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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: REDACTED on April 16, 2016, 12:52:37 PM

Title: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on April 16, 2016, 12:52:37 PM
Free Avast background service keeps stopping every ~20 minutes.  An "X" appears on the taskbar Avast icon.

This problem was already brought to this forum in November 2015.  Message advised me to re-start the topic.

I have spent a lot of time trying all the things that were suggested then, without results:

--Made sure I had the latest version
--Ran a "repair" from the Windows 7 Programs and Features list
--Uninstalled Avast as completely as I could and reinstalled the software.  Rebooted at least twice.
--The Avast service "properties" in the Windows services list could be set to always restart the service when it stops, but the user has no access to changing the properties of the Avast service

I've been using Avast a long time but never had this problem before.  If there's no solution I'll have to turn to another virus shield. 
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: Eddy on April 16, 2016, 01:03:43 PM
Please provide the Farbar log files (FRST.txt and Addition.txt)
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on April 16, 2016, 10:06:15 PM
Eddy, A search  for "Farbar,"  "FRST.txt," and "Addition.txt" has not turned up any of these items.  I also looked manually at the Avast folder in "Program Files"  without result.  Can you give me an idea of where those files are supposed to be? Thanks
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: Eddy on April 17, 2016, 01:04:12 AM
Why searching?
Just follow the instructions in the link I gave you.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on April 18, 2016, 01:46:26 AM
OK, the two files are attached.

(I saw a topic # on the link you sent so I assumed it was a link to this page.)

Wow, that's a pretty complete scan.

Thanks
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: essexboy on April 18, 2016, 03:51:33 PM
Hmm a few of these 
Quote
Error: (04/17/2016 05:06:14 PM) (Source: Service Control Manager) (EventID: 7031) (User: )
Description: The Avast Antivirus service terminated unexpectedly.  It has done this 1 time(s).  The following corrective action will be taken in 5000 milliseconds: Restart the service.

Lets run this fix and see what happens ... If it fails we will try a full re-install

CAUTION :  This fix is only valid for this specific machine, using it on another may break your computer

Open notepad and copy/paste the text in the quotebox below into it:
 
Quote
CreateRestorePoint:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings: [ProxySettingsPerUser] 0 <======= ATTENTION (Restriction - ProxySettings)
ProxyServer: [HKLM] => http=127.0.0.1:53189;https=127.0.0.1:53189
ProxyServer: [HKLM-x32] => http=127.0.0.1:53189;https=127.0.0.1:53189
AutoConfigURL: [HKLM] => http=127.0.0.1:53189;https=127.0.0.1:53189
R1 avgtp; C:\Windows\system32\drivers\avgtpx64.sys [50976 2014-08-19] (AVG Technologies)
Task: {684C422E-1FD8-4707-A102-C8820AD649B1} - System32\Tasks\OwnMyCopy-Task-228a7258 => C:\ProgramData\OwnMyCopy\OwnMyCopy.exe <==== ATTENTION
Task: {D9AE89BA-46DD-4573-ABAA-B5A8BCD51DAC} - System32\Tasks\OwnMyCopy-Task-704afefb => C:\ProgramData\OwnMyCopy\OwnMyCopy.exe <==== ATTENTION
Task: {E9B809B2-D1DA-4CFD-8535-9A034EC95008} - System32\Tasks\{9502AAB4-83F5-44E8-AC6F-F0F670D07912} => C:\Users\ABF\Start Menu\Programs\PROTECTION\PAVARK.exe
Reg: reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\IPSec\Policy\Local /f
Reg: reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\IPSec\Policy\Local /f
RemoveProxy:
CMD: netsh advfirewall reset
CMD: netsh advfirewall set allprofiles state ON
CMD: ipconfig /flushdns
CMD: netsh winsock reset catalog
CMD: netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt
CMD: ipconfig /release
CMD: ipconfig /renew
CMD: netsh int ipv4 reset
CMD: netsh int ipv6 reset
EmptyTemp:
CMD: bitsadmin /reset /allusers

 
Save this as fixlist.txt, in the same location as FRST.exe
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73555776/FRSTfix.JPG)
Run FRST and press Fix
On completion a log will be generated please post that

THEN

Please download AdwCleaner (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/) by Xplode onto your desktop.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on April 19, 2016, 11:16:21 AM
Thanks Essexboy.   I ran FRST using the fixlist you sent me.  The fixlog is attached.

