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Consumer Products => Avast Driver Updater => Topic started by: BillyWilly on June 06, 2021, 04:29:19 PM

Title: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 06, 2021, 04:29:19 PM
I restarted my computer after receiving message that Avast updates had been installed in Premium Antivirus and Driver Updater. I have a windows 7 OS. All my desktop shortcut icons came up blank. I tried to restore the the Avast Driver Updater so I could roll them back and mistakenly clicked on the button that said associate this program with all similar programs. I took this to mean Avast only, now all my program short cut icons open only Driver Updater. 

Can you help me restore my program links?
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 06, 2021, 04:54:23 PM
I restarted my computer after receiving message that Avast updates had been installed in Premium Antivirus and Driver Updater. I have a windows 7 OS. All my desktop shortcut icons came up blank. I tried to restore the the Avast Driver Updater so I could roll them back and mistakenly clicked on the button that said associate this program with all similar programs. I took this to mean Avast only, now all my program short cut icons open only Driver Updater. 

Can you help me restore my program links?
Do you have a system restore point to go back to?
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 06, 2021, 05:56:24 PM
Thanks for responding Bob. System restore point does not show up even though the box was checked to create them. Last time this happened I was able to undo all the driver updates, but that is no longer visible.  :-\

...Bill
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 06, 2021, 06:27:26 PM
I've reported this to Avast let's see if that helps. (Remember, today is Sunday)
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 07, 2021, 04:50:45 PM
Thank you Bob. Appreciate any help I can get.

Sincerely,
...Bill
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: r@vast on June 08, 2021, 01:46:32 PM
I restarted my computer after receiving message that Avast updates had been installed in Premium Antivirus and Driver Updater. I have a windows 7 OS. All my desktop shortcut icons came up blank. I tried to restore the the Avast Driver Updater so I could roll them back and mistakenly clicked on the button that said associate this program with all similar programs. I took this to mean Avast only, now all my program short cut icons open only Driver Updater. 

Can you help me restore my program links?

Hi,

If I understand correctly, you restarted your device after you received a message saying that Avast Premium Security and Avast Driver Updater ( the applications themselves) were updated.
It seems that no drivers were updated using Avast Driver Updater, but only the application itself.
https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Troubleshoot-Driver-Updater/
Concerning the file association issue, I would suggest that you have a look at these articles:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/icons-are-not-displayed-for-certain-files-in-windows-7-83126d0e-d1cf-dcdd-6b27-78dbd25c706c
 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-which-programs-windows-7-uses-by-default-62fd162f-8c82-0436-806f-c60d69dcf495
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 09, 2021, 03:35:18 PM
I attempted to the fix using the Set Your Default Programs. When I selected Chrome, the box that appeared to the right only gave me 1 option; Chrome. So I clicked on it, and checked my tool bar and there is no Chrome Icons. Avast Driver Updater still appears where the Chrome Icon used to be.

Regarding the other link for a possible fix; I am a little leery about deleting the IconCache.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 09, 2021, 03:49:05 PM
I looked the "Associate a file with a specific program" in my Windows 7 and they all seem to be correct.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: r@vast on June 09, 2021, 05:54:09 PM
I attempted to the fix using the Set Your Default Programs. When I selected Chrome, the box that appeared to the right only gave me 1 option; Chrome. So I clicked on it, and checked my tool bar and there is no Chrome Icons. Avast Driver Updater still appears where the Chrome Icon used to be.

Regarding the other link for a possible fix; I am a little leery about deleting the IconCache.

Hi,

Would you mind going to the "chrome" icon > right-clicking on it > click on "Shortcut"
In "Target" do you see "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"
and in "Start in" do you see "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application"
Could you please add a screenshot?
Please see this article on how to generate a screenshot. https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/Create-screenshot
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 09, 2021, 06:00:49 PM
Where might I find the Google Chrome icon? All my executable icons are Avast DU.




When I type in "Windows Explorer" in the search bar of the start button, even the Windows Explorer Icon has been replaced by Avast Driver Updater icon.

So, both Microsoft links do not help solve my Avast problem.

