Author Topic: Avast caused my computer to crash  (Read 11672 times)

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javaJake

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Avast caused my computer to crash
« on: July 19, 2006, 08:06:38 PM »
My computer reset just today. When the computer booted back up, a window said that Windows recovered from a serious error. The webpage it brought up said that there had been an error with the hard drive. Windows couldn't read a certain part of it.

The error, according to M$, is very general, but it probably happened because of a hard drive "lag". Different causes of such a lag were listed. Among the causes was a "filter driver", or antivirus program.

So I did a disk scan to be sure there weren't any errors on the hard drive. Then Windows reset again! Same cause/solution!

This time I turned off avast antivirus, and did another scan. The scan completed successfully.


Suspicious? I think so.
Any ideas? I've had performance issues before with avast, and this could be the nail in the coffin.  :(

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2006, 08:27:47 PM »
Any other antivirus installed in this computer?
Even in the past?
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Rob Roye

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2006, 10:32:00 PM »
Will that cause this? I'm here for the exact same reason. The computer locks up frequently after buying and installing Pro. Uninstalling it makes the computer work fine. Reinstalling it brings the problem back.

We used to run Norton here at work, but now have moved to avast! as I've been using it at home for a while and like it. This problem only happens on one computer. All of them used to have Norton installed and it was removed the same as the problem computer.

Assuming this is the case, how do I proceed from here? I don't want to hijack the thread, so if this needs a new thread I'm good with that.

Offline igor

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #3 on: July 21, 2006, 12:11:52 AM »
How exactly does it "lock up"? Hard freeze, even the mouse pointer not moving?

Rob Roye

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #4 on: July 21, 2006, 12:27:50 AM »
Yes, the entire computer crashes complely. No mouse activity, CTRL+ALT+DEL does nothing, no flashing LEDs anywhere. It is running Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2.

Offline calcu007

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #5 on: July 21, 2006, 02:50:30 AM »
Make sure that there are not traces left in your computer of Norton, like folder, files and registry keys. Make a search for Norton or Symantec
Asus Intel i7 8GB RAM , Win 8.1 64 bit, Avast IS

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #6 on: July 21, 2006, 02:56:47 AM »
We used to run Norton here at work, but now have moved to avast! as I've been using it at home for a while and like it. This problem only happens on one computer. All of them used to have Norton installed and it was removed the same as the problem computer.

I bet that NAV was poorly uninstalled in this computer...

1) Remove NAV through Add/Remove programs from Control Panel. Boot.
2) Use Symantec removal tool following the three steps defined in the SymNRT tool info.
3) Boot.
4) Install avast! Boot.
5) See what you get.

Full SymNRT info:
1. Download and save these three files to the Windows desktop:
   a) ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/linked_files/tsgen/MSIFIX.bat
   b) ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/linked_files/tsgen/SymNRT.exe
   c) ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/linked_files/tsgen/SYMMSICLEANUP.reg

2. Run the three files that you just downloaded
   a) On the Windows desktop, double-click the MSIFIX icon.
      Click Run.
      A black window may appear very briefly.
   b) On the Windows desktop, double-click the SymNRT icon.
      Click Run.
      Click Next.
      Click I accept the License Agreement, and click Next.
      Type the letters and numbers that you see in the white box, and then click Next.
      Click Yes or OK at each prompt.
      You may need to click more than once. Your computer may be restarted for you more than once.
      You may be asked to repeat some steps after the computer restarts.
   c) On the Windows desktop, double-click the SYMMSICLEANUP icon.
      Click Run, and then click Yes.
      Click OK.

3. Boot.
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Rob Roye

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #7 on: July 21, 2006, 06:33:36 AM »
I will try this as soon as I can. I'll also save this so if any of my other friends listen to me and transition, I can help them get rid of Norton.

Thank you all very much for the help. I'll reply with the results when I know!  :D

Rob Roye

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2006, 08:33:07 PM »
Ok, tried that solution and it made it work for a short while, then went right back to doing the exact same thing again.

Any other ideas? We really want avast! going on that workstation - especially since it's the paid variety.

