Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: slartibartfarst on December 10, 2009, 05:31:37 PM
-
I've just got a new dell inspiron laptop with windows 7 home premium 64 installed....when i install avast and open windows control panel > all control panel items, i get the error 'explorer is not responding', i then have to select end program or restart program, after that all is fine. If i uninstall avast then this problem does not occur.
Is anyone having a similar problem or know of a workaround?
Thanks in advance.
-
Dell's usually come with A/V pre-installed, probably Norton. Did you remove it before installing avast?
-
Norton didn't come pre-installed, i just got a prompt to try their software with a 30 day free trial....which i uninstalled as well :)
So there's no other av software installed....i'm new to windows 7 and i guess it's just one of those glitches that will get sorted out as everybody plays catchup with the software......it's not a show stopper but the laptop is a gift for my gf and the last thing a computer illiterate will want to see is a windows msg saying there's a problem lol
Thanks for the reply.
-
I suggest removing traces of Norton...
1) Remove NAV or Norton 360 through Add/Remove programs from Control Panel. Boot.
2) Use Norton Removal Tool for Windows 2000/XP/Vista (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Norton_Removal_Tool_for_Windows_2000XPVista/1169144666/1) or Norton Removal Tool for Windows 98/Me (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Norton_Removal_Tool_for_Windows_98Me/1169144666/2). Boot.
3) Install avast! (or repair the installation) and boot.
The Norton Removal Tool uninstalls all Norton 2008/2007/2006/2005/2004/2003 products and Norton 360 from your computer.
-
Hi All...
So my question was.... if Window 7 was compatible with Avast 4.8 home edition?
Thank you
-
Yes, avast 4.8 is compatible with win7 32/64 bit versions.
-
Hi All...
So my question was.... if Window 7 was compatible with Avast 4.8 home edition?
Thank you
Welcome roberty
It sure is compatable.
By the way, avast V5 will be released in January 2010.
-
I've just got a new dell inspiron laptop with windows 7 home premium 64 installed....when i install avast and open windows control panel > all control panel items, i get the error 'explorer is not responding', i then have to select end program or restart program, after that all is fine. If i uninstall avast then this problem does not occur.
Is anyone having a similar problem or know of a workaround?
Thanks in advance.
I have the same problem mine is dell Studio 1555 with windows 7 ultimate 64 i do the same things as you and the problem is avast, i sent an e-mail to on line support for this problem in 64 bit system.
-
I have run both 4.8 and 5.0 beta on a 64 bit windows 7 (for about a year now) with no problems at all I would sugggest that another programme is causing a conflict
-
I confirm that the problem is Avast! :'(
If i uninstall Avast all works fine.
Maybe windows 7 ultimate has problem with 4.8 antivirus.
I hope avast 5 will fix this problem.
Confirm that Avast 5 beta works like a charm.
-
I'm working with a brand new Dell Vostro 1520 that came with Win 7 Home Premium right now. Uninstalled Norton through Add/Remove programs, did FULL removal. restarted, installed avast. Restarted, updated definitions, and all is well. Didn't even need to run the Norton removal tool (I'll check manually to see if anything is left, and will run it if I have to).
Laptop hasn't been giving me any grief so far, thankfully.
-
just an update to my problem....in europe / uk dell supply laptops with mcafee at the moment (i think i said norton somewhere above)....i've just received another laptop from dell, an inspiron 15, this had mcafee pre-installed so i proceeded to uninstall it, reboot, installed avast, reboot go to control panel and i get the same problem where windows explorer stops responding......i then go to close the window and get a msg stating that explorer has stopped responding, choose the option to restart explorer and all is good....i can go into control panel and all is working fine. so the problem i have only occurs once after a reboot or boot.
This is the same for both new laptops......so there is definately a problem that is not isolated to just one machine.....perhaps it's something leftover from the mcafee install.
-
If that's so, it should be an easy fix. Go here http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507 and follow the directions UP TO step two.
No need to re-install afterwards... ;D
-
A client brought in a brand new Dell 1545 laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium X64 preloaded. It also had McAfee pre-installed. I removed McAfee and installed a free copy of Avast Home and after the reboot Avast comes up with the initial screen, but eventually Explorer stops responding. The first symptom is when I try to open the Control Panel ... freeze, can't click on anything. Just to be sure I waited 20 minutes but it never "unfroze". I can CTRL-ATL-DEL and kill explorer, and after it reloads everything appears to run without freezing initially, but if I used the computer long enough, I get either a crash or a freeze of explorer.