I chatted online for awhile with a technician today who also couldn't seem to help and he has passed my situation onto a senior tech person. I am waiting for an email from that person.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 09, 2021, 06:09:53 PM
Would send a screen shot using print scr, but the paint program leads me to Avast Driver Updater. All roads lead to Avast Driver Updater except jpgs and music files.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 09, 2021, 06:18:38 PM
When I type "paint" in the windows search box, the program shows up but with the Avast DU icon. When I click on it, I am taken to the ADU homepage.   :-\
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: r@vast on June 09, 2021, 06:31:04 PM
Hi,
I was referring to the "The one that used to be the chrome icon"
Can you also include a screenshot of your desktop, please?
Are you able to press the Windows key+R (to open the run box) and typing mspaint.exe and pressing enter on your keyboard?
You also mention that you "mistakenly clicked on the button that said associate this program with all similar programs".
I take it this is within Windows and not Avast?
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 09, 2021, 07:58:45 PM
The Windows Key and the Prnt Screen key combo also save a screenshot
in your Pictures Folder in a subfolder called Screenshots
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 10, 2021, 12:05:22 AM
I am still running a windows 7 OS, I don't see where I have Windows Key. Searched my hard drive for a sub folder named "Screenshots" and found nothing except an old Mozilla file from 2 years ago.

Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 10, 2021, 12:16:06 AM
Under windows libraries all are blank icons; pictures, videos, music and documents.  :-(
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 10, 2021, 12:29:18 AM
In order to help, please supply the information requested.
We can't see your computer, so you need to share the information requested to help solve the problem.


Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 10, 2021, 01:06:25 AM
I must be getting burned out. I have a Windows key and I held it down along with the print screen. But, my library subfolders with videos, pictures, music and documents all have blank icons.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 11, 2021, 06:23:13 PM
I simultaneously clicked the Windows +R. Got the dialogue box. I typed in mspaint.exe and the Avast Driver Updater homepage popped up. That is all that I am getting.

...Bill
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 11, 2021, 06:42:45 PM
Hi,
I was referring to the "The one that used to be the chrome icon"
Can you also include a screenshot of your desktop, please?
Are you able to press the Windows key+R (to open the run box) and typing mspaint.exe and pressing enter on your keyboard?
You also mention that you "mistakenly clicked on the button that said associate this program with all similar programs".
I take it this is within Windows and not Avast?

Hello R,
I clicked on Windows key + R. Then typed "mspaint.exe" and clicked search. It took me to the Avast Driver Updater homepage. A few days ago I emailed a screen shot of my PC with my phone.

I believe the dialogue box was probably within Windows.

...Bill
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 11, 2021, 07:04:55 PM

Since the change happened because you followed a windows prompt, this should help at least for the default file associations.
How to change or restore the default file associations in Windows 7
https://www.wintips.org/how-to-change-restore-default-file-associations-in-windows/ (https://www.wintips.org/how-to-change-restore-default-file-associations-in-windows/)





Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 14, 2021, 04:09:36 PM
Thanks Bob,
I was able to associate Google Chrome as the Default Program and then clicked OK.

I think we are getting there. I noticed that my .lnk file extensions are all linked to Avast Driver Updater. When I go into the Set Default Program - Set File Associations. A list of File Extensions appears. Many seem correctly associated. When I scroll down to the alphabetical list of extensions, next to ".lnk" extension is Avast Driver Updater UI which is listed as the Default Program used to open all .lnk file extensions. I believe this might be the root problem as to why all my short cuts point to ADU web homepage. Can you advise? What program should be the default program for .lnk file extensions in Windows 7? Thank you for hanging in there with me Bob.

...Bill
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 14, 2021, 04:19:59 PM
Thanks Bob,
I was able to associate Google Chrome as the Default Program and then clicked OK.

I think we are getting there. I noticed that my .lnk file extensions are all linked to Avast Driver Updater. When I go into the Set Default Program - Set File Associations. A list of File Extensions appears. Many seem correctly associated. When I scroll down to the alphabetical list of extensions, next to ".lnk" extension is Avast Driver Updater UI which is listed as the Default Program used to open all .lnk file extensions. I believe this might be the root problem as to why all my short cuts point to ADU web homepage. Can you advise? What program should be the default program for .lnk file extensions in Windows 7? Thank you for hanging in there with me Bob.