Several attempts to download the ADW cleaner were unsuccessful.  I proceeded to again try reinstalling Avast, but after uninstalling it I found a way to download the cleaner and ran it even though Avast was no longer on the computer.  I did not find the ADW log file you mentioned at the exact location you gave or with the exact name but I found two log files in a similar location with similar names and I'm attaching them.

As I mentioned in my first posting to this forum, I had already uninstalled and reinstalled Avast before posting.  I removed it as thoroughly as I could, but after the new installation the background program was still stopping every ~20 minutes.  Today I again uninstalled the program, and then removed all the Avast folders I could find, and did a registry cleaning.  Then I downloaded Avast from your site and reinstalled it (after running the ADW cleaner, as mentioned).  I'm afraid the Avast service still stops about every 20 minutes.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: essexboy on April 19, 2016, 03:56:33 PM
Did you use the Avast uninstall utility ?

Download Avast Uninstall Utility (http://www.avast.com/en-gb/uninstall-utility) to your Desktop.
Download the correct version of Avast 
Avast Free (http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe)
Avast Pro (http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup.exe)
Avast Internet Security (http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup.exe)
Avast Premier (http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup.exe)
Disconnect from the net
Uninstall Avast via control panel

----------
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on May 28, 2016, 11:19:45 PM
Thanks for your help. I never did try the Avast uninstaller, but switched to AVG free antivirus.  And one of the AVG background services also kept stopping.  The problem appears to have been in the computer--among others.  But I'm now using another computer--and Avast free anti-virus without any issues so far.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on June 19, 2016, 09:53:47 PM
Thanks to everyone for the information.

I had the same problem with Avast background service stopping every half hour or so on my Windows 7 PC. I tried to the repair the program using the uninstall utility. When that didn't work I uninstalled and reinstall Avast using control panel.

I recently installed a Virtual Private Network on my computer. That appears to have been the problem. When I turned off the VPN, the background service problem went away.

I turned on the VPN, then did the following:

1. Opened the Avast user interface.

2. Selected "Settings"

3. Selected "Update"

4. Scrolled down to "Proxy Settings"
     a. Clicked "Specify proxy server"
     b. Selected the "Type:" (in my case HTTP)
     c. Copied the IP Address from my VPN service Dashboard and pasted it to "Address:"
     d. I didn't need to change the "Port:" number from "8080"
     e. Selected "Authentication Type:" (in my case Basic authentication (plaintext))
     f. Entered "Username" and "Password" for my VPN.


Everything is now working fine.

Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on July 06, 2016, 08:14:18 PM
Forgive me for asking this.  But, does Avast plan on developing new software that will "fix" this issue permanently - so that the complicated fixes mentioned in this thread are no longer necessary?  If so, is there an anticipated release date?
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: Eddy on July 07, 2016, 05:27:45 AM
There is nothing to fix since nothing is broken.
Both problem where not with avast.

The first one was with a broken Windows, the second one was the user at fault (not setting up things correctly)
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on July 09, 2016, 05:48:09 AM
There is nothing to fix since nothing is broken.
Both problem where not with avast.

The first one was with a broken Windows, the second one was the user at fault (not setting up things correctly)

Perhaps.  But nonetheless, I have the same problem on my 64-bit Windows 7 system.  I've decided that now is a good time to upgrade to a pro-level antivirus.  Of course, this rules out Avast's pro-level offering.  If this problem is evident in the free version, there's no reason to expect it to not be there in the pro version.

In any case, I've downloaded the "avastclear.exe" Avast-remover software ... and have also downloaded the pro version of WebRoot antivirus (recommended by PC magazine).  If I encounter similar problems with it, then I guess I'll be back to square-one.  But somehow, I don't expect that to happen.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on July 23, 2016, 08:20:56 PM
This will probably be my last post here.  It's now been 12 days since I switched from Avast Free antivirus to Webroot SecureAnywhere pro antivirus software.  And in that time, I've noticed 2 things:

1) I'm no longer having issues similar to the issues I had with Avast Free ... and no "new" issues either.
2) A daily security issue I was having with my Thunderbird email utility simply "disappeared" once I dumped Avast Free.

So, whether this issue was a Windows issue or a user issue is a moot point now.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2016, 02:28:27 AM
I just started having the same issue multiple times today on Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1... the Avast service is stopping itself, and I see a red warning icon in the task area.