I uninstalled Avast and reinstalled, didn't help. Ran the McAfee uninstall tool (MCPR.EXE) to clear out all traces of McAfee Security Center, rebooted, installed Avast, freeze of explorer after reboot.
Since this was a client's computer I didn't want to take a chance and trash the installation of Windows 7 by doing more installs and uninstalls to track down a solution, so I gave up and installed AVG Free, which ran fine.
I personally have AVAST running on a test system running Windows 7 Ultimate (Microsoft's time-limited demo that will expire next year) but it's only X32, not X64. I'm wondering if this problem is caused by the OEM version of Windows 7 X64 that Dell is using or something to do with McAfee Security Center that is being preloaded on these computers. The problem *IS* real, however. Would be nice to know what is causing it.
Chuck
-
Sorry, I forgot to mention.
The Vostro 1520 that I was working on was x64 too. The only difference is that mine came with Norton instead of McAfee, and it wasn't a 1545.
-
@ csadoian
I do not have a problem with avast! on my Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit system.
It never had McAfee nor is it a Dell system.
-
I am having the same problem with Windows Explorer hanging after I upgraded from from Vista to Win7. After my upgrade I completely removed my previous virus checker (Computer Associates, who wanted me to pay another yearly subscription for an upgrade) and installed Avast. Then the problem began.
I went through a fairly lengthy process of trying to identify the source of the problem, including going to techsupportforum.com, where I seemed to be getting support from a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional or a member of the Microsoft Tech Team. I ran some utility for him which produced technical information and sent it along. His analysis was that the problem seemed to lie with my software firewall or virus checker. Since I don't have a software firewall installed, that leaves Avast as the culprit.
http://www.techsupportforum.com/microsoft-support/windows-vista-windows-7-support/439033-windows-7-windows-explorer-crashes.html#post2481494
Until I find a solution - or change my antivirus program - I'm making do with third-party file managers (xExplorer, xyExplorer, A43), but they are a stopgap measure. There are still a few circumstances in which I need the original Windows Explorer.
It looks like a bug in Avast. I wonder if the new version coming out in January might fix the problem?
David
Toronto
-
I've been having this same issue on 2 computers since purchasing in early December. Both are Dell (Studio XPS 8000 & Inspiron Laptop 1545). Initially came with Norton but I completely uninstalled using the removal tool. The only workaround I've found to keep explorer from freezing on first control panel access after reboot is to go to start menu properties and choose "display control panel as a menu" instead of a link. No freezes, I can maneuver around in CP in any direction or view after initially accessing through the "menu" rather than the link. No clue why.
Just thought I'd share in case it helps someone figure this out. I've been searching for an answer since first noticing the problem.
*Forgot to add that both systems are W7 Home Premium 64 bit with Avast installed.
-
I've been having this same issue on 2 computers since purchasing in early December. Both are Dell (Studio XPS 8000 & Inspiron Laptop 1545). Initially came with Norton but I completely uninstalled using the removal tool. The only workaround I've found to keep explorer from freezing on first control panel access after reboot is to go to start menu properties and choose "display control panel as a menu" instead of a link. No freezes, I can maneuver around in CP in any direction or view after initially accessing through the "menu" rather than the link. No clue why.
Just thought I'd share in case it helps someone figure this out. I've been searching for an answer since first noticing the problem.
*Forgot to add that both systems are W7 Home Premium 64 bit with Avast installed.
Similar situation...bought a new Dell Inspiron for the wife for Christmas. Uninstalled the pre-installed McAfee before installing Avast. Every time I would launch Control Panel it would cause the Windows Explorer not responding. Would close/restart explorer then Control Panel would work. Ran the McAfee removal tool, reinstalled Avast...same problem. The problem would go away every time I would uninstall the latest Avast Home.
I did your trick of changing the Control Panel settings and it is a work around, for now. I do NOT want to get rid of Avast, so I hope the next release has a fix.
-
I've been having the same problem with my son's new Inspiron 1545 (Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit). However, the difference with everyone else who has posted here so far, is that I hadn't got around to installing Avast on it.
I decided to run it for a week or so with the software that it came with from Dell (as I usually like to make sure everything is OK 'out of the box' before making a change)- so it is running McAfee at the moment and I get the 'Explorer is not responding' problem. Exactly as Slartibartfast described it.
Whatever is causing this can't only be linked to systems running Avast.
