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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: lhui on February 25, 2012, 08:58:29 PM

Title: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: lhui on February 25, 2012, 08:58:29 PM
Avast's current status:
(http://screensnapr.com/e/TOoyCs.png)
Do not tell me to click FIX NOW or start program or anything of that sort. It does not work.

Attempted to uninstall Avast:
(http://screensnapr.com/e/UZaoCK.png)

Attempted to install Avast:
(http://screensnapr.com/e/gVk42i.png)
(http://screensnapr.com/e/oRIrQ3.png)

Any fixes?
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: Charyb-0 on February 25, 2012, 09:03:41 PM
Try this to see if it will help. https://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=1050
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: lhui on February 25, 2012, 09:07:00 PM
Try this to see if it will help. https://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=1050
You may want to read my post again... don't think you understood what I was asking...
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: ady4um on February 25, 2012, 09:07:21 PM
Try the following:

1_ download http://public.avast.com/~kurtin/part-setup_ais-570.vpx
2_ Set program updates and definitions updates to "manual" (both of them).
3_ settings -> troubleshooting -> disable self defense module.
4_ copy the above vpx file in your
Quote
c:\Program Files\Avast Software\avast*\Setup\part-setup_ais-570.vpx
(note I used "*" in case you have some number in that folder name).
5_ perform program update.
6_ wait for the program update to finish and reboot.
7_ reset the program update settings to "ask" and the definition updates to "auto"
8_ re-enable the self defense module.

Please report back.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: lhui on February 25, 2012, 09:11:49 PM
Doesn't seem like I have an Avast folder in neither my Program Files nor my Program Files (x86).

EDIT: I found the folder. It was under C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\Setup. anyways says I need permission to move the file into the folder.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: ady4um on February 25, 2012, 09:19:44 PM
Read again the instructions. You are skipping steps.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: lhui on February 25, 2012, 09:22:26 PM
I did read... not really skipping steps... I downloaded... Set them to manual... disabled... Tried to move file, but failed... I get:
(http://screensnapr.com/e/Y32iaZ.png)
Not sure what I missed there... mind telling me?
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: ady4um on February 25, 2012, 09:34:15 PM
Right click the downloaded file -> properties -> UNBLOCK.

Then be sure to have avast settings with MANUAL updates (not auto nor ask) and reboot.

When you log in again, you need to be have administrator permissions so to move the file to that location. Continue with the steps from there.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: Reetesh on February 25, 2012, 09:36:43 PM
@lhui....

uncheck "self defense" buddy
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: Charyb-0 on February 25, 2012, 10:02:24 PM
Try this to see if it will help. https://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=1050
You may want to read my post again... don't think you understood what I was asking...
I failed to read the entire post. Sorry about that.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: lhui on February 25, 2012, 10:18:08 PM
Just realized that no matter how many times I uncheck it and set auto to manual, as soon as I press OK, it reverts back to auto and checked.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: ady4um on February 25, 2012, 10:25:22 PM
Could you post a little screen shot? I don't think it would really help (we would need a video of it changing by itself, but I won't ask you that), but I'd rather be sure about what you are reporting. This is the first time I hear about that.

Just to be sure, I meant

avast main GUI -> settings -> updates -> "engine and virus definitions" -> manual.

avast main GUI -> settings -> updates -> "program" -> manual.

and then "OK" over the bottom area of "settings".

Is this strange behavior also happening in other settings (like the troubleshooting -> self defense module)?
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: lhui on February 25, 2012, 10:29:30 PM
I did exactly what you said and it is still reverting back. This includes the self-defense module as well.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: ady4um on February 25, 2012, 10:46:41 PM
Well, now I'm stumped about that. I'll try to find someone else that may know how to proceed.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: itsjustme2 on February 25, 2012, 10:50:06 PM
if you want to use drastic messures, you can do the following guide which SHOULD let you install avast 7 without uninstalling the corrupted avast.
!!! THIS IS ON YOUR RISK !!!

1. - enter safe mode, delete Avast by removing C:\Program Files\Alwil Software directory (avast wont be able to lock you down, this is because avast isnt running in safe mode).
    - after that, go to start > search > search for "avast" and remove any files which come up in the search.
    - ok now go to start > search > regedit:
       *go to HKEY_USER... > software > remove "Alwil Software" registry directory.
       *go to HKEY_MACHINE... > software > remove "Alwil Software" registry directory.
2. go back to windows normal mode, go to c:\program files and remove to recycle bin the "installshield installation information" directory.
download avast 7 installation from the forum, install it (as an administrator) where you want, installation should be working now.

