Author Topic: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.  (Read 9276 times)

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Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« on: August 04, 2015, 07:07:41 AM »
So, I reinstalled Windows because, well, it kept failing a certain update which every time it failed it kept increasing its priority. (At first, the update was Optional, then Recommended, then it was Important; and then it kept attempting to install itself every boot so I thought it was a virus and I restarted. Each time it failed, it installed correctly this time, though!)

I have the Avast free version, and when I restart the computer it's on the Notification Bar. When I use WinRAR, and try to move folders they don't show up on my Desktop so I have to go into my task manager and delete the "explorer.exe" process and reopen it. When I do this, Avast does not show itself.

Is there any way I can fix this? I already attempted to repair Avast, and that didn't do much to fix it. I have to restart to fix it from what I've seen, and I have all notifications icons are shown on my notification bar.


Upon trying to update Avast:

Program: Already up to date (current version 10.3.2225)
Total Time: 0s
Download Time: 1s
Downloaded Files: 3 (3.18 KB)

Offline bob3160

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2015, 04:19:10 PM »
Welcome to the forum. :)
Any time you need to close and reopen explorer, there will always be some items that were started when the system booted that may not
show on the taskbar after it has been recovered. That is normal. The programs are still active they just don't show.
You'll need to reboot the system for those items to show up again.
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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2015, 06:01:32 PM »
Welcome to the forum. :)
Any time you need to close and reopen explorer, there will always be some items that were started when the system booted that may not
show on the taskbar after it has been recovered. That is normal. The programs are still active they just don't show.
You'll need to reboot the system for those items to show up again.

Thank you.
I suspected that Avast is still open, because it shows itself on the Task Manager; but I just wanted to make sure that it was. I don't want to think it's still running but actually isn't, you know? Thanks!

Offline bob3160

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2015, 06:03:56 PM »
You could also click on the Avast shortcut on your desktop or, click on the start menu and click on avast from there to let it show in the system tray again.
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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #4 on: August 04, 2015, 07:22:54 PM »
You could also click on the Avast shortcut on your desktop or, click on the start menu and click on avast from there to let it show in the system tray again.

I tried that, and it didn't do anything; which is the peculiar part about this situation.

Edit: It opened up Avast, but it didn't put it down in the Notification Tray.

Offline mchain

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2015, 08:04:41 PM »
Something is not working as you expect with WinRAR folders not showing, so you then forcibly close explorer.exe (which you shouldn't do) and avast icon disappears from the system tray when you restart explorer.exe?  Just closing explorer.exe will cause some system tray icons to disappear, but this is not an avast issue per se.

It is, however, evidence that explorer.exe was not able to save all settings when forcibly quit and then restarted manually in the current user session.

Suggest you look at why WinRAR is not working the way you expect, and fix that so you need not forcibly close explorer.exe anymore.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Explorer  (What it does)

Forcibly repeat closing of explorer.exe can lead to user and system stability issues over time, so the less you do that the better.

[EDIT:]  If you are looking for a work-around, try logging off and then back on after force-quit explorer and see if avast re-appears.  As I said, the less this is done, the better, as the file system is critical to proper operation.

What was the failing update that caused you to start over again?
« Last Edit: August 04, 2015, 08:14:08 PM by mchain »
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2015, 08:32:24 PM »
Something is not working as you expect with WinRAR folders not showing, so you then forcibly close explorer.exe (which you shouldn't do) and avast icon disappears from the system tray when you restart explorer.exe?  Just closing explorer.exe will cause some system tray icons to disappear, but this is not an avast issue per se.

It is, however, evidence that explorer.exe was not able to save all settings when forcibly quit and then restarted manually in the current user session.

Suggest you look at why WinRAR is not working the way you expect, and fix that so you need not forcibly close explorer.exe anymore.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_Explorer  (What it does)

Forcibly repeat closing of explorer.exe can lead to user and system stability issues over time, so the less you do that the better.