-
I've been having the same problem with my son's new Inspiron 1545 (Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit). However, the difference with everyone else who has posted here so far, is that I hadn't got around to installing Avast on it.
I decided to run it for a week or so with the software that it came with from Dell (as I usually like to make sure everything is OK 'out of the box' before making a change)- so it is running McAfee at the moment and I get the 'Explorer is not responding' problem. Exactly as Slartibartfast described it.
Whatever is causing this can't only be linked to systems running Avast.
I had a feeling this wasn't an avast issue. For some reason, I don't think McAfee or Norton are being fully removed from the computers before avast gets installed. Regardless of what the posters are saying.
For those still having the problems, try running the removal tools once again. It may not have worked through everything the first time. We've said it time and time again around here, some A/V's are harder to get rid of than viruses...
-
This poster isn't saying it's an Avast problem. :) Just happen to have Avast, am a visitor to these forums and saw the problem mentioned. (Norton IS completely removed from my system for the record.) Actually, what I'm seeing in common as I research is Dell computers rather than anything to do with any of the AV programs. The workaround I shared earlier isn't a cure but it's prevented the crash from occurring. Would love to know what's causing the problem! Let me add that I'm very happy with Avast after having Norton crammed down my throat since buying my first computer. Would never go back. Oh, and I'm happy with my Dells, too, even with their CP glitch :)
-
Okay, i'm having the same issue as the OP. I just recently received a Dell Inspiron 1545 as a Christmas gift and am running into this same error. After initial boot-up I can't access Control Panel as it causes explorer.exe to freeze and required me to restart it. When restarted, everything seems to run normal but it's quite an inconvenience. After reading some of the previous posts and deciding that the problem is most likely with Avast and not with my laptop, I proceeded to clear off Avast using the removal tool. When Avast has been removed in Safe Mode, everything runs normal even on initial boot-up and I don't have the problem with Control Panel causing the laptop to freeze up. I do not have this problem on my desktop or several other laptops and desktops which I have installed Avast on. I have a 64-bit operating system with Windows 7. It seems to be occuring only with Windows 7 64-bit. If anyone has any other suggestions other than using different antivirus it would be appreciated as I have greatly enjoyed my experience using Avast.
Thanks
-
Dell systems come pre-installed with a lot of un-necessary applications that's why PC Decrapifier exists:
http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/home
-
Hi all,
I am having the same problem mentioned above.
I am using windows 7 home premium edition, on a blank PC (where no AV was ever previously installed).
On my previous desktop (WinXP OS) i was using AVAST4.8x and it is a very good AV.
since i installed avast on the new desktop, at the second time i restarts my PC win7 explorer freezes!
if i uninstall AVAST, the problem disappears.
As far as i understands (reading previous threads) a new version of AVAST is going to be released at January.
I hope you will fix this problem.
If there is a solution to this problem or any idea i will appreciate if you will share it with me.
best regards,
G
-
Hi all,
Since this thread is a little dormant I am not too sure whether users are still experiencing this, however I have just found an avast! support article which seems to possibly explain the reason for the freezes:
avast! support article >> Control Panel under Windows 7 may start freezing on some Dell computers after installing avast! Antivirus (http://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=403)
So the instruction is to ensure that everything is up to date and to update drivers from Dell themselves.
The support page (for the UK - you can change the location at the top) would be here: http://support.euro.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs
From there you can locate the relevant drivers outlined in the support article...
Hope this helps,
-Scott-
-
I am also having a problem with Windows 7 and AVAST. I am running Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit and AVAST 4.8.1368. AVAST seems to be running fine during normal operation of my computer. The problem is during the initial boot up of the day. When Windows 7 boots up, AVAST also starts and then check for Virus Definitions update. As soon as the little blue window comes up in the lower right portion of the screen, that is when my computer freezes up. Nothing I can do except to push the button to shut the computer down and then restart the computer. This is annoying of course. Are there any suggestions for a fix for this problem? What I did as a temporary fix was to change the settings from Automatic updates to Manual updates. Hopefully this won't allow AVAST to update at boot up. I will then manually update AVAST when everything else is up and running. Thank you for your time and help in this matter. I really love this AntiVirus program and wouldn't want to run anything else.