NOTE: by removing installshield directory, uninstallers for programs which were already installed on your computer will no longer work, and will need to be reinstalled/repaired in order to work.
In any case that you want to recover the ability to uninstall without repairing/reinstalling, recover installshield from recycle bin (which will also bring back the broken uninstall error of Avast and will revive the problem once again. you should recover the directory only if this guide wasn't helpfull for you.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: DarkRadience on February 25, 2012, 11:04:02 PM
Why do most of you think its complex?
Step one
http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility)

Step two once rebooted
Avast! Free Antivirus 7.0.1407
http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/ (http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/)
Run the installer and use the custom install option of you wish, I recommended it always.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: Paul Rodgers on February 25, 2012, 11:10:21 PM
Why do most of you think its complex?
Step one
http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility)

Step two once rebooted
Avast! Free Antivirus 7.0.1407
http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/ (http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/)
Run the installer and use the custom install option of you wish, I recommended it always.

This is the proper way to fix this issue. I would also suggest after running the uninstaller (and restarting) that you use a program like ccleaner to clean up the registry.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: itsjustme2 on February 25, 2012, 11:12:54 PM
Why do most of you think its complex?
Step one
http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility)

Step two once rebooted
Avast! Free Antivirus 7.0.1407
http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/ (http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/)
Run the installer and use the custom install option of you wish, I recommended it always.
this uninstaller is for avast 6, avast 7 uninstaller isn't out yet, it may cause an unknown glitches.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: Paul Rodgers on February 25, 2012, 11:14:41 PM
Why do most of you think its complex?
Step one
http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility)

Step two once rebooted
Avast! Free Antivirus 7.0.1407
http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/ (http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/)
Run the installer and use the custom install option of you wish, I recommended it always.
this uninstaller is for avast 6, avast 7 uninstaller isn't out yet, it may cause an unknown glitches.

I have used the installer on a bad v7 install and it does work.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: lhui on February 25, 2012, 11:21:36 PM
Well, now I'm stumped about that. I'll try to find someone else that may know how to proceed.

Hopefully someone will be able to solve this problem. Starting to no like Avast... its been giving me problems for the last year.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: DarkRadience on February 25, 2012, 11:22:27 PM
Did you read my post?
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: iroc9555 on February 25, 2012, 11:22:48 PM
this uninstaller is for avast 6, avast 7 uninstaller isn't out yet, it may cause an unknown glitches.

That aswclear.exe is for Avast! 7, 6, 5 and so on. It is the right uninstall tool.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: lhui on February 25, 2012, 11:42:11 PM
Did you read my post?
Did not know there was a second page.

It seems to have uninstalled Avast fine. Now I am reinstalling, hope that works out fine too.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: ady4um on February 25, 2012, 11:53:46 PM
Well, now I'm stumped about that. I'll try to find someone else that may know how to proceed.

Hopefully someone will be able to solve this problem. Starting to no like Avast... its been giving me problems for the last year.

Well, I don't know which problems you had. I don't even know why or what is preventing you from changing those settings. It sounds like if you were not an administrator (or part of the administrators group).

@all

In theory, the following procedure should work:

1_ Download http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility) and the avast installer (so to reinstall anew after the procedure).
2_ Boot into Windows Safe Mode (WSM for short here).
3_ Uninstall avast using "Add/Remove Programs", if possible.
4_ Reboot again into WSM.
5_ Run aswclear for avast 7.
6_ Reboot again into WSM.
7_ Run aswclear for avast 6.
8_ If you ever had installed or updated from other older avast versions (like v.5. or even v.4.), then repeat the last 2 steps - ie the reboot into WSM and run aswclear - selecting each time each version of avast.
9_ Reboot again into WSM.
10_ Set Windows Explorer to show all "System" and Hidden" files, and to show known files' extensions.
11_ Search for any folder with a name containing "avast*" and/or "alwil*". For example, "Alwil Software", or "avast5".
12_ Delete those folders found in the previous step.
13_ Search for files starting with "asw*" inside "C:/windows/system32/drivers/".
14_ For each file found in the previous step, right click -> properties. If the file is from "Alwil" or "Avast", delete the file.
15_ Reboot into Windows Normal Mode.
16_ Select the setup.exe installer of avast. Right click on it -> properties -> UNBLOCK (if the button is not grayed out).
17_ Select the setup.exe installer of avast. Right click on it -> "Run as administrator" if such option is available. If it is not, the simply "Run".
18_ Once the installation procedure finishes, wait until the HDD led stops blinking "like crazy" (as oppose to blinking infrequently as usual).
19_ Reboot.
20_ After the first reboot, use the system as usual. Test it. Avoid rebooting immediately. Keep testing. No need for immediate registration nor avast accounts. Leave it for when all is fine and really working correctly.
21_ After a couple of hours, reboot and test if any strange quirks show up.
22_ Report back.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: DarkRadience on February 25, 2012, 11:59:21 PM
Hope any of the posts here help, and as always please report back :)
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: lhui on February 26, 2012, 12:02:02 AM
Hope any of the posts here help, and as always please report back :)

Your method was simple and it seems to have worked. I will wait a few hours or days and see if it stays fine.
Title: Re: Avast is broken... any solutions?
Post by: DarkRadience on February 26, 2012, 12:03:49 AM
Hope it will :) enjoy your Avast and good luck.
EDIT: You might also mark the topic as [Solved] by editing you first posts title.