[EDIT:]  If you are looking for a work-around, try logging off and then back on after force-quit explorer and see if avast re-appears.  As I said, the less this is done, the better, as the file system is critical to proper operation.

What was the failing update that caused you to start over again?

WinRAR works, but when I drag a folder out of a .rar file, for example, it will not load on the desktop. So to get around this, I can load it into a folder, or I can put it onto my desktop and restart explorer.exe. It seems to be a glitch, though. It's been like that for quite some time, and I can say I don't think it's been fixed; nor will it be fixed.

Avast reappears when I restarted the computer, and it is there now; and I have not stopped explorer.exe other than that one time. I try not to close explorer.exe, but sometimes it's really the only workaround for some glitches; or waiting for windows to tell me to restart it.

The failing update was a monitor driver and an "Update for Windows" that I do not remember the exact name. The monitor driver was the only one increasing its own priority, which for me, is an instant red light; as nothing to my knowledge will go from Optional to Important; nor will it force the update. It was weird, and I just felt like reinstalling would fix it; which it did.

Offline mchain

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2015, 08:44:00 PM »
Good to hear using force-quit is something you are mindful of.

If putting your file in a new folder works for you, then that would be a valid workaround.  For example, all .zip files I download go into a new folder that I name with that file, and that way, after expansion, all new files stay in there rather than being spread about the download folder. 

Keeps things a little cleaner that way.  Windows Update, btw, is notorious for offering misconfigured or wrong drivers.  Better to go to the manufacturer's website and getting all drivers you need from there.  Notorious only in the sense that it needs to happen only once for an issue you didn't have before, whereas you are guaranteed to have the correct driver for whatever at the vendor's website.  bob3160 also has a website for that.
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2015, 08:47:44 PM »
Good to hear using force-quit is something you are mindful of.

If putting your file in a new folder works for you, then that would be a valid workaround.  For example, all .zip files I download go into a new folder that I name with that file, and that way, after expansion, all new files stay in there rather than being spread about the download folder. 

Keeps things a little cleaner that way.  Windows Update, btw, is notorious for offering misconfigured or wrong drivers.  Better to go to the manufacturer's website and getting all drivers you need from there.  Notorious only in the sense that it needs to happen only once for an issue you didn't have before, whereas you are guaranteed to have the correct driver for whatever at the vendor's website.  bob3160 also has a website for that.

Man, the avast forum community has everything. I was hoping windows update would be a little more, uh, reliable..? Anyway, I'll probably go get the correct driver software later today.

I attempt to not kill too many tasks, as I know it's not the best thing to do; same with forcing a shutdown all the time; but sometimes it has to be done. I've had to kill Task Manager a few times with command prompt, but that's about it. I don't really want to delve too deep with killing tasks and ending others because I don't feel like destroying my system... Worst case scenario I need to reinstall windows again, and nobody likes that.

Thanks for the help.

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2015, 08:52:57 PM »
More than welcome here, anytime.   ;D
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2015, 08:59:55 PM »
More than welcome here, anytime.   ;D

I don't really want to make another post for this, but I will if I must:
When I run an "Avast Smart Scan" it tells me I have problems with my Internet Security. I go to resolve all, and it says "Congratulations, your home network is well secured!". When I run a Network Threat scan, it also comes up with nothing. Is the Smart Scan bugged or is it actually finding an error that Avast is not telling me?

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #11 on: August 04, 2015, 09:02:07 PM »
What is the exact error Smart Scan is reporting?  You can attach a screenshot of the error box if you like.
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #12 on: August 04, 2015, 09:07:42 PM »
What is the exact error Smart Scan is reporting?  You can attach a screenshot of the error box if you like.

Upon finishing the Smart Scan,


Upon selecting "Resolve All",


Upon running the standalone "Network Threat" scan,

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Re: Avast removes itself from the notification bar.
« Reply #13 on: August 04, 2015, 09:16:28 PM »
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801

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