-
Set the connection to not always connected to the internet and that may cure it
-
Avast 5 will soon be released, i am running Avast 5.0.332 beta3 on Win7/32 and it is working perfect
-
I'm another Dell user with Win 7 64bit and Avast 4.8, I have the same problem, here's a copy of the posts to http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7files/thread/08118bac-3ef1-4208-8192-d8252d7cc660
When I first start Control Panel, the Control Panel windows says "not responding", I then get the Windows dialog asking to restart the app etc. After the Explorer restart I can access the Control Panel functions without a problem (thankfully). This problem is 100% repeatable after logging in.
The Windows Event Log details are as follows:
The program Explorer.EXE version 6.1.7600.16404 stopped interacting with Windows and was closed. To see if more information about the problem is available, check the problem history in the Action Center control panel.
Process ID: ae0
Start Time: 01ca99bb77a8fa90
Termination Time: 0
Application Path: C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
Report Id: 619fe1b6-05dc-11df-b48f-0024e8f2bcb4
The problem only happens after a restart, not if I restart Explorer then logout and login. I used the Win 7 Clean Boot procedure (msconfig utility) to track it down to the Startup item Avast ALWIL. ie. disable the startup of this item and the problem goes away. This suggests its a problem with Avast 4.8
Regards
Paul C
-
I'm another Dell user with Win 7 64bit and Avast 4.8, I have the same problem, here's a copy of the posts to http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7files/thread/08118bac-3ef1-4208-8192-d8252d7cc660
When I first start Control Panel, the Control Panel windows says "not responding", I then get the Windows dialog asking to restart the app etc. After the Explorer restart I can access the Control Panel functions without a problem (thankfully). This problem is 100% repeatable after logging in.
The Windows Event Log details are as follows:
The program Explorer.EXE version 6.1.7600.16404 stopped interacting with Windows and was closed. To see if more information about the problem is available, check the problem history in the Action Center control panel.
Process ID: ae0
Start Time: 01ca99bb77a8fa90
Termination Time: 0
Application Path: C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE
Report Id: 619fe1b6-05dc-11df-b48f-0024e8f2bcb4
The problem only happens after a restart, not if I restart Explorer then logout and login. I used the Win 7 Clean Boot procedure (msconfig utility) to track it down to the Startup item Avast ALWIL. ie. disable the startup of this item and the problem goes away. This suggests its a problem with Avast 4.8
Regards
Paul C
Thanks Paul!! This one's been bugging me for a couple of months. Your research and sharing is much appreciated! :) Hopefully, version 5 includes a fix for this problem. I haven't upgraded yet but plan to eventually.
-
I had the same problem with a Dell laptop, Win 7 64bit and Avast 4.8 that I set up for a friends daughter last week.
I didn't have time to troubleshoot it (impatient 10 year old) ;D I will try to get hold of it sometime in the not to distant future and install Avast 5, hopefully that will fix things.
-
Same problem. After restart win7 (64 bit) & I try to open control panel then explorer freezing (after close &restart works fine). Randomly freeze IE8. All this on new clean OS after install avast (4.8 or 5.0). My computer is a DELL XPS 13 (p9600,4GB ram win 7 HP 64). My lap was in service and is all new. It is a problem with this formula avast - dell - win 7. On my desktop avast works fine with no complains ;D (win 7 - RC 64 or XP Pro 64 bit E7300,4GB ). If is a solution for this issue let me know (patch, registry fix, anything). I use avast on my desktop from some time and i didn't find any problem and i recommended him but with my lap problem... ???
-
Yes, I've got the same problem with AVAST 5 and the MS-Explorer (using a dell inspiron 1764 laptop with windows 7 home premium 64bit).
When using Avira AntiVir Personal it's ok.
-
I've also had issues with Windows Explorer "not responding" while using Avast Free 4.8 & 5.0. This would occur almost every time I booted. After restarting explorer everything would be OK. When I upgraded to 5.0 Free I ran it with default settings. The "not responding" issue continued to occur. Then I turned automatic updates off. That was over a week ago and I have not had any problems since. I'm running W7 Pro-64 on a Lenovo T500 Thinkpad.
Bob Helms
-
I just had this exact problem with a Dell Inspiron 1440, Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit and Avast! 6. I confirmed Avast! was the culprit by using msconfig and disabling all startup items and non microsoft services then enabling them one by one and restarting. It wouldn't start freezing up until I opened the Control Panel though.
-
I've done all the updates and this problem persists. I'm going to try disabling Automatic Updates and see if that works. Either way there needs to be a fix this.
-
Nothing is working. Anyone have any advice on this?
-
Found the fix. This is a Microsoft issue. See the following KB:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972685 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972685)