Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: bthatche on November 24, 2008, 03:39:48 AM
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Folks,
I recently accepted the latest software update when prompted and now Avast refuses to start.
I get the error message "ashAvast.exe - Entry Point Not Found"
"The procedure entry point dep_strFreeString could not be located in the dynamic link library aswCmnOS.dll"
I tried a complete uninstall & reinstall of 4.8, folloed by accepting the update again & I have the same problem - I guess I'll stick with 4.8.
This is on an XP SP3 box.
Any ideas?
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Can you try to repair your installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair).
If this does not help, I suggest an installation from the scratch:
1. Uninstall avast from Control Panel first.
2. Boot.
3. Download the latest version of Avast Uninstall (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-uninstall-utility.html) and use it for complete uninstallation.
4. Boot.
5. Install again the latest avast! (http://www.avast.com/eng/programs.html) version.
6. Boot.
7. Check and post the results.
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Hi, can you search on the disk if they are any other copies of the aswCmnOs.dll in any other folder than C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\avast4 ? Thanks. Lukas.
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I am experiencing the exact same error with the most recent update. Using XPPro SP3.
In fact, I also experienced a similar error (I believe a different dll file was indicated) with the previous program update. Last time I was unable to repair or even uninstall the corrupted update, so I had to resort to using the avast uninstaller to remove the program. I then downloaded the new version and reinstalled from scratch, which was a huge time investment since I lost all my options.
Well, this time I once again tried to repair the update via "add or remove programs" with no luck. The repair program reports that the current version is 4.8.1229 and the new version is 4.8.1290, so I assume that the automatic update never completed successfully. Manual update via "add or remove" fails with a "There was an error while changing the product configuration" error notice.
I would go through the process of removal and installing the new update from scratch, but it appears that version 4.8.1290 has not yet made its way to CNET's download site, since it is reporting (and I confirmed after download) that it only has the previous version "Avast Home Edition 4.8.1229.80923" for download.
So I wait, with a non-functioning Avast, until someone gets their act together.
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A couple more things:
1. I checked, and this is indeed the same error that I got with the last auto update.
2. I have only one version of aswCmnOs.dll, in the expected directory.
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I have the same problem. (Windows XP Pro Sp3) I have tried to unistall Avast but get the reply that "Avast self protection" hinders this action. What ever I try I get some kind of reply that tell that this action is not ok....
What shall I do?
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Nicket,
Have you tried using the Avast uninstall program found here: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-uninstall-utility.html
In other news:
I found the updated file for version 4.8.1290 on avast's site here: http://files.avast.com/iavs4pro/setupeng.exe
But before I uninstall the old and replace with the new, is there some way that I can save and transfer my settings? Will saving and copying over avast4.ini be sufficient?
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Yes, I have tried to uninstall the program this way too... With the same depressing result.
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avast4.ini and avast4.db (in the avast\data folder).
BTW there will be yet another avast program update tonight so you may actually hold fire till tomorrow.
Thanks
Vlk
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Thanks for the info Vlk!
If there is any other info I can provide in helping debug this issue, let me know.
Nicket, I suppose you've already tried a restore pt?
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BTW there will be yet another avast program update tonight so you may actually hold fire till tomorrow.
More info please... what's on the way? ???
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Nothing connected with aswCmnOS.dll being not updated, at least as far as I know... ?
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<snip>
I would go through the process of removal and installing the new update from scratch, but it appears that version 4.8.1290 has not yet made its way to CNET's download site, since it is reporting (and I confirmed after download) that it only has the previous version "Avast Home Edition 4.8.1229.80923" for download.
So I wait, with a non-functioning Avast, until someone gets their act together.
What is wrong from downloading direct from avast, the servers are usually faster ?
http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html (http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html)
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Sorry for starting the thread & then running away :)
I only have one copy of aswCmnOs.dll on my system - I did try a repair, but it fails with the same message.
In response to the last post - I did originally download direct from Avast, but that version failed to install (just says there was an error with the install & points you to the erroe log). The version from Avast was 28,358Kb & the version from cNet which worked was 26,819kb
Bheers
Brian
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Or maybe....
Cheers
Brian
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The Cnet is currently only avast Home Edition 4.8.1229, so that could account for the differences the avast.com version is 4.8.1290.
So dis you try the clean reinstall exactly as suggested by Tech in the first reply ?
Importantly his step 3 and 4.
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Yesterday Vlk said:
BTW there will be yet another avast program update tonight so you may actually hold fire till tomorrow.
"Tonight" has since moved into a new day at avast central ... did I drop through a time warp or was the update forgotten?
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Yesterday Vlk said:
BTW there will be yet another avast program update tonight so you may actually hold fire till tomorrow.
Not released... yet...
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Still not available, perhaps not as simple a fix as first thought, no rush for me, but then I'm not experiencing any problems with 4.8.1290.
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no rush for me, but then I'm not experiencing any problems with 4.8.1290.
Neither for me... just a promise could be broken ;D
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My problem is still there. When I try to update the program I get the reply (translated from Swedish) "An error accured when the product configuration was changed."
And when I try to use the Avast Uninstall Utility I get the following message "The Avast! self protection module is enabled. For this reason, the operation cannot be completed."
I cannot start the program at all! I'm stuck... Any idea what to do?!
