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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Jimbo51 on November 26, 2005, 09:20:46 AM

Title: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Jimbo51 on November 26, 2005, 09:20:46 AM
Hi,

When i try and start avast! it does not work. Whether i right click the tray icon or through the start menu. AshAvast.exe remains in the process list (multiple instances if i attempt it repeatedly). Nothing appears (no splash screen). I've tried a reinstall using the removal utility.

Any ideas?

James
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: galooma on November 26, 2005, 10:25:51 AM
Hi and welcome jimbo ,
you should have 5 processes all connected to avast ,see this thread http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=17568.msg149407#msg149407
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Lisandro on November 26, 2005, 11:43:13 AM
Jimbo, which is your operational system, firewall, any other security program...
Did you install any other antivirus before avast?
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Jimbo51 on November 26, 2005, 11:59:40 AM
Hi,
I have the 5 processes running (ashdisp, ashmaisv, ashserv, ashwebsv, ashupdsv).

I'm running XP SP2, using the SP2 Firewall. Security Center reports Avast and the Firewall are running.

The only other things i have are antispyware programs - Spybot S&D, Adaware, MS Antispyware and Spyware Blaster.

Before Avast i've used Norton and AVG, i've been using Avast a long time since without this problem.
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: galooma on November 26, 2005, 12:20:41 PM
It sounds like your installation has become corrupted somehow.
Can I suggest you perform a repair while online by going to add/remove programs and choosing the repair option , this would eliminate that as a possibility.
there is an external control that you could download http://freeweb.siol.net/razor256/downloads/avast_external_control.zip
 but this problem should not be tolerated.
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: alanrf on November 26, 2005, 12:24:11 PM
Jimbo,

can you please check and let us know what is the version of avast you are using?
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Jimbo51 on November 26, 2005, 12:38:22 PM
Repair made no difference.

Using version 4.6.731 (VPS 0547-5)
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: alanrf on November 26, 2005, 12:45:18 PM
Jimbo,

While my friends, the key contributors to this forum, may not approve of a backward step; I wonder if it is possible for you to uninstall 731 and re-install 691 and see if that alleviates the problem you are experiencing.
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Lisandro on November 26, 2005, 12:53:57 PM
Before doing what alanrf said, try at least start (run):
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashSimp2.exe

please, post what you get...
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Jimbo51 on November 26, 2005, 01:07:32 PM
ashsimp2.exe does the same thing as ashavast.exe. It appears to load for a second or 2 (the egg timer pointer appears), but it doesn't load and leaves the process running but inactive.
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Lisandro on November 26, 2005, 01:31:37 PM
Before Avast i've used Norton
I was trying to avoid this... but seems that NAV was not completelly removed.
See: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=12169.0
See How important is it to completely remove Norton (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=9578.0) topic.
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Jimbo51 on November 26, 2005, 02:27:01 PM
I think i've completely got rid of Norton. I did all this cleanup a long time ago (Isn't Norton great ;D), i ran the norton cleanup utility, manually deleted any symantec and norton folders, ran several reg cleaners, etc.

I had another go just now but couldn't find anything i might have missed. Like i said i've had Avast a long time without any problems.

Have you got a link to the old Avast version download? If you want me to try it.
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Lisandro on November 26, 2005, 03:28:53 PM
I think i've completely got rid of Norton. I did all this cleanup a long time ago (Isn't Norton great ;D), i ran the norton cleanup utility, manually deleted any symantec and norton folders, ran several reg cleaners, etc.
I had another go just now but couldn't find anything i might have missed. Like i said i've had Avast a long time without any problems.
Ok. NAV uninstall problem forgotten... and solved.

Have you got a link to the old Avast version download? If you want me to try it.
Unfortunatelly, no mirrors provide the old version. You should have it for install in your own computer.
But let Alwil try to solve this. It's good to keep complaining.
Something should be wrong in 731 version update as for some users, no solution at all...  :'( :P
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: igor on November 26, 2005, 06:03:44 PM
Jimbo51, do you use any skinning apps? Something like Window Blinds, Icon Packager, ... ?
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Lisandro on November 26, 2005, 06:15:04 PM
Igor, I've tried Window Blinds and Icon Packager (the second is a buggy application) and they're not incompatible with avast.
Using WindowBlinds themes without problems with both avast Simple User Interface and Advanced Interface.
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Jimbo51 on November 26, 2005, 06:24:09 PM
I'm using WindowBlinds and IconPackager. WindowFX too
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: igor on November 26, 2005, 06:37:07 PM
Igor, I've tried Window Blinds and Icon Packager (the second is a buggy application) and they're not incompatible with avast.
Using WindowBlinds themes without problems with both avast Simple User Interface and Advanced Interface.

Well, maybe they're not incompatible, but we've seen quite a few conflicts in the past - and the symptoms were exactly the same (avast! splash staying in the list of tasks and the real scanner not opening).

So, I would suggest to disable those skinning tools first (and possibly also update to the latest versions of them, if possible) to see if it helps.
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Lisandro on November 26, 2005, 07:37:42 PM
Well, maybe they're not incompatible, but we've seen quite a few conflicts in the past - and the symptoms were exactly the same (avast! splash staying in the list of tasks and the real scanner not opening). So, I would suggest to disable those skinning tools first (and possibly also update to the latest versions of them, if possible) to see if it helps.
I agree. They're not fully incompatible but 'could' bring problems each other.
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Jimbo51 on November 27, 2005, 01:32:29 PM
Well, you were spot on. I got rid of WindowsBlinds and IconPackager and now everything works.

Any more info on this conflict?

Thanks a lot for your help.
Title: Re: "Start Avast! Antivirus" Not Working
Post by: Lisandro on November 27, 2005, 01:41:32 PM
Any more info on this conflict?
You can configure just avast to not use WindowBlinds. Maybe the theme (skin) you're using is not compatible.
Open WindowBlinds > Settings per application > Add per application setting > add avast executables (ashSimpl.exe) > configure to not use WindowBlinds.