Persistent Error 'You Are Unprotected!'

[Daniel Tan]

I keep getting the error 'You Are Unprotected!". Clicking 'Start' or 'Resolve All' does not solve the problem. Clicking settings > Update > Update will give me another error: 'Failed to update. The avast! service is not running.'. When going to Control Panel > Uninstall a Program > Click avast! Free Antivirus > Click Uninstall/Change > Update (or Repair, neither solves the problem.)

Also,

[Eddy]

Use avastclear to remove the current installation.
Perform a clean install after doing so.
Let us know if that solved the problem.

[Daniel Tan]

I have been trying to open a ticket for five times before giving up and posting to this forum instead. This is what I have been getting:


What I selected:
avast! Technical Support
My avast! product does not work properly
The product seems to be working but it keeps reporting some errors, or it does not work at all and only show an error.
Virus and Spyware protection for Personal Computers
avast! products for Computers with Microsoft Windows operating system
avast! Free Antivirus
Enter the product version: 2014.9.0.2008 (Then click 'confirm')
Personal Computers
Computers with the Microsoft Windows operating system
Windows 7
64-bit
Home Premium
Service Pack 1

[Daniel Tan]

Use avastclear to remove the current installation.
Perform a clean install after doing so.
Let us know if that solved the problem.

I will give it a try. Thank you for your response.

[Daniel Tan]

Hello, I did a clean install and everything was fine until today, the same issue is happening again.

I suspect there is a bug in avast!

[Alikhan]

I'd try a clean install with the online installer, it's fixed alot of issues with people...

1. Download Avastclear, Rejzors uninstall tool and the appropriate Avast program edition

Note : You need to be ONLINE during the install (sometimes online installer works whereas offline doesn't)

http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup_online.exe

Avastclear : http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avastclear.exe
Rejzors Uninstall tool: http://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-cleanup-tool/

2. Uninstall Avast by control panel  [If you don't have Avast in control Panel go to #4]
3. Uninstall in safe mode using Avastclear.
4. Run Rejzors Uninstall Utility in Normal Mode (removes traces avastclear doesn't) - reboot.
5. Install the version you downloaded.
6. Reboot.

[Daniel Tan]

I'd try a clean install with the online installer, it's fixed alot of issues with people...

1. Download Avastclear, Rejzors uninstall tool and the appropriate Avast program edition

Note : You need to be ONLINE during the install (sometimes online installer works whereas offline doesn't)

http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup_online.exe

Avastclear : http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avastclear.exe
Rejzors Uninstall tool: http://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-cleanup-tool/

2. Uninstall Avast by control panel  [If you don't have Avast in control Panel go to #4]
3. Uninstall in safe mode using Avastclear.
4. Run Rejzors Uninstall Utility in Normal Mode (removes traces avastclear doesn't) - reboot.
5. Install the version you downloaded.
6. Reboot.

How do I configure proxy on the online installer? I got the installer from http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_online.exe

EDIT: Can I just install avast! using an offline installer instead?

[Alikhan]

I'd try a clean install with the online installer, it's fixed alot of issues with people...

1. Download Avastclear, Rejzors uninstall tool and the appropriate Avast program edition

Note : You need to be ONLINE during the install (sometimes online installer works whereas offline doesn't)

http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup_online.exe

Avastclear : http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avastclear.exe
Rejzors Uninstall tool: http://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-cleanup-tool/

2. Uninstall Avast by control panel  [If you don't have Avast in control Panel go to #4]
3. Uninstall in safe mode using Avastclear.
4. Run Rejzors Uninstall Utility in Normal Mode (removes traces avastclear doesn't) - reboot.
5. Install the version you downloaded.
6. Reboot.

How do I configure proxy on the online installer? I got the installer from http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_online.exe

EDIT: Can I just install avast! using an offline installer instead?

I'd recommend this one since you haven't tried it before plus it's fixed issues which happened with the offline one... I don't know how to configure the proxy, though... maybe someone else could shed some light on it...

[Daniel Tan]

I have used Rejzors Uninstall tool along with Avastclear. I re-installed avast! using an offline installer though. Can't keep my laptop unprotected for too long.

Hopefully the error does not happen again.

[Eddy]

Tanks for the latest information Daniel.
If the problem appears again, let us know please.

[Leofsiege]

I have done all the things listed above. I still cannot turn avast on.

[Alikhan]

I have done all the things listed above. I still cannot turn avast on.

Did you try the instructions I posted above? Did you have any other AV (or currently) than Avast? (If) Did you use the removal tool for that previous AV?