Author Topic: XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared  (Read 8108 times)

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Bavnuser

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XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« on: December 18, 2004, 12:42:21 AM »
I'm a 1st time user. I downloaded Avast 4 Home last nite.

Right after Avast installed successfully there were 2 icons in the
desktop tray. I used one by clicking it and configured the settings. I also updated the virus defs and did a full bootup scan.

After booting up today, the icons have disappeared and the only way I can get to the settings, update and run a scan is to run ashAvast.exe from the start menu.

I thought it was XP's firewall - which has caused many, many problems -
but after listing all the critical files in exceptions and re-booting I
still get no icons in the tray.

What's up? Is there a service I need to have running? I have
disabled all but basic necessary services.

Thanks for any help,

Bavnuser

Offline Lisandro

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Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2004, 12:58:18 AM »
Welcome  8) ;)

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, can you uninstall / boot / install / boot again?
« Last Edit: December 18, 2004, 01:01:05 AM by Technical »
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techie101

  • Guest
Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2004, 12:59:35 AM »
BAV,

Go into the Start Manager and look for the process ashdisp.exe

This file generates the icons for the tray.   If you do not see it there, then go to the Control Panel/Add-Remove and find Avast.  Double click on the Avast line and an options menu will open.  Find Repair and double click it to start the Avast repair.  This should fix things.
If not, come back and let us know.

Good luck

Bavnuser

  • Guest
Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #3 on: December 19, 2004, 12:58:35 AM »

I still have no icons in desktop/system/tray after doing a repair.

This is what I had before doing -> start/control panel/add-remove programs/Avast! Anti-Virus/change-remove/repair.

Windows Task Mgr showed these processes running:
ashDisp.exe
ashMaiSv.exe
ashServ.exe
aswUpdSv.exe running.

As Admin these Services were runnng:
avast! Antivirus/ started/ automatic
avast! iAVS4 Control Service/ started /automatic
avast! Mail Scanner/ started /manual

My "Startup Manager" program showed:
C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
from registry - Machine/Run

I did the repair and find the same conditions as above
unchanged.

I had this same problem with another anti-virus program (AVG v.7)
when I tried upgrading from v.6.

There is something about my XP installation that is stopping these
programs from running normally. I have other programs that put
icons in the tray - sound & graphics cards, PGP and others.
They are all running fine. And AVG v.6 had a tray icon and it worked without problems.

There was an XP update - so called critical - which I installed.
This was last week prior to trying AVG v.7 & Avast 4 Home. I don't know if that changed anything with the firewall or whatever.

I guess I need to post this to one of the MS XP newgroups.

Thanks for your suggestions and anything else you might think of.

Bavnuser

S.Z.Craftec

  • Guest
Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2004, 01:12:36 AM »
Sorry, this may sound stupid to you, but sometimes you have to try with most simple solution...

Try this...

Right click your Windows START button. It will bring you menu. Click on PROPERTIES and choose TASKBAR tab. Uncheck HIDE INACTIVE ICONS at the bottom of that panel...

See if that solves your problem...

Cheers !

Offline Lisandro

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Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2004, 02:21:37 AM »
Windows Task Mgr showed these processes running:
ashDisp.exe
ashMaiSv.exe
ashServ.exe
aswUpdSv.exe running.

This is ok.
ashDisp.exe is the 'icon'  ::)

As Admin these Services were runnng:
avast! Antivirus/ started/ automatic
avast! iAVS4 Control Service/ started /automatic
avast! Mail Scanner/ started /manual

My "Startup Manager" program showed:
C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
from registry - Machine/Run

This is right too...
Did you follow Sasha's advice?
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darkparrot

  • Guest
Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2004, 02:29:28 AM »
I dont know why the windows firewall would interfere, but this is how you disable it.

start>settings>control panel>windows firewall>select "off">press "ok"

Offline Lisandro

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Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2004, 02:32:58 AM »
I dont know why the windows firewall would interfere

In fact, I think Windows firewall can't interfere with the icon on the system tray  ::)
Anyway, thanks DarkParrot  ;)
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S.Z.Craftec

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Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2004, 02:33:23 AM »
Windows XP SP2 built in firewall will not interfere with avast! in any way, especially not hidding it's icons... he should try advice I gave him in my previous post, and then we can try something else if that doesn't work... but, in most cases, that should solve his problem...

darkparrot

  • Guest
Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2004, 02:36:14 AM »
You are probably right, but I have seen the windows firewall do some funky things.

Bavnuser

  • Guest
Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #10 on: December 20, 2004, 03:25:59 AM »

Thanks for your replies.

Thanks S.Z.Craftec - I checked out 'Hide inactive icons' and it
was unchecked. Good idea though as I have used it in the
past.

>> Technical - This is ok. ashDisp.exe is the 'icon' ...
     
Yes but there is/are still no icon(s) showing in the tray.
I can still access the program from the start menu and run 'ashAvast.exe'.

I have from the start suspected it was some setting or service
problem with my XP installation. I'm sure it's nothing to do with
Avast 4. As mentioned I had this same problem with brand X.

I have to agree with darkparrot. I have experienced strange happenings with the XP firewall. It can and does block services
even from the Administrator unless setup properly in Exceptions
and with the correct scope. But I have done this with all 3 Avast services so it is not likely the problem in this case ... ? I guess.

The only place I can think of where someone may know the answer
is in one of the MS newgroups. Any ideas on which NG would be best to
post to ?
microsoft.public.security.homeusers ? microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin ?
or ??

Bavnuser

Offline Eddy

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Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #11 on: December 20, 2004, 04:01:56 AM »
Please check the [VRDB] section in avast4.ini
What does it say in the line starting with "ShowTaskbarIcon"?

And under the [AAVM] section look for "ShowTaskbarIcon".
What is the value there?

Offline Lisandro

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Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #12 on: December 20, 2004, 01:34:52 PM »
Yes but there is/are still no icon(s) showing in the tray.

Do you have any other antivirus installed in your computer?
Did you have in the past? Which one?
This could be related to a RPC error which is due to other antivirus present or, at least, firewall blocking. Do you use an third party firewall? Which one?

If you already tried to repair your installation (Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove ... Repair function) I can only suggest that you disable Windows Firewall > uninstall avast > boot > install > boot again > enable Windows firewall...
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Bavnuser

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Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2004, 02:33:26 AM »
Please check the [VRDB] section in avast4.ini
What does it say in the line starting with "ShowTaskbarIcon"?

And under the [AAVM] section look for "ShowTaskbarIcon".
What is the value there?

They aren't there. I'll put them in but what values do I use?

S.Z.Craftec

  • Guest
Re:XP SP2 w/Firewall Avast icons disappeared
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2004, 02:45:53 AM »
I don't have those commands in my avast4.ini file and my icons are there in the system tray right next to system clock. Actually I merged VRDB icon and avast! main icon into one...

I think you need to add this line under [VRDB] section as well as under [AAVM] section:
ShowTaskbarIcon=1

Again, I don't have those lines and my icons are showing properly, so I don't know is it going to help you in any way...