The ScRegSetValueExW call failed for Start

[chetola]

Since the last Avast update I have received this error message{4 in a row in the event viewer}:

The ScRegSetValueExW call failed for Start with the following error:
Access is denied.

Does anyone know why?

Thanks,
David

[DavidR]

This is the first time I have seen this error recorded, so I can't say what might be the problem, hopefully one of the Alwil team will pick up on this.

A google search for this http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ScRegSetValueExW returns many hits, but they appear wide spread.

Personally I keep out if the event viewer (is this the windows event viewer or the avast log viewer) as many of the errors are not very user friendly.

If a Windows event viewer I take it that it is in the antivirus section ?
If so there would also be a corresponding entry in the avast log viewer (basically that is where the info comes from).

If it isn't a hard error, e.g one that is displayed to the screen I don't go looking, don't like to frighten the horses

[chetola]

DavidR
Thanks for responding.

The reason I wrote is this error appeared on both of my computers, at the same time and every day since the new update.

Nothing else has been downloaded.

Thanks,
David

[Lisandro]

Can you try to repair your installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair).

[DavidR]

<snip>
The reason I wrote is this error appeared on both of my computers, at the same time and every day since the new update.
<snip>

You're welcome, by all accounts there is meant to be a program update very soon, so watch the forums a sit will be notified here first. However, I don't know what that update addresses or if it would resolve the issue, assuming it is avast related.

[chetola]

The repair function does not affect the error message, but thanks for the suggestion.

That’s one fix I do forget about.

As DavidR suggested I will just wait for the next program update.

And again thanks for the help. I have used Avast for a long time and have been pleased.

Thanks,
David

[Lisandro]

When the new version appears, I suggest an installation from the scratch:

1. Uninstall avast from Control Panel first.
2. Boot.
3. Download the latest version of Avast Uninstall and use it for complete uninstallation.
4. Boot.
5. Install again the latest avast! version.
6. Boot.
7. Check and post the results.

[chetola]

I just got in and will reinstall, following your instructions.

My computers do not report this error until after running Three to Four hours, so it may be tomorrow before I post back, but I will post.

Thanks again for helping!
Thanks,
David

[chetola]

Last night I reinstalled Avast on both computers and everything was successful.

Scans were run, twice, and revealed "0 infections"

Today I came up with the same four errors on both computers.

I then ran a spyware program, then ad-Aware program and all was clean.

I have now downloaded your latest update, which was just now released. I will see if the update makes a difference.

Thanks,
David

[Vlk]

Please check the file <avast>\data\log\selfdef.log

How big is it? Can you post the last say 100 lines of it?


Thanks
Vlk

[chetola]

Vic,

I think this is what you want.

Thanks in advance, David

Had to shorten because it exceeds maximum


11/26/2008 3:39:45 PM   Write access to registry key \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\avast! Web Scanner\ denied. [C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe]
11/26/2008 3:39:45 PM   Write access to registry key \REGISTRY\MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet003\Services\avast! Web Scanner\Security\ denied. [C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe]
11/26/2008 3:39:46 PM   Write access to registry key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-2994450788-2064015885-3355176850-500\Software\ALWIL Software\Avast\4.0\ denied. [C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe]
11/26/2008 3:39:46 PM   Write access to registry key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-2994450788-2064015885-3355176850-500\Software\ALWIL Software\Avast\4.0\ashChest\ denied. [C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe]
11/26/2008 3:39:46 PM   Write access to registry key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-2994450788-2064015885-3355176850-500\Software\ALWIL Software\Avast\4.0\ashChest\ChestFileList\ denied. [C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe]
11/26/2008 3:39:46 PM   Write access to registry key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-2994450788-2064015885-3355176850-500\Software\ALWIL Software\Avast\4.0\ashChest\Settings\ denied. [C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe]
11/26/2008 3:39:46 PM   Write access to registry key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-2994450788-2064015885-3355176850-500\Software\ALWIL Software\Avast\4.0\ashSimpl\ denied. [C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe]
11/26/2008 3:39:46 PM   Write access to registry key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-2994450788-2064015885-3355176850-500\Software\ALWIL Software\Avast\4.0\ashSimpl\Settings\ denied. [C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe]
11/26/2008 3:39:46 PM   Write access to registry key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-2994450788-2064015885-3355176850-500\Software\ALWIL Software\Avast\4.0\ashUInt\ denied. [C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe]
11/26/2008 3:39:46 PM   Write access to registry key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-2994450788-2064015885-3355176850-500\Software\ALWIL Software\Avast\4.0\ashUInt\Settings\ denied. [C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\aawservice.exe]

[DavidR]

If this is related to your original errors I don't know, I will leave that to 'Vlk.'

However, these entries show that AdAware for some reason tried to open avast registry entries with write permission (it shouldn't need to do this) and the avast self-defence module will deny write access to avast registry entries to prevent them being modified or deleted, etc.

You can probably get much more in a post than you did 10,000 characters is quite a lot. This might be helpful if any of them relate to anything other than the AdAware entries in your last post.

[chetola]

DavidR,

Lavasoft is what I saw also.

These errors, ScRegSetValueExW, have not affected our computer performance in anyway and only showed up, for the first time when I updated Avast two days ago.

Nothing has shown up since the last program update this morning. I will keep my fingers crossed.

Thanks,
David

[DavidR]

You're welcome.

Are all the other errors on the selfdef.log also related to Lavasoft AdAware ?

[chetola]

DavidR,

The only other file, I see, relates to the Webroot Spyware Program, but I'm used to that. I have run Avast and Webroot together forever.

Thanks again for your time,
David