Only recent changes were installation (today) of the following via Windows Update:
KB3179573 - Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
KB915597 - Definition Update for Windows Defender (Definition 1.227.123.0)
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: lukor on August 20, 2016, 02:41:39 AM
Can you please go to settings / update and hit the Update virus defitions button. That should fix it.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2016, 04:03:10 AM
OK. Seems I have a new Avast version available as well! (Nitro)
Thanks.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2016, 08:13:53 AM
I have the same issue and it's truly appalling that some forum members dismiss it as our own problem while ignoring there are a couple of threads here in the forum illustrating the issue. Before ruling this out as a non-issue, I suggest you look into this matter. If you are not an Avast employee, I do not think you have a say in whether or not this is a universal/personal problem.

Regarding this issue, I have been using a couple of methods other than reinstalling. I've tried repairing the software and restarting my PC. I've tried initiating full virus scan but this problem re-emerged during the scans and stopped my scans completely. I updated my AV's virus definition (and the program itself) with no avail. I resetted my AV's settings to default. I am using Avast Internet Security (free trial) on Windows 10 (64 bits). Before anyone asks if this happens on Avast Free Antivirus, the answer is yes, even before I switched to Avast Internet Security few hours ago.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: Eddy on August 20, 2016, 08:26:01 AM
deity, if you want support please start your own thread and provide details.

If you have read this thread you would know that although the problem might be the same, the cause of it can be different.
One person had malware on his system, the second one was using a wrong setting and the third one did not had avast up-to-date.

Note:
If you only want someone from avast to respond, you should not be posting on a public webboard.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2016, 09:02:03 AM
deity, if you want support please start your own thread and provide details.

If you have read this thread you would know that although the problem might be the same, the cause of it can be different.
One person had malware on his system, the second one was using a wrong setting and the third one did not had avast up-to-date.

Note:
If you only want someone from avast to respond, you should not be posting on a public webboard.


You misunderstood my comment but I don't really blame you.

Yes I do realize the causes of the same problem can be different but do you read the latest comments in NEW August versions: 12.3.2279 + 2280 (https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=189836.0)? Many different people report the same problem and it is not a coincidence this is happening. I saw at least 3 threads in this forum section stating the same problem and in most of these threads Avast employees pointed out it was a bug on their virus definition or whatever update they have published. I got this issue 5 hours ago and although I cannot reproduce the issue for the time being (in the process of full virus scan), I am worried this problem may pop up again as it just happened approximately one hour ago. Early on a message popped up from Avast stating a program was attempting to shut down Avast and asked if I authorized it. It is scary enough to see the possibility of a potential malware trying to wreck my system.

Now I am not sure if my problem is on Avast's side or my side but you won't understand the paranoia unless you experience this problem first hand without any clues to what is happening. I hope you understand.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: Eddy on August 20, 2016, 09:09:07 AM
I wouldn't worry.
avast is aware of the problem and is closely monitoring this webboard at the moment.

It seems that (at least for some people) running a manual VPS update solved the problem.

Paranoia ?
In over 34 years, I've had my share of problems with computers.
No clue(s) about what is causing the problem is a good moment to start learning. ;)

Keep in mind that it is just a computer.
If it fails, you will not die :)
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: avaster78 on August 20, 2016, 09:10:12 AM
This happened to me after updeting to 2280. Only once so far.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2016, 12:28:18 PM
Happening to me on an older build of Avast! as well, so it's not limited to only the current latest build. (11.2.2262 here) and not only to Windows 10 either, as I'm on Windows 7 Home 64 bit SP1.

Sometimes when the service fails, it restarts itself, and today, it did what it does to everyone else... it stopped the service but did not restart it and I had to manually restart it myself.

Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: suk on August 20, 2016, 12:51:52 PM
Could you check if you have the latest program update (12.3.2280, build 3154.0) and virus definition (160820-0 - released today - or higher - it's in YYMMDD-# format).
Let me know, if it's still happening after update.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2016, 12:56:49 PM
Could you check if you have the latest program update (12.3.2280, build 3154.0) and virus definition (160820-0 - released today - or higher - it's in YYMMDD-# format).
Let me know, if it's still happening after update.

I don't have the latest program version, as I don't want to update to it yet... but I do have the current latest definitions. I will see if it does it again today, but I'm pretty sure it will... Avast!'s behaviour in general has changed... as of today... sometimes the updater (instup.exe) doesn't even try to update on startup at all and such things like that...
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2016, 01:31:07 PM
Is there any particular reason why you are asking about the virus definitions? I thought the virus definitions were only to give the program a database of viruses that it can detect... does it really affect the programs behaviour as well?