Offline igor

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2006, 10:13:14 AM »
If the computer locks up such that even the mouse pointer doesn't move (but it doesn't crash into a bluescreen), it sounds like a hardware problem to me. If you are saying that the lockups are basically random, it only supports that.
I'd suggest to check the computer cooling, for example (CPU, graphics adapter, memory modules); possibly run MemCheck for a while to see if any problems pop up.

makeurday64

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #10 on: September 26, 2006, 01:05:13 PM »
I encountered also the same problem, my computer booted up,  in 2 different occassions, the first time, when i am using MS outlook, and the the other one, when i am using MS Word 2003. and I saw blue screen that alarm me that there is serious error cause by software or hardware recently installed. I am using Windows XP Service Pack 2.  ::)

My computer reset just today. When the computer booted back up, a window said that Windows recovered from a serious error. The webpage it brought up said that there had been an error with the hard drive. Windows couldn't read a certain part of it.

The error, according to M$, is very general, but it probably happened because of a hard drive "lag". Different causes of such a lag were listed. Among the causes was a "filter driver", or antivirus program.

So I did a disk scan to be sure there weren't any errors on the hard drive. Then Windows reset again! Same cause/solution!

This time I turned off avast antivirus, and did another scan. The scan completed successfully.


Suspicious? I think so.
Any ideas? I've had performance issues before with avast, and this could be the nail in the coffin.  :(

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #11 on: September 26, 2006, 01:47:36 PM »
I encountered also the same problem, my computer booted up,  in 2 different occassions, the first time, when i am using MS outlook, and the the other one, when i am using MS Word 2003. and I saw blue screen that alarm me that there is serious error cause by software or hardware recently installed. I am using Windows XP Service Pack 2.  ::)
Well, you should have anything messing avast behavior in background: another antivirus (poorly uninstalled, maybe...), other security program, etc.
Did you install, even in the past, other antivirus?

Ok, tried that solution and it made it work for a short while, then went right back to doing the exact same thing again.
I need more info to help... besides Igor's questions, can you check Windows Events and avast logs to see what do you get?
See How important is it to completely remove Norton? topic.

NAV uninstall or other antivirus uninstall for compatibility reasons: http://www.claymania.com/av-uninstall.html.
See: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=12169.0

There is a new removal tool for Symantec products: http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/SymNRT/1125124391/1
The best things in life are free.

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #12 on: September 26, 2006, 03:41:10 PM »
Although there is a new removal tool for Symantec products, the old link for SymNRT information and on-line uninstall routine still works Removing your Norton program using SymNRT.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

makeurday64

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #13 on: September 27, 2006, 02:11:13 PM »
I have previously intalled norton antivirus 2005, and after it expires, i  recently installed norton antivirus 2006, i decided to remove norton antivirus 2006 because it makes the performance of my PC slow.
Anyway, i assumed there are still traces of norton program still on my PC not completely remove. Other security software i am using is the Spyware Terminator.



I encountered also the same problem, my computer booted up,  in 2 different occassions, the first time, when i am using MS outlook, and the the other one, when i am using MS Word 2003. and I saw blue screen that alarm me that there is serious error cause by software or hardware recently installed. I am using Windows XP Service Pack 2.  ::)
Well, you should have anything messing avast behavior in background: another antivirus (poorly uninstalled, maybe...), other security program, etc.
Did you install, even in the past, other antivirus?

Ok, tried that solution and it made it work for a short while, then went right back to doing the exact same thing again.
I need more info to help... besides Igor's questions, can you check Windows Events and avast logs to see what do you get?
See How important is it to completely remove Norton? topic.

NAV uninstall or other antivirus uninstall for compatibility reasons: http://www.claymania.com/av-uninstall.html.
See: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=12169.0

There is a new removal tool for Symantec products: http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/SymNRT/1125124391/1

Rob Roye

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Re: Avast caused my computer to crash
« Reply #14 on: September 27, 2006, 05:11:10 PM »
Tech, that's the 2nd time in this thread you've told me I "poorly" uninstalled Norton. I didn't "poorly" do anything.

I removed Norton as per the instructions higher in this thread posted by Tech (So if it was poorly done then blame him) and did everything it said to do. I downloaded and ran the files. After reinstalling avast! it worked fine for a short time, then began locking up again.

This is NOT random. It is avast! causing it. Removing avast! makes the PC work perfectly fine all day long, while reinstalling it makes it lock up frequently.

The programs that are open are: MS Word, MS Outlook, Quickbooks 2003, Firefox web browser. It locks up when switching between the MS Office programs.