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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Tomtom on December 21, 2008, 11:07:54 AM

Title: Vista says Avast not running
Post by: Tomtom on December 21, 2008, 11:07:54 AM

The recent Internet Explorer patch upset my laptop (IE eventually stopped accessing internet even though other programs could and then computer wouldnt turn off), and after a restore, I now get a warning from Windows Security Centre that Avast isnt running. If I try to turn Avast on through the Security Centre, nothing changes.  According to Avast, four of the providers are running. If I try to start the others I can get the number up to five.  How do I get Avast to run normally with default settings or do I need to uninstall and start again.

Thanks

Tom - Centrino core 2 duo - Vista home premium

Title: Re: Vista says Avast not running
Post by: Lisandro on December 22, 2008, 01:23:36 AM

I suggest an installation from the scratch:

1. Uninstall avast from Control Panel first.
2. Boot.
3. Download the latest version of Avast Uninstall (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-uninstall-utility.html) and use it for complete uninstallation.
4. Boot.
5. Install again the latest avast! (http://www.avast.com/eng/programs.html) version.
6. Boot.
7. Check and post the results.

Also, which was your old antivirus? How did you remove it?

If the new installation fails, follow:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=23457.msg193534#msg193534
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm

Title: Re: Vista says Avast not running
Post by: Tomtom on December 22, 2008, 04:07:29 AM

Thanks Tech,

I did the double uninstall and the reinstall and now everything seems to be working - just have to hope there isnt any other damage.

I bought the computer about 18 months ago preloaded with Nortons with a 3 month free trial but I uninstalled it using Control Panel without activating it and immediately installed Avast.  I also run Zone Alarm free firewall, Spyware Terminator and Spybot and they all seem happy running together.

I ran Avast after an update and then Spy T and Spybot and all say the computer is clean.

I have now changed to Firefox.  Seems to be faster than Internet Explorer and I will probably stick with it.

Thanks for the great service and program from Tom

Title: Re: Vista says Avast not running
Post by: Lisandro on December 22, 2008, 02:14:14 PM

Quote from: Tomtom on December 22, 2008, 04:07:29 AM

I uninstalled it using Control Panel without activating it and immediately installed Avast.

I really suggest the cleaning of remains of Norton:

1) Remove NAV or Norton 360 through Add/Remove programs from Control Panel (if there is any yet). 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.

Title: Re: Vista says Avast not running
Post by: scythe944 on December 23, 2008, 06:19:14 AM

I just want to second the motion of using the norton removal tool.

I (at one of my sites) used McAfee's corporate antivirus solution for a while, and finally got management to buy avast instead.  Even after removing McAfee from their "managed software" all computers had a few services still running, even though they didn't have anti-virus installed anymore.

The uninstall tool was the only thing that would fully remove the product.

Norton may be different, but it's definitely a good idea to completely get rid of old products.  Make sure that you check your task manager to see if the product is completely removed.