I'm not sure because I don't know anything about the programming of the program... Either way... the definitions are fully updated for today so... if it happens again I dunno what to do.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2016, 01:32:59 PM
To follow up with my results...
I started having this issue spontaneously yesterday... the service died 3 times without restarting itself.

I posted here and was advised to update the virus definitions. When I went to settings, there was no definitions update available. I theorize that Avast had already auto-updated itself again since the problem started, as I had not actually had the problem occur again for a couple of hours as of the time of my posting. There was however a program update available (I was on an 11.x version), and I installed it.

As of now, I am not having the problem anymore for the last 12 hours. My versions are:
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
Avast 12.3.2280 (build 12.3.3154.0)
Virus Definitions 160820-0
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: suk on August 20, 2016, 03:21:32 PM
Is there any particular reason why you are asking about the virus definitions? I thought the virus definitions were only to give the program a database of viruses that it can detect... does it really affect the programs behaviour as well?

I'm not sure because I don't know anything about the programming of the program... Either way... the definitions are fully updated for today so... if it happens again I dunno what to do.

I apologize for the troubles.

Based on the info that people provided (thanks a lot!!!) it looks like the issue was in one of the dynamic libraries that are delivered together with virus database (it contains both static definitions as well as dynamic code).

That particular issue was fixed in 160820-0 - released today around noon CET.

Since it happened on specific configurations only (we believed it was fixed in previous version already, but apparently it was still there), we need your feedback.

If it's still happening after the update, please let us know. Details like version (AV/Virus definition), Windows version, logs or dumps are very useful. Specifically in cases like this, when it's hard to reproduce.

Thanks again for reporting it and have a nice (and hopefully not nerve-racking) weekend.

Pavel
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2016, 04:29:01 PM
Is there any particular reason why you are asking about the virus definitions? I thought the virus definitions were only to give the program a database of viruses that it can detect... does it really affect the programs behaviour as well?

I'm not sure because I don't know anything about the programming of the program... Either way... the definitions are fully updated for today so... if it happens again I dunno what to do.

I apologize for the troubles.

Based on the info that people provided (thanks a lot!!!) it looks like the issue was in one of the dynamic libraries that are delivered together with virus database (it contains both static definitions as well as dynamic code).

That particular issue was fixed in 160820-0 - released today around noon CET.

Since it happened on specific configurations only (we believed it was fixed in previous version already, but apparently it was still there), we need your feedback.

If it's still happening after the update, please let us know. Details like version (AV/Virus definition), Windows version, logs or dumps are very useful. Specifically in cases like this, when it's hard to reproduce.

Thanks again for reporting it and have a nice (and hopefully not nerve-racking) weekend.

Pavel

Thanks for the informative reply. I have updated the virus definitions to the latest today (160820-0) and so far there has been no errors. (had the current login session of windows so far for a few hours with no errors as of yet)

I will continue to monitor the system to make sure it doesn't happen again... but so far it's looking fairly promising.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2016, 05:12:02 PM
If it's still happening after the update, please let us know.

I'm sorry to bother you but here the issue remains..

- XP SP3 on a i7: my motherboard is a z97-a, found on the internet modified drivers for the chipset to make xp see ahci drives, all works well since this issue.

- pc have multiboot with win7 and win10, everyone on a different phisical disk, with the boot manager in the win7 disk.

- definitions and program up to date today, i have already deleted, reinstalled, repaired, rebooted, ecc :)

avast service won't start alone at the boot, i have to manually start it via services.msc. After that, no problems until next reboot.

strange thing is that avast icon is there immediately after windows show me the deskop, but i can't interact with it for 30 seconds (the time set by xp to see if the service starts) and then the red X appears. The event viewer mark this error about 1-2 seconds after boot, even if i set the delay to load avast services in the avast troubleshooting menu



UPDATE: i reUNinstalled with your application and then reinstalled it. Still i do not know if it works..

During install on the event viewer there are some errors regarding avast:

the message is marked "Sidebyside": Impossibile trovare assemblaggio dipendente Avast.VC110.CRT e l'ultimo errore è stato L'assembly a cui si fa riferimento non è installato nel computer.

i know it's italian, but say more or less : unable to find dependancy of assembly Avast.VC110.CRT and the last error was: assembly not installed in the computer.

