Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: jozzabear on January 01, 2011, 12:06:53 PM
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Hi, I am new to the forums. Updated my free Avast anti-virus program from 5.0.677 to the latest version 5.0.864, and had to click Restart for the changes to take effect - except that now my computer keeps re-booting over and over - about 20 times now. I will get to the desktop screen with my programs visible, and it's like it is trying to load Avast into the System Tray, and then the system re-boots again - like something happens when it is trying to load Avast. BTW, I am using my DH's laptop to access this forum. My system was working fine before with the 5.0.864 and doing all it's virus definition updates and had no problems. I have not done anything else to my system - just the Avast program update. Any clues as to what I should do or why this is happening? Any help would be so appreciated. :'(
I am running Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3 with all the latest updates
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.46
Online Armor firewall 4.5.0.234
And I run regular virus scans
No other firewalls or anti-virus software installed (in case you are wondering)
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Sorry to hear about the troubles.
Now, can you access Windows Safe Mode?
Here's how to do that: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/en-us
Now, if you can, please uninstall avast from there (as usual, from Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs).
Then restart the computer and send us the minidump file corresponding to the crashes (usually found in C:\Windows\Minidump)
Thanks
Vlk
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Hey - thanks for getting back to me so fast ;D
I did reboot in Safe Mode but when I went into the Control Panel where you Add/Remove Programs and clicked on the relevant icon for Avast, the computer just bleeps at me - it won't let me uninstall or do anything.
Just for interest's sake ('cos I felt a little reckless and just wondered what to do next.... :o), I clicked on the Avast icon on the Safe mode desktop, I get the following error message:
Avast - a setiface error has occurred: 536870929
Try to reintall or contact support, please
When I then click the 'OK' button, I get the following message:
avast!: The AAVM subsystem detected a RPC error
The operation could not be completed
I did check the Minidump files and there are 6 of them there, but none with today's date - they are all old ones from other programs. Not sure where else to look for error files.
So, how do I uninstall Avast seeing as I can't do it in Safe Mode? Should I restore my computer to an earlier date and then do something else? ???
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Sounds like you have a corrupt installation, try using the avast uninstall utility and do a clean reinstall.
- Download the latest version of avast, 5.1.864 http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free_eng.exe (http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free_eng.exe) (English only) and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again (if you didn't save your last download). Use that when you reinstall.
- Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, aswClear5.exe find it here (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility) and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for multiple avast versions). - 1. Run the avast! Uninstall Utility from safe mode, first for 5.0 and then for 5.1 (if it has a 5.1 option).
- 2. once complete reboot into normal mode.
- 3. install the latest version, reboot.
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I am running Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3 with all the latest updates
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.46
Online Armor firewall 4.5.0.234
And I run regular virus scans
No other firewalls or anti-virus software installed (in case you are wondering)
Latest Malwarebytes is 1.50.1.1100
and database 5437 when posting
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Ok, I downloaded the uninstall program and uninstalled Avast in Safe Mode - all went fine. Then once the computer "restarted", I loaded in the latest version of Free Avast, and all has gone well - it installed without a hitch, and so far, everything is fine. Yay! ;D
I can't thank you enough for helping me fix my problem and for being so quick about it - esp. when it is New Year's (insert a round of applause here.... ;D)
BTW, to Pondus' reply in my thread, I have updated my AntiMalware program to the latest version - guess it slipped under the radar during the festive season - appreciate the reminder :D and I will also post the database number when posting here next time.
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No problem, glad I could help.
Welcome to the forums.
Happy New Year.
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I am running Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3 with all the latest updates
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.46
Online Armor firewall 4.5.0.234
And I run regular virus scans
No other firewalls or anti-virus software installed (in case you are wondering)
Latest Malwarebytes is 1.50.1.1100
and database 5437 when posting
Hello jozzabear: I noticed your version of OA is 4.5.0.234. You didn't state Free/Pro/or OA++. I only bring this to your attention because I run OA++ and the latest version is 4.5.1.431. I don't know if it is different with the other versions but just thought I'd mention it.
No worries. ;)
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Ok, I spoke too soon. I hadn't actually turned my computer off after installing the latest free Avast anti-virus - I guess I assumed all was well as my computer was working fine - just the same as it usually was. Now that I have turned off my computer last night, and turned the computer back on today, it went straight into the constant re-booting mode exactly as before, ie: got to see the Desktop with everything on it, and it started loading stuff into the System try, then re-booted over and over. I did notice that it took much longer to boot up than usual every time it did boot up compared to normal.
Booted into Safe Mode and uninstalled Avast using your little tool, rebooted the computer twice, and my computer is working fine - just has no anti-virus anymore :'( I did check in the Minidump file, but there is still nothing there that pertains to Avast. Is there anywhere I should look for any error messages?
So, what do I do now? ??? Should I go back to Avast 4.8 - or is support going to stop? I did have some problems with the scan freezing at the same point each time in 4.8, but in the Avast version before the latest program update, the scan worked fine. Any advice would be really appreciated ;D
2nd message to Pondus: I am running OA Premium 4.5.0.234 (ie: paid version but doesn't have the Anti-Virus, Anti-malware or Rootkit scanner). I am having an overhaul of my computer over the summer holidays here in Australia, so doing one step at a time. I will download the latest OA Program once I sort out my Avast problems.
My System: Windows XP Home Edition, Service Pack 3 with all the latest updates
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.50.1.1100 Database version 5440 (free version)
Online Armor Premium (paid) firewall 4.5.0.234
And I run regular virus scans
No other firewalls or anti-virus software or anti-spyware programs installed
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Well you missed out step 3 in the clean reinstall instructions. Going back to avast 4.8 isn't a solution as support for that is likely to be ended in the very near future as 5.0 has been out almost a year. Sites like MajorGeeks.com or FileHippo will have old versions of avast (5.0.677), but again I feel you should be trying to get 5.1.864 working rather than go back.
Put Online Armor (OA) into learning mode or whatever it is called and install the latest avast version (5.1.864) again. As you can see from my signature we have essentially the same setup but with a different firewall and I have had no problem with this avast version. The other option is to uninstall OA, reboot, install avast 5.1.864, reboot and if avast is working install OA.