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To temporarily disable the avast self defense module:
1. Right click the 'a' blue icon on system tray.
2. Programs settings > Troubleshooting (tab)
3. Disable self defense module
Uninstall avast, boot, use the uninstall tool, boot, install again.
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And when I try to use the Avast Uninstall Utility I get the following message "The Avast! self protection module is enabled. For this reason, the operation cannot be completed."
You should boot into safe mode and run the uninstall utility from there, the error I though the error should have suggested that.
But Techs suggestion would avoid a boot into safe mode.
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As far as I can see uninstalling the program initially must have gone wrong. The startup message I get is the following: "ashDisp.ex Cannot find the start address. Cannot find procedure start address dep_strFreeString in the DLL-file aswCmnOS.dll"
Bah!
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I don't have an A icon in the tray, and the Avast! program refuses to start in any way.
I tried to start in safe mode, but I don't know if I actually got there. Anyhow I still couldn't start the uninstallation.
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You would know, because very little is loaded in safe mod including graphics drivers your resolution would be 800x600 and 256 colours, so I think you would know.
avast doesn't start in safe mode which is why we suggest using the uninstall utility from there.
You can check the Task Manager and there should be no avast processes, they begin with ash or asw.
Booting into safe mode http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml (http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml)
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Thank you! This helped me to get the problems out of the way! ;D
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You're welcome.
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Two days ago Vlk said:
BTW there will be yet another avast program update tonight so you may actually hold fire till tomorrow.
Hmm ... but why say it will be ... not deliver ... and stay silent? Surely a "ooops ... not quite yet" might be in order?
Those of us on the western side of the Atlantic (in the United States ...yes I know it is not the whole western side of the Atlantic - sorry Tech) will (most likely) be too busy consuming the remains of many turkeys in the coming day and, full of good will and bonhomie, will probably not pursue this prediction - but I think we will still be looking for a response.
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Two days ago Vlk said:
BTW there will be yet another avast program update tonight so you may actually hold fire till tomorrow.
Hmm ... but why say it will be ... not deliver ... and stay silent? Surely a "ooops ... not quite yet" might be in order?
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=40462.0
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BTW there will be yet another avast program update tonight so you may actually hold fire till tomorrow.
Ok, so now that version 4.8.1296 is uploaded, I tried a complete reinstall. First I ran the uninstall program (aswclear.exe) from Safe Mode, rebooted, and then ran the install program, only to receive an installation error. The log reports (among other things):
30.11.2008 03:21:12 file: Extract: tried to extract 'LangMai.dll' from pkg 'av_pro_dll409' but failed miserably. Error code 0x00000057
I also got numerous lines such as:
30.11.2008 03:20:57 package: IsFullOkay: vpsm-8112700.vpu - not okay (doesn't exist)
Several days before I tried to reinstall an earlier version (avast4.8.1229.80923) which I was able to install before, and got the following errors:
26.11.2008 10:30:15 file: Extract: tried to extract 'aswRdr.sys' from pkg 'av_pro_core' but failed miserably. Error code 0x00000057
26.11.2008 10:30:16 system: Error copying driver file E:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\aswSP.sys (0x00000002)
I tried to install again and got yet another error:
26.11.2008 12:09:10 file: Extract: tried to extract 'aswCmnOS.dll' from pkg 'avscan' but failed miserably. Error code 0x00000057
Ok, so it appears that due to randomly varying errors, I can no longer install Avast at all... anyone got any ideas what is going on here?
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Hi, I also ran into the same problem. I tried to uninstall avast as suggested. It seems to be OK, however when I want to reinstall I get the message "an error 5 (00000005) has occurred.Last performed operation was: spawning." I even tried to disable simple file sharing in Win XP SP3. What could have remained from the installation ? I also made subsequent registry cleaning. Please help with ideas.
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It was my avast blocking installation. Don't know why. Now it's OK.
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Hy, I have this problem too and I couldn't solve. I didn't even find a related topic beside this one...
There are still NO SOLUTION of this problem after a month?? What can we do? Did anybody succeed? Or there is only one solution left: XP reinstall?
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Folks,
I managed to solve this issue after a lot of pain on Windows Vista.... I was unable to start the avast control panel, and running the latest installer to repair / reinstall / remove did not work. I tried to download and run the aswClear.exe utility, but it told me that self protection had been enabled... run in Safe mode. Unfortunately, Safe mode did not work for me (it blue screens... another issues...) Here's what I wound up doing in order to reinstall the latest version:
1. Download and install Revo Uninstaller: http://www.revouninstaller.com/
2. Run Revo Uninstaller and uninstall Avast using the "Advanced uninstall mode". This runs the avast uninstaller, then lets you choose which registry keys to remove (choose all), and then lets you choose which files to remove (again, choose all)...
3. Ran aswClear.exe -- and unfortunately got the same error. This led me to suspect that there was still something lurking in the registry... Ran regedit, and there were. If you search around, you'll see keys for self protection mode and other settings. Unfortunately, I was not able to remove these keys.
4. Download and install ccleaner: http://www.ccleaner.com/ (perhaps another registry cleaner would work)
5. Run ccleaner (3 times -- it finds more entries every time...) Though I didn't see any entries related to avast being fixed or removed....
6. Download and install latest version of avast -- and for whatever reason it worked!
It wasn't my computer, and the OS was installed in a language that I don't understand... I don't really know why it was able to install despite (theoretically) that self protection registry key still existing... and yet it worked.
Hope this helps...