Dreaded Side By Side Configuration error

[cholmes]

Hello All,

So, I was going about my day when i noticed avast wasnt running, and when i tried opening it i got the avastui.exe side by side configuration error.

After a quich google search I discovered the visual c++ problem. Here'e where things get interesting. I have uninstalled ALL microsoft visual c++ software (2005(x86),2008(x64),2010(x64)) aswell as avast using the removal tool in safe mode. I then rebooted and re installed the entire visual c++ suite then avast with a reboot just to be safe. Same error.

I then did a repair install of windows figuring that there was something deeper that needed to be fixed. repeated the same thing as above to the same result

I am running Windows 7 Pro 64 bit with avast free 7. I have used AVG in the past, but i have been using avast for years(3+) now without any problems. Any help would be appreciated. I do not have the sxstrace.exe output right now but I will post that as soon as I can.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[CharleyO]

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And how did you remove AVG?


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[cholmes]

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And how did you remove AVG?


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By uninstalling.

[cholmes]

So, I have been searching some more, and i found this:

1. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-system/64-bit-windows-7-ultimate-side-by-side/8b01ede0-c665-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5?msgId=a8fa0323-5b66-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5

2. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=55888.0

hopefully these work, or else I will have to stop using avast 

[bob3160]

I suggest that you also run the AVG removal tool to get rid of the stuff left over when you used the add/remove function.
(If that was all you used to remove AVG.)

[cholmes]

I suggest that you also run the AVG removal tool to get rid of the stuff left over when you used the add/remove function.
(If that was all you used to remove AVG.)

Normally I would say sure I'll try it, However as stated in my first post it has been 3+ years using Avast with no issues. To me having a problem like this suddenly pop up is unrelated to anything 3 years old left on a system.

But because im running out of ideas, I'll give it a shot after i try the other two procedures posted above.

[cholmes]

Here is the sxs trace output after parsing. I have gone a step farther and installed all x86 and x64 packages in hopes that avast relies on a dependency that wasn't included in one of the 64 bit installers (don't know why it wouldn't be but) to no avail.

EDIT: bob3160 I ran several AVG removal tools nothing helped:( thanks anyways!

[cholmes]

Ok, so I fixed it. I think it was a problem with the VC 9.0 runtime. (and after realizing this and looking at the sxstrace results it seems like a no brainer.)

What I did to fix it was:

1. uninstall avast (using add/remove AND removal tool in safemode)
2. uninstalled ALL C++ components using the add/remove programs
3. downloaded visual c++ 2005 SP1 (x86 and x64), 2008 Feature Pack (x86 and x64) and SP1 (x86 and x64) , 2010 sp1 (x86 and x64) and finally 2010 express (search www.download.microsoft.com
4. restart
5. install all visual c++ in order 05,08,10 x86 first then x64
6. reboot
7. install avast

et voilà!

Note: the VC 9.0 package is part of the 2010 express package. Also the x64 package *should* contain the same dependencies, but when does Microsoft follow *should*

Note 2: Key diference and one I should ave done the first time is re-install the 2010 express package. Probably would have saved myself a lot of time and sweat.

Hope this helps! Cheers!