Avast WEBforum

Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Abigman on February 18, 2018, 10:24:08 AM

Title: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on February 18, 2018, 10:24:08 AM
I have noticed recently that the Avast icon is no longer showing in the Notification Area;  it always showed until now.
Any ideas what it could be?  I am using version 18.1.2326 (build 18.1.3800.0).  Windows 7 Home 64-bit.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Asyn on February 18, 2018, 11:14:39 AM
Repair Avast:
1. Control Panel -> Add/Remove programs -> Avast
2. Click on 'Repair'.
3. Follow instructions.
4. Reboot.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on February 18, 2018, 11:42:03 AM
Excellent Asyn,  thanks very much.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Asyn on February 18, 2018, 11:47:14 AM
You're welcome.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on February 19, 2018, 10:36:37 AM
Oh dear,  the icon showed all day yesterday after the reboot but after booting up this morning it doesn't show.
I have been running Avast since February 2012 and it has always shown in the Notification Area.
Something obviously must have changed somewhere.  Avast update?,  Windows 7 update?, those are the only things that have changed AFAIK.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Asyn on February 19, 2018, 10:47:22 AM
- Which Avast..? (Free/Pro/IS/Premier)
- Other security related software installed..?
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..?
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on February 19, 2018, 12:33:27 PM
Avast free.
Windows firewall, no other antivirus.
Monthly run Spybot, SpywareBlaster and SuperAntiSpyware.
AVG and then Avira but that was 6 years ago.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Asyn on February 19, 2018, 12:38:23 PM
First, be sure to get rid of Spybot and all remnants..!!

Second, be sure to get rid of all remnants of your prior installed AV(s)..!!
-> https://support.avast.com/article/11/

Then:
1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions..!!)
3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
4. Reboot.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on February 19, 2018, 12:59:27 PM
Thanks for all your help Asyn but I think I'll just leave things as they are and see if it reappears.
It's still running OK and if I want to open it I can just use the Start button.
If it ever does appear again I'll reply to this thread.  Thanks again.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Asyn on February 19, 2018, 01:03:51 PM
OK, you're welcome.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: bob3160 on February 19, 2018, 01:31:17 PM
How to Successfully Install Avast: http://goo.gl/VLXde
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: ManasJ on February 19, 2018, 02:08:35 PM
Hello Abigman,
thanks for reporting the problem.

First, can you make sure you the option "Settings > General > Show Avast tray icon" is checked.
Second, try to uncheck it, restart PC and check it again.

If nothing helps, please, upload log file "C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\log\AvastUI.log" here in this thread and I will look into it.

Thanks

Manas from
Avast UI team
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on February 19, 2018, 02:48:43 PM
Thanks ManasJ.
Unchecking, reboot , checking, didn't work.
The log file is rather large so I've PM'ed you with a download link.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on February 23, 2018, 10:54:13 AM
The icon has suddenly appeared for the last 2 days!
BTW @ManasJ did you get the log file?
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on February 24, 2018, 09:41:38 AM
Spoke too soon,  icon not showing again!  :(
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: ManasJ on February 27, 2018, 05:02:54 PM
So, I have looked at the problem and the log file you provided but I coulnd't figure out why is the notification area icon not showing for you. We couldn't reproduce the bug in any scenario on any OS which makes me think it is quite specific issue for your PC. You mentioned the icon was okay for few days and then disappeared again. If you notice any pattern in this behavior, please, send us some more information. Sadly, for now I can't do much more to fix this. Sorry.

Manas from
Avast UI team

Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on February 27, 2018, 05:21:46 PM
Thanks for that ManasJ.  It's still not showing.
Avast did update to 18.1.2326 (build 18.1.3800.0) 2 days before my original post but I'm sure I would have noticed it missing after the update;  perhaps not and it was something in the update that caused it?
Odd that it's been showing for years though.

EDIT:
FWIW: Just noticed.
- Fixed scanning of files in your Virus Chest
- Fixed some problems with the Outlook plugin
- Fixed wrong text in the Recycle Bin context menu
- Fixed the name of the Avast window in the taskbar
- Fixed an annoying bug that minimized games every 30 minutes
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Asyn on February 27, 2018, 05:24:23 PM
You could try the latest beta: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=15
Else, wait for Manas...
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on March 02, 2018, 10:54:58 AM
I've just updated to 18.2.2328(build 18.2.3827.0) and the icon is showing now.
I'll see if it shows after the overnight reboot.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Asyn on March 02, 2018, 11:01:08 AM
Thanks for the feedback.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: bob3160 on March 03, 2018, 12:23:52 AM
I've just updated to 18.2.2328(build 18.2.3827.0) and the icon is showing now.
I'll see if it shows after the overnight reboot.
Not only does it show, it's also animated again. :) :) :)
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on March 03, 2018, 09:48:28 AM
Sadly, it's still not showing after the overnight reboot.   :( >:(
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Asyn on March 03, 2018, 09:55:18 AM
Strange, best you wait for Manas...
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on March 04, 2018, 10:08:54 AM
Showing this morning!
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on March 08, 2018, 12:08:42 PM
FWIW: Probably a coincidence but since a Windows Update on Tuesday (2 days ago) the icon is now showing.
Updates were for Windows 7 (KB4091290 and KB2952664)
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: ManasJ on March 09, 2018, 11:12:52 AM
Hello again Abigman.
So the icon is correctly showed even after reboot (which was previously bugged)? Let us know if anything changes.

Anyway, yesterday, I implemented one more thing which could help the situation in most cases. We are currently testing the fix and it should be released soon in version 18.3.

This notification area icon thing has been real rollercoaster :)

Manas from
Avast UI team
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on March 09, 2018, 12:31:30 PM
... So the icon is correctly showed even after reboot (which was previously bugged)? Let us know if anything changes. ...
Yes, I've rebooted at least 3 times now and the icon is still showing.
I'll reply if it disappears!
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: tvtoms on March 14, 2018, 05:52:36 PM
I was just searching for this problem as my icon is also not appearing regularly these days. I also use Windows 7 home 64 bit and Avast free. It seems to be a semi-random issue but I must say I was annoyed enough today to log in here and mention it at the very least. Tray notification is checked, windows notification is set to always display icon. I've soft booted, I've hard booted. Done this dance many times, sometimes the icon comes back, sometimes it doesn't. I like the product and have used it on one computer or another since I can't even remember.. 10 years? more? But please, please... the darn tray icon. I'm not doing any sorts of deep system manipulating, I'm browsing the internet, watching videos and listening to music. I'm not installing, uninstalling, restoring, wiping, swapping hardware.. just nothing but the most mild end user stuff.
This issue happened on my now defunct laptop too. It also ran windows 7, but I guess since I can't delve into anything on it now (hard disk failed) we can't explore anything about it. But I assure you, it would randomly display or not display the Avast icon.
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on March 14, 2018, 07:00:18 PM
I said I would reply if it disappears again but anyway fwiw it's been over a week now and it's still showing.  :)
Title: Re: Icon not showing in Notification Area
Post by: Abigman on April 15, 2018, 08:14:09 PM
5 weeks now and the icon is still showing so it looks like whatever caused the blip has gone.
Yet another of life's mysteries!

BTW, recently updated to 18.3.2333 (build 18.3.3860.315).