation with the tool in safe mode and rebooted.

Now I have no AIS and again no longer have any internet connection.

The Plusnet Assist software kicks in when I try to access the internet, and first asks me to restart my router.  When I click 'next' or 'skip' it then says 'Connection check, unexpected error.  Plusnet Assist encountered a technical issue trying to diagnose the problem.... please restart Plusnet Assist and try again'.  Restarting the software is fruitless- the same thing again.  So a fat lot of good that software was.

So what can I try next?

Should I try and do a system restore once more to get AIS back on and reopen the connections?

Hope this all makes sense.  It's tricky when I'm not confident with the language.  

Many thanks

[essexboy]

Now this does not really make sense as an uninstall of AIS should release all firewall rule

Could you run a Farbar scan prior to restore and then a second one after the restore.  Post both here so that I can compare 

[edders]

Thanks essexboy,

I don't really know what I'm talking about, but the firewall wouldn't affect Windows recognising of all my networking hardware, or could it?

Anyway, I've run Farbar before and after.  Here are the results

Before system restore, after uninstalling AIS

Farbar Service Scanner
Ran by Dan (administrator) on 17-01-2012 at 20:43:11
Microsoft Windows 7 Starter  Service Pack 1 (X86)
Boot Mode: Normal
****************************************************************

Internet Services:
============

Connection Status:
==============
Localhost is accessible.
There is no connection to network.
Google IP is accessible.
Yahoo IP is accessible.


Windows Firewall:
=============

Firewall Disabled Policy:
==================


File Check:
========
C:\Windows\system32\nsisvc.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\nsiproxy.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\dhcpcore.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\afd.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\tdx.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\tcpip.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\dnsrslvr.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\mpssvc.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\bfe.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\mpsdrv.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\rpcss.dll => MD5 is legit


**** End of log ****


After system restore, AIS installed

Farbar Service Scanner
Ran by Dan (administrator) on 17-01-2012 at 20:55:51
Microsoft Windows 7 Starter  Service Pack 1 (X86)
Boot Mode: Normal
****************************************************************

Internet Services:
============

Connection Status:
==============
Localhost is accessible.
LAN connected.
Google IP is accessible.
Yahoo IP is accessible.


Windows Firewall:
=============

Firewall Disabled Policy:
==================


File Check:
========
C:\Windows\system32\nsisvc.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\nsiproxy.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\dhcpcore.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\afd.sys
[2011-08-12 09:08] - [2011-04-25 02:18] - 0338944 ____A (Microsoft Corporation)

C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\tdx.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\tcpip.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\dnsrslvr.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\mpssvc.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\bfe.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\mpsdrv.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\rpcss.dll => MD5 is legit


**** End of log ****

[essexboy]

OK here is the intriguing bit before the restore there is no LAN access yet the afd.sys is legit. After the restore there is LAN access yet the afd.sys shows an unusual MD5

I think I might ask PK to look at this   

Connection Status:
==============
Localhost is accessible.
There is no connection to network.
Google IP is accessible.
Yahoo IP is accessible.
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\afd.sys => MD5 is legit


Connection Status:
==============
Localhost is accessible.
LAN connected.
Google IP is accessible.
Yahoo IP is accessible.
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\afd.sys
[2011-08-12 09:08] - [2011-04-25 02:18] - 0338944 ____A (Microsoft Corporation)

[edders]

I just ran Farbar again as I noticed that the MD5 was fine in the restored state I ran Farbar for you last week.  This time there was no unusual MD5.

Farbar Service Scanner
Ran by Dan (administrator) on 17-01-2012 at 21:56:37
Microsoft Windows 7 Starter  Service Pack 1 (X86)
Boot Mode: Normal
****************************************************************

Internet Services:
============

Connection Status:
==============
Localhost is accessible.
LAN connected.
Google IP is accessible.
Yahoo IP is accessible.


Windows Firewall:
=============

Firewall Disabled Policy:
==================


File Check:
========
C:\Windows\system32\nsisvc.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\nsiproxy.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\dhcpcore.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\afd.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\tdx.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\tcpip.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\dnsrslvr.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\mpssvc.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\bfe.dll => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\mpsdrv.sys => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\svchost.exe => MD5 is legit
C:\Windows\system32\rpcss.dll => MD5 is legit


**** End of log ****



I wish this one hadn't come up clear 

[essexboy]

Still get PK to look at it though

[edders]

So no more ideas guys?  I clicked the 'send to support' button down there, but nothing has happened.  Is there anything more I could do to get help?

To recap;
-The wireless signal is strong and the internet connection works.
-the network connection still shows in the 'network and sharing centre', but not the 'network connections' page. 
- but the Windows 'set up connection' process also fails to recognise any networking hardware.
-This is with Avast Internet Security installed again after a system restore.  Uninstalling AIS will also take away the internet functionality of the connection.  This will also make the connection invisible to the 'network and sharing centre'.  However the notification tray does identify the connection, albeit as limited .
-Turning off or resetting firewall makes no difference

I've been playing with this new Plusnet Assist software from my internet provider to try and identify my settings, but it wont even recognise a wireless signal (despite the connection to the web page interface being over wireless!).  Clicking their 'ready for wireless' button tells me;
'We've detected that your computer does not have wireless capability. If you want to use wireless connection on this computer you'll need to purchase a wireless USB adaptor or card before you can go online wirelessly...blah blah'

And their 'PC healthcheck' button tells me:
'! Wireless Signal Strength
Checks the signal strength of your router.
Signal strength is quite weak. Check that your PC is equipped with wireless adapter and it is enabled. '

So AIS is somehow preventing Windows or any other software from recognising my networking hardware and the connections associated with it, despite the fact that the connection retains some functionality.  And when AIS goes, so does that functionality.  AIS is the key!

Any new ideas folks?  I've not really progressed any further yet, except to be slightly better at describing my issues and even then not much!

[edders]

Well this is sad.  So I'm going to have to take my netbook to an expensive professional and hour and  half's drive away just to undo the damage AIS has done and get it uninstalled successfully without further destroying my network connections?  

[emmeff]

Hi.

Any progress with this? I've had the same issue as the OP for about a week. My trial licence for AIS was coming to an end so I selected the 'change back to Avast free antivirus' link. Since then, I've had no access to the network or wireless adapters. Re-installing drivers hasn't helped, and I've removed Avast entirely, even to the point of weeding through registry entries.

At this stage, it looks like I'll have to re-install Windows, with all of the effort that follows. I used to think Avast was a good piece of kit.