...Bill
I'm  using Windows 10. lnk has no fill association on my system and I use the Avast Driver Updater.
(https://d1ka0itfguscri.cloudfront.net/Lh/2021/06/14/14/19/cr122qV1c1s/preview.jpg)
Have you reset the default associations as suggested?
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 14, 2021, 04:34:48 PM
I selected Google Chrome - Set this program as default - OK.
I have not restarted my computer though. Should I?
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 14, 2021, 04:48:37 PM
I selected Google Chrome - Set this program as default - OK.
I have not restarted my computer though. Should I?
a .lnk represents a shortcut. A shortcut to chrome, would be associated to Chrome
A shortcut to something else, would not be. If there is a shortcut to a video, you want that to be opened by your media player not Chrome.
So, Chrome is not the correct association for lnk.
That's why I asked if you had reset the default associations.

Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 14, 2021, 05:04:33 PM
When I go to the list of file associations, they all appear to be correct except ".lnk" which has Avast Driver Updater UI as the current default program. When I click on change program, I don't see a way to remove it, only to change it to a different program.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 14, 2021, 05:10:45 PM
When I go to the list of file associations, they all appear to be correct except ".lnk" which has Avast Driver Updater UI as the current default program. When I click on change program, I don't see a way to remove it, only to change it to a different program.
Which is why I asked if you've reset the associations to their defaults.
Follow the instructions here, https://www.wintips.org/how-to-change-restore-default-file-associations-in-windows/ (https://www.wintips.org/how-to-change-restore-default-file-associations-in-windows/)
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 14, 2021, 07:09:31 PM
I have 13 default programs listed. They are all set to default except the other 2 web browsers and Quicktime.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 14, 2021, 07:34:11 PM
I have 13 default programs listed. They are all set to default except the other 2 web browsers and Quicktime.
Re-read this post.
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=280226.msg1626901#msg1626901
I don't know how else to explain the fact that assigning an action to shortcut is not what you should be doing.
It needs to be set to default
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 14, 2021, 07:54:24 PM
I understand this. Why do my shortcuts all lead to Avast? When I right click on a program, lets say Logitech Mouse (which works btw) the little pop up box says the file type is "(.lnk)" and the little icon is not a Logitech icon, it is Avast.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 14, 2021, 08:26:56 PM
I understand this. Why do my shortcuts all lead to Avast? When I right click on a program, lets say Logitech Mouse (which works btw) the little pop up box says the file type is "(.lnk)" and the little icon is not a Logitech icon, it is Avast.
Because you assigned the Avast program as the default for all lnk (shortcut) files.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 14, 2021, 08:40:16 PM
I need to somehow un-assign the .lnk file from Avast Driver Updater. The run command opens Avast. The System Restore button gives me an error message saying it could not open it. 
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 14, 2021, 10:28:48 PM
I need to somehow un-assign the .lnk file from Avast Driver Updater. The run command opens Avast. The System Restore button gives me an error message saying it could not open it.
Follow the instructions to reset default assignments. once that's done, you can then set any thing that opens with a program other than your favorite to that program. You can't unassign all you can do is assign so you need to start with the default settings.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 15, 2021, 05:09:24 PM
When setting programs to default assignments, Chrome and Firefox compete with each other. For instance, Firefox has 0 out of 13 defaults. I can set it as a default, but then Chrome has 10 out of 23 defaults. So, have I followed the instructions and reset my default assignments? Yes..........and no.   :-(

And, the same thing happens between Windows Photo Viewer and Paint.
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: bob3160 on June 15, 2021, 05:20:52 PM
When setting programs to default assignments, Chrome and Firefox compete with each other. For instance, Firefox has 0 out of 13 defaults. I can set it as a default, but then Chrome has 10 out of 23 defaults. So, have I followed the instructions and reset my default assignments? Yes..........and no.   :-(
Resetting defaults re-assigns all the default programs which includes shortcuts.
You can only have one default for any program that includes your browser.
You can always open a different browser on your own but, if you click on a link which opens your browser, it will open your selected default browser.

Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 15, 2021, 05:37:30 PM
It seems that I have very few programs (11) listed when I click "Set your default programs."

Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on June 24, 2021, 05:32:18 PM
Just an update for anyone reading this thread. I am still working on the issue via email with Avast Support team.

...Bill
Title: Re: Driver Updater is now all my short cuts
Post by: BillyWilly on July 01, 2021, 07:24:30 PM
My file extension issue has been fixed. I'm not sure what exactly the technician did, but he ran a program that changed my program files back to .exe. This was at the Geek Squad which took making an appointment, bringing the computer in and approximately 1 hour of bench time while a waited and watched.