Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: REDACTED on November 24, 2014, 06:35:20 PM
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Hi! Wondering if anybody can help me as I'm not hugely tech-savvy. Earlier today I was given the option to update my free Avast. I did the update and it turned into Avast Free 2015. Lovely, I thought. Then I tried to open my browser (Maxthon) and it couldn't start and kept looping and an error message came up saying a certain file was missing. I switched to using Internet Explorer through the day but really not keen on it, so tried Maxthon again and the fault kept coming up. So I've just done a system restore (I'm using Windows 8.1 btw) and now my PC only goes as far as a blue screen saying
YOUR PC RAN INTO A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO RESTART. WE'RE JUST COLLECTING ERROR INFO, AND THEN WE'LL RESTART IT FOR YOU
IF YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE, YOU CAN SEARCH ONLINE LATER FOR THIS ERROR
CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED
I'm currently using my other halfs laptop. I've done a system restore a couple of times in the past month with no problems. This has to be directly associated with the Avast update I've done. The blue screen says it'll restart for me but it's just frozen and I've tried restarting my PC half a dozen times now with the same result. I can't even get to the boot screen by pressing F12 at power up. I don't have an installation CD for 8.1. Is there any way I can resolve this? Any help would be immensely appreciated.
Thankyou :)
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Also, the only 'F' keys that works at start-up are the F8 key and F2 key, and it gives me the option of booting from either the HDD or the DVD/RW drive. No other options like last known good configuration or anything. I'm really worried now :(
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This will create a recovery console USB
Download the following three programmes to your desktop :
1. Rufus (http://rufus.akeo.ie/)
For 64bit systems
2. Windows 8.1 64bit RC I will PM the download link
3. Farbar Recovery Scan Tool x64 (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/)
Insert the USB stick Then run Rufus
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/rufus.JPG)
Select the ISO file on the desktop via the ISO icon.
Press Start Burn
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/RufusISO.JPG)
Then copy FRST to the same USB
(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/frstwintoboot.JPG)
Insert the USB into the sick computer and start the computer. First ensuring that the system is set to boot from USB
Note: If you are not sure how to do that follow the instructions Here (http://lifehacker.com/5991848/how-to-boot-from-a-cd-or-usb-drive-on-any-pc)
Windows 8 screen shots
When you reboot you will see this.
Select the language on this screen and keyboard on the next
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/select%20language8.JPG)
Select the Trouble shoot option
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/Select%20option8.JPG)
Select Advanced option
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/advanced8.JPG)
Select Command prompt
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/command%208.JPG)
At the command prompt type the following :
(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/notepad.JPG)
The notepad opens. Under File menu select Open.
Select "Computer" and find your flash drive letter and close the notepad.
In the command window type e:\frst64.exe and press Enter
Note: Replace letter e with the drive letter of your flash drive.
The tool will start to run.
When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73555776/frst.JPG)
Press Scan button.
It will make a log (FRST.txt) on the flash drive. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
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Hi! Thanks for your reply. Looks very technical. I think that it's a 32-bit system and not sure I have a USB. Can I copy anything to a blank disc and boot from DVD drive instead?
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Yes you can copy to a disc, in which case use a CDR-W if possible as FRST will need to write to the CD.
Also you can use windows to burn to the CD instead of downloading Rufus http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows7/burn-a-cd-or-dvd-from-an-iso-file
I will PM the link for the 32bit ISO if you need it
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I really appreciate your help. The 32-bit would be cool. Not sure what an ISO is... You seem like a bit of a Guru whereas I'm at the opposite end of the spectrum so babytalk please Bro haha :)
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OK an ISO is basically an image of the files needed to boot the system to the recovery console, all the necessary files are included and it acts like the install CD initially
From the recovery console you can play around with the system by using the command line
Once the CD is running it is very easy to navigate 'onest :)
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I have a stack of Maxell CD-R 80 700mb discs. Are they any good? Apologies for being so lame...
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Worth a try as long as the RC can write to disc (never tried that )
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Ok. Finally downloaded and unzipped the 32-bit. I've downloaded ImgBurn. Ready to write to disk, but not sure which file to choose? Theres Boot, efi, sources and system volume information. I can't find an image file in any of them and they're all dead ends... :(
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Ok do not open the ISO file there is no need
As you have imgburn installed then double clicking on the ISO file should start Imgburn and commence the burn to disc
There is a small guide here http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?/topic/61-how-to-write-an-image-file-to-a-disc-using-imgburn/
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But that's where I get stuck. There are no files to write. When I try to choose a file, it goes through to a blank screen which reads 'no items match your search'...
