Author Topic: Windows 7 does not boot  (Read 11654 times)

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algemon

  • Guest
Windows 7 does not boot
« on: May 29, 2013, 10:53:01 PM »
I am having the same issue as a few more in the forum (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=125495.0 and http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=125654.0) with a Win7 that does not boot. Sometimes just cycling at first Widows logo, sometimes produces a BSOD with varying messages. Repair does not work, neither booting into safe mode without another boot media.

When I boot into safe mode from the HDD (SSD actually) it hangs at the same file every time. First aswRvrt.sys and after I renamed all asw*-files in $Windows\system32\drivers it hangs on ClassPNP.sys.

Before I resort to reinstallation of windows I would like to uninstall Avast and make sure that this is not caused by some malware. Could someone please guide me in that process since I am lacking those skills myself?

Johnny4745

  • Guest
Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2013, 03:53:21 PM »
I am having the same issue as a few more in the forum (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=125495.0 and http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=125654.0) with a Win7 that does not boot. Sometimes just cycling at first Widows logo, sometimes produces a BSOD with varying messages. Repair does not work, neither booting into safe mode without another boot media.

When I boot into safe mode from the HDD (SSD actually) it hangs at the same file every time. First aswRvrt.sys and after I renamed all asw*-files in $Windows\system32\drivers it hangs on ClassPNP.sys.

Before I resort to reinstallation of windows I would like to uninstall Avast and make sure that this is not caused by some malware. Could someone please guide me in that process since I am lacking those skills myself?

You can follow the directions here:
http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility

Or you can disable the Self Protection Module in Avast.
See attachment below.  And them remove Avast in Control Panel, Programs and Features, just like you uninstall any other program.

algemon

  • Guest
Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2013, 08:14:10 PM »
Since the host OS won't boot I can't uninstall from the control panel. Will the Avast Uninstall Utility work properly if ran from a boot cd?

Johnny4745

  • Guest
Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2013, 08:41:16 PM »
Since the host OS won't boot I can't uninstall from the control panel. Will the Avast Uninstall Utility work properly if ran from a boot cd?

I don't know, you will just have to try it.

How did you rename the files?  Did you do it from a Command Prompt?  If so, see if the information in this link can help you.
http://www.techcorrespondent.com/2010/06/how-to-uninstall-programs-using-windows.html?_escaped_fragment_=#!

If I remember correctly, you can boot from the Windows installation disk to get to a command prompt.

Johnny4745

  • Guest
Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #4 on: May 30, 2013, 08:55:59 PM »
Since the host OS won't boot I can't uninstall from the control panel. Will the Avast Uninstall Utility work properly if ran from a boot cd?

I don't know, you will just have to try it.

How did you rename the files?  Did you do it from a Command Prompt?  If so, see if the information in this link can help you.
http://www.techcorrespondent.com/2010/06/how-to-uninstall-programs-using-windows.html?_escaped_fragment_=#!

If I remember correctly, you can boot from the Windows installation disk to get to a command prompt.

Don't bother trying that link.  It only remove Windows Applications. 

ram1220

  • Guest
Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2013, 10:48:24 PM »
Boot your computer into Safe Mode by pressing F8 after you turn it on. You should be able to run the remover tool then.

algemon

  • Guest
Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2013, 11:17:41 PM »
@Johnny4745: I booted with a rescue disc (Hirens Boot CD 15.2) and ran command prompt in that guest OS. From there I accessed the HDD and renamed the files. The renaming was just about adding a '_' to the end of each filename suffix.

@ram1220: Since i can't boot the OS installed on the hard drive at all, not even in safe mode, that's unfortunately not an option. I need a way of removing Avast from a guest OS booted from a CD (or USB).

Johnny4745

  • Guest
Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2013, 11:28:59 PM »
@Johnny4745: I booted with a rescue disc (Hirens Boot CD 15.2) and ran command prompt in that guest OS. From there I accessed the HDD and renamed the files. The renaming was just about adding a '_' to the end of each filename suffix.

@ram1220: Since i can't boot the OS installed on the hard drive at all, not even in safe mode, that's unfortunately not an option. I need a way of removing Avast from a guest OS booted from a CD (or USB).

I have a few links for you to look at.  You can boot from the Windows installation DVD and get to a command prompt.

This will show you how to remove a program using the Command Prompt.  It works I tried it.  Just remember to leave out the quotation marks, except around the name of the program.  I'm going to add an attachment to help you.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5895636_uninstall-programs-using-command-prompt.html

Here are two more links"
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html

timcan

  • Guest
Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2013, 12:19:20 AM »
Since the host OS won't boot I can't uninstall from the control panel. Will the Avast Uninstall Utility work properly if ran from a boot cd?

Hi, the utility will execute and run though it does give a warning that this is not the recommended way.
The Hirens disk 'should' have the total commander file explorer if you want to try it. :-\
Do this at your own risk. Hope this helps.

algemon

  • Guest
Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #9 on: June 01, 2013, 04:37:28 PM »
Thanks for your help. However I have not been able to solve the problem. For those who don't know, the Avast Uninstall Utility will run from a BootCD, but will not remove anything from the registry of the OS installed on the HDD. Only the files in the Avast directory will be removed.

Now I will check some more for root kits or other malicious code before I reinstall Windows 7 to have the computer back in action.

Johnny4745

  • Guest
Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #10 on: June 01, 2013, 05:03:52 PM »
Thanks for your help. However I have not been able to solve the problem. For those who don't know, the Avast Uninstall Utility will run from a BootCD, but will not remove anything from the registry of the OS installed on the HDD. Only the files in the Avast directory will be removed.

Now I will check some more for root kits or other malicious code before I reinstall Windows 7 to have the computer back in action.

There is one other thing that could be causing your problem.  In April Microsoft released and update that caused some people's computers to fail to boot.  The update was KB2823324.

If you received this update and didn't remove it, it could cause problems at a later date when software was installed that caused a conflict.

Microsoft did provide a solution.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=38435

Offline bob3160

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Re: Windows 7 does not boot
« Reply #11 on: June 01, 2013, 05:04:52 PM »
Thanks for your help. However I have not been able to solve the problem. For those who don't know, the Avast Uninstall Utility will run from a BootCD, but will not remove anything from the registry of the OS installed on the HDD. Only the files in the Avast directory will be removed.

Now I will check some more for root kits or other malicious code before I reinstall Windows 7 to have the computer back in action.
Once you've booted from the CD, can't you access the HDD ??? If you can why not paste the aswclear.exe onto that drive and run it from there ???
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