I have a problem with turning Avast! Free AntiVirus on.

[Harrier13]

Hello, first-time poster here.

I have a big problem with Avast! Free Antivirus. You see, sometimes (I'd say about 3/4 of the time) I get the message which looks like this:



In my case, however, it says "The Avast! service is turned off.", which makes Avast! literally useless. The Resolve All option seems to work at random. Sometimes, it does fix the problem (not always on the first time, but still), but other times it can't fix it at all.  I already tried "clean" install and repairing Avast!, but to no avail.  I'm running Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium. I had no problems with Avast! whatsoever up until this one.   Sorry for my terrible English. 

[Eddy]

For a real clean install of avast I recommend this:
Go to the windows update website. ( http://update.microsoft.com ) and install all updates available for your system.
You may have to visit that website/reboot multiple times before everything is installed.

Check device manager and make sure there are no errors there at all.
No red cross(es), no exclamation mark(s).
If any is there, solve that first by installing the latest correct drivers for the device.

Next:
First make sure there are no remnants of a previously install av other than avast.
http://www.ache.nl > malware > remove (old) av

1. Download Avastclear, Rejzors uninstall tool and the appropriate Avast program edition.
Here are the installer links. Note: You need to be ONLINE during this install.
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.
http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility
4. Run Rejzors Uninstall Utility in Normal Mode (removes traces avastclear doesn't) - reboot.
http://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-cleanup-tool/
5. Be Sure Too Check Once Uninstall is Complete:Device Manager>View>Show Hidden Devices
If there is anything related to Avast with a yellow triangle then uninstall it (highlight, right click) and reboot.
6. Install the version you downloaded.
7. Reboot.

offline installers:
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup.exe

[Harrier13]

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.
http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility

Now I see why my clean install didn't work, I did those two steps in the opposite order. Not to mention, I did not use Rejzors' uninstaller at all! I'll report back ASAP.   

[Eddy]

Ok, good luck and keep us informed please.

[Harrier13]

Ok, good luck and keep us informed please.

OK, so I re-installed Avast! using your guide, and so far, I haven't encountered any problems. Thanks for help!

[Eddy]

Thans for letting us know.
If there is anything else we can try to help you with...
Well, let's say you know where to find us