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At the top where it states source are you using that to select the ISO
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Yes. I click on that and it brings up the 4 files I stated. I click on each of them and it says 'no items match your search'
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Just unzipped win81re again and there's a file called bootmgr. I click on that and it gives me the option to open with imgburner. Imgburner opens and then a box with a red cross pops up and says 'unsupported image type'. Hmmm...
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Ahh do not unzip the ISO it is meant to stay on the desktop as a single file which imgburn can then use
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Ok, so saved to desktop and finally written to disk. Booted from disk through F8 and a new blue screen comes up...
Recovery
Your PC needs to be repaired
A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed.
Error code: oxcoooooof
You'll need to use the recovery tools on your installation media. If you don't have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your administrator or PC manufacturer
Press Enter to try again (I did - nowt)
Press F8 for Startup Settings (did this too - again, nowt)
Oh dear. If this is the end of the line as far as your help can go Essexboy, then I just want to thank you very much indeed for all your time and helpfulness. This doesn't look very good...
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OK I know now what the problem is, the BCD is corrupt. When you start the computer is there the option on the screen like press escape or F10 to access boot/bios menu ?
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No Sir. I've tried F10 and F12 at start-up but it just goes directly to the Blue Windows logo with the swirly circle underneath, then after a few seconds goes to the blue screen.
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If it helps, I bought the PC with windows 8.1 Pro already installed on it. It used to be a Vista PC and the Vista COA is still attached. The laptop I'm currently on is a Vista and there's a recovery disk with it. It really wouldn't bother me if there was a way to get Vista back onto it. Is this possible? I'd sooner downgrade and lose 8.1 than lose my PC. I'm sorry this is rumbling on - in hindsight I should've just kept the old version of Avast. It worked a treat for me and I've never had any complaints with it...
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What is the make and model of the 8.1 laptop and I will see how to get into the BIOS
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The laptop I'm currrently using is a Vista. My now-wonky desktop is the 8.1 and it's a Packard Bell B2217UK Utow-D10 with original Vista Home Basic OEM COA
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. F2 usually to boot from a location such as Flash drive, Disc in CD/DVD drive, or from your HDD. F8 should be Safe Mode and F4 is BIOS.
Could you press F2 at boot to see if it reads the CD
Is the Vista disc retail or from the computer manufacturer
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The Vista recovery disc for the Toshiba laptop is from Toshiba, so I'm guessing no good for the 8.1. Besides, the 8.1 used to be Vista Home Basic and the Vista disk is for Home Premium so I'm guessing no good anyway...
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Its not that, it is just that if it is a manufacturers one it will be a modified disc and will only install on the same type of computer
Were you able to use F2
If not does F4 allow you to access the BIOS
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Yep. F2 gets me to a blue screen with CMOS SETUP UTILITY at the top of the screen. F4 gets me nowhere and F8 gets me to a black screen with a blue box which reads 'select boot device' and I have the choice of either the HDD or The DVD drive :)
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OK ensure the CD is in then select F8
Then select DVD drive and press enter
The CD should now load
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The Vista CD or the one I made with imgburn yesterday?
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The one you made with imgburn the recovery console :)
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I already did that yesterday. Same thing comes up now...
Recovery
Your PC needs to be repaired
A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed.
Error code: oxcoooooof
You'll need to use the recovery tools on your installation media. If you don't have any installation media (like a disc or USB device), contact your administrator or PC manufacturer
Press Enter to try again (I did - nowt)
Press F8 for Startup Settings (did this too - again, nowt)
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Maybe I should get hold of a blank DVD tomorrow. Could the problem lie in the fact I used a blank CD?
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No as far as the system is concerned a CD and DVD are the same
I will see if the is another way to fix the BCD
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Yer the Pride of Essex, Bro. Cheers for taking the time :)
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Bump! Any further clues anyone? Sorry to be a pain, but this has all happened as a direct result of Avast kicking out my browser. My PC is now a very expensive paperweight... :(
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Well essexboy is probably off-line for the night 11:22PM until tomorrow.
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Thought I'd been forgotten about. And I wouldn't blame him - I'm a pain in the butt. I'll be patient. It's just that I can't afford another desktop for a long while. Thankyou.
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You're welcome
As you are no doubt aware, essexboy's services are in great demand - but he usually uses the Notify option to keep track of active topics. He should get notification of this new activity, hopefully he will be back on-line tomorrow.
EDIT: Now I have posted in this topic, I too will see if there is new activity a bump from you tomorrow (or other activity) and I will see it - if essexboy hasn't seen it I will PM him.
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Thanks David. I really appreciate folks kindness on here :)
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Hi at the moment I am at a bit of an impasse as I can see several ways of restoring the BCD but they will all need you to boot from either a CD or USB. Which for some reason you are unable to do. I am going to download the PDF for your system and see if there are any clues in that
As an aside Avast will never touch the BCD
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Thankyou :)
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.....they will all need you to boot from either a CD or USB. Which for some reason you are unable to do.