VC110 seems related to visual studio, i do never have it installed on this machine.


Thanks
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: suk on August 20, 2016, 10:50:23 PM
Thanks. It looks like different issue.
Does it work in Win7 and Win10 configuration?
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: YLAP on August 21, 2016, 08:52:57 AM
Could you check if you have the latest program update (12.3.2280, build 3154.0) and virus definition (160820-0 - released today - or higher - it's in YYMMDD-# format).
Let me know, if it's still happening after update.

At least I can confirm the problem is gone on my Win10. avast running steadily.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: Seven on August 21, 2016, 03:43:30 PM
It appeared to be fixed but shields are being disabled again:  https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=189948.msg1333646#msg1333646


Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: RedFan on August 21, 2016, 05:05:51 PM
Today no problems on win 10 with vps update 160821
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on September 21, 2016, 12:44:20 PM
Still doing it on mine... for months...
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: Asyn on September 21, 2016, 12:48:30 PM
Still doing it on mine... for months...
Repair Avast:
1. Control Panel -> Add/Remove programs -> Avast
2. Click on 'Repair'.
3. Follow instructions.
4. Reboot.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on October 24, 2016, 04:57:57 PM
Still doing it for me too... also for months...

I did everything posted here: uninstalling, cleaning, repairing, stopping firewall, checking for virus, checking for malware, whatsoever... still doing it. Very very annoying.

Here my config:
- Win 8.1
- x64
- avast antivirus pgm ver. 12.3.2280 (build 12.3.3154.19) (last available)
- signatures 161024-1
- zone alarm firewall 14.1.057.000 (just in case it matters)

I also confirm that there is a strange coincidence with Thunderbird email software: sometimes, not always, I would say one out 2, I get a Thunderbird warning message about confirming a security exception at the same time as Avast agents get down. I have however no idea about which one comes first (my Thunderbird check emails only every 10 minutes).

I am seriously considering changing Avast for an other antivirus software, even though I am with them since the 90's... You can't trust a security software which stops when ever it wishes to.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: Asyn on October 25, 2016, 07:33:25 AM
Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB33#artTitle
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: REDACTED on August 20, 2017, 09:44:13 PM
I'm going to reply to this thread, since everything previous in the thread seems to apply, even though it's been more than six months.

I am using Avast Pro. I have been using it on this computer for several years.

About a month ago I started noticing network problems and Thunderbird kept reporting "invalid certificate". I thought my computer was dying.

After a lot of searching, running many different brands of virus scanners, boot-time scans,… I noticed the problem was that the Avast background service stops.

I am running Windows 7 64-bit.

The only thing that has really changed on my computer is that the Internet provider has changed from Time Warner to Spectrum and I know they did some service maintenance stuff - this may relate to the VPN problems stated earlier in the thread.

This problem is really annoying. Has Avast come up with a solution?

I'm not about to begin an in-depth project of sending log files all over the place or reinstalling/reconfiguring. The solution seems to be get rid of Avast.

Barry.
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: Gijs3 on February 16, 2018, 10:16:12 AM
Hi There,

Like Barry68 I too have this problem with. Mine is with Avast for Business Free.
It is installed on a couple of computers that I am responsible for. The great thing is that there is a central dashboard where I can see which alarms were generated on each computer.

All computers run Windows 10, either 1709 or 1703.
All computers have been running Avast for Business for over a year without problems.
All computers are HP and have similar configurations.
All computers are part of the same domain.

Since about a month or so, I've had the Avast Service stopped on several computers. Not all of them, but some.
Restarting the service helps for about 15 minutes.

The central dashboard does not report problems with clients until they have been disconnected for 14 days.
So a number of my computers are unprotected, and I have no way to detect that.

I'd say it's about 50% of my computers.

I read this thread and the consensus seems to be that getting rid of Avast also gets rid of the problem.

I'm considering that option now, but thought I'd just put in my 2 cents.

Cheers,
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: Asyn on February 16, 2018, 10:20:45 AM
Like Barry68 I too have this problem with. Mine is with Avast for Business Free.
Contact business support: https://www.avast.com/business-support-contact-form.php
Title: Re: Avast background service keeps stopping
Post by: bob3160 on February 16, 2018, 12:00:38 PM
@ Gijs3,
Avast no longer offers a Free Business version.  :(