I have a PC and I'm using Windows 7 home premium.
I recently upgraded my Avast use from Avast Pro Antivirus to GrimeFighter (now Avast Cleanup). Soon after I started using the cleanup program, I received a message in Windows Action Center that Avast was turned off. When I click the "Turn on now" button, asks me if I want to trust the publisher/run the program, I say yes, but nothing happens. The Avast icon is gone as well.
So now Avast is not opening/operating at all. I think I should uninstall/reinstall the software. But I can't figure out how to uninstall it.
I understand that Avast has a self protection module which I can't seem to disable because I can't open the program.
I've spent time reading the online forums and researching what to do, and have already tried the following:
1. Uninstall via Control Panel > Programs and Features in standard mode
Result: Get error message: "The instruction at 0x5CECA1F0 referenced memory at 0x5CECA1F0. The required data was not placed into memory because of an I/O error status of 0xc000009c."
2. Uninstall via Control Panel > Programs and Features in safe mode
Result: Nothing happens
3. Download Avast Uninstall Utility (avastclear), save on desktop, start in safe mode, right click on avastclear icon, click on "run as administrator"
Result: Nothing happens
4. Clean reinstall with latest version of Avast
Result: Receive application error when attempting to download most recent version: "The instruction at 0x5CECA1F0 referenced memory at 0x5CECA1F0. The required data was not placed into memory because of an I/O error status of 0xc000009c."
5. Use AppRemover to force uninstall Avast
Result: Receive error message, cannot uninstall the program. "AppRemover encountered an error while attempting to uninstall the selected product."
What else should I try? I'm not very tech-savvy but I'm trying my best to resolve this. I'm worried that I don't have any AV protection at the moment. I tried to download/install another AV program (AVG Free) but it can't complete the installation b/c Avast is still on my machine. I like Avast and want to keep using it, but something's messed up here and I don't know how to fix it.
Thanks in advance for any assistance!