@Essexboy.....same conflict as this ? .....OP on a Toshiba laptop too with 8.1 ?....trying to follow thread...not clear to me.
I got a new laptop (Toshiba Satellite C850) with corrupted Windows 8 preinstalled.
It was asking for repair, but when I try to boot from Windows DVD, it was not accepting.
http://www.smartpctricks.com/2013/09/solved-error-code-0xc000000f-windows-8-a-required-device-isnt-connected-or-cant-be-accessed.html
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Yes that could be the area especially if Imgburn does not have the EUFI option, which Rufus does. The instructions are relatively straight forward however, I am happy with playing around in the BIOS
sybenson77 do you have access to a USB stick at all
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Yes that could be the area especially if Imgburn does not have the EUFI option,
Looks like ImgBurn supports UEFI but not with secure boot ?
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?/topic/23150-boot-discs-that-boot-on-bios-dont-boot-on-uefi/
I found the section on Rufus....good to know.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/15458-uefi-bootable-usb-flash-drive-create-windows.html
Found good YouTube video on it if it helps OP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic5vSYCaay8
I take it you are thinking to boot thru Rufus and then do BCD rebuild ?
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ht/rebuild-bcd-store-windows.htm
Sorry for all the questions...........just trying to follow and learn. :)
Trying to document so any other in future can see links.
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Yep that is the intention
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I haven't a USB stick, no. I live very rurally so it'll have to be an ebay job. What capacity do you recommend? Or would it be possible to use the 32GB sd card on my windows phone? Thanks for sticking with me on this :)
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A minimum would be 4Gb and alas very few computers will boot from an SD card
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Thanks Essexboy. I'll report back when I have hold of a stick. Enjoy the weekend :)
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And yourself :)
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It's 2 days late but I finally have an 8GB USB stick. So What do I need to copy to it please?
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Follow the steps in Post 2 ... Do you still have the ISO's ?
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Hi Essexboy yes I still have the ISO file will follow post 2 now. Cheers :)
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Nightmare. Followed all instructions and booted through F8 > usb storage and it takes me to the initial CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED blue screen :(
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What does it say on the blue screen ? So the boot from USB nearly works
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Update! I tried again and I'm in. I've gone all the way past the blue screens above as far as opening 'notepad' from cmd. It says find the drive (I have) then close notepad (won't allow me with drive screen open) and then type d:/frst64.exe in the command box. Where can I find the command box to type this in? Thankyou :) Woohoooo progress :D
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As you are already in command prompt then just type it there and press enter
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Tried that a couple of times, and the command line comes back as
f:/frst64.exe is not recognised as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file
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When you open notepad and then select save what drive letter is allocated to the USB ?
If it is d then the command is D:\frst64.exe
If it is e then the command is E:\frst64.exe
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It's drive D. Tried the command in the black command window a dozen times now. If it helps, when I open the USB on the laptop, it shows a list of files that belong to frst. When I open the same drive on the usb when hooked to the sick PC, the frst files aren't shown
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is there another frst file i can download?
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As it is a BCD error we will rebuild it from the command prompt. Enter the following commands one at a time followed by enter, then try a normal boot :
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
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Did all the above, turned off, restarted and goes through to the critical process died blue screen. Hmmm....
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Here's something. In the bluescreen process after booting through USB, i tried the refresh system option, and it asked me to insert either installation or recovery media. But the USB was already in. So I removed it and reinserted it and the line 'The media inserted is not valid. Try again.' I also remembered that after the cmd bootrec /scanos, it read 'no operating system present'.
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That report does sound a bit ominous as bcd searches for relevant operating systems and if it cannot find it then a re-install will probably be the only option
If you have the windows key then you can download a disc of 8.1 from here http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows8_1-windows_install/download-a-bootable-windows-81-disc/17207153-902f-4b94-bf95-85ab70ca7064
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So, say if I was to buy a Windows 7 installation CD and boot PC from disc, I'd be able to install 7 without encountering any hurdles? Or would I be best off going back to the original Vista as the COA/key is present on the base?
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If you get a retail version of any windows that will work perfectly. You will need a Vista disc (not OEM) to re-install Vista
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Cool. Many thanks for all your help and best wishes to ya :)
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I assume from thread your PC is Vista 32-bit ?
If so: https://www.raymond.cc/blog/how-to-burn-downloaded-windows-vista-to-dvd/
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Hey thekochs! Didn't see your post until yesterday, but thanks to your link I've got Vista up and running on the (once) ill PC. Just about to install SP2. I've got W7 on order anyway but at the very least I've got a functioning machine and Vista isn't XP. Great result so many thanks for all your endeavors chaps :)