Avast Uninstall - now Window Media Player won't open

[Tripsy]

Hello Everyone,

I'm really sorry to bother, but I'm just about at my wits end with this.

So after hearing some great things about avast, I went ahead and installed Avast 6 free to give it a try. It was nice and all, but I've decided to uninstall it - and this is where all the trouble began.

after uninstalling avast 6 free, my windows media player (latest version) no longer opens. It'll pop up in task manager processes for a sec then disappear (first attempt only. all following attempts will not appear). Likewise trying to open files associated with WMP will bring up a "server execution failed" message. I'm using a Windows 7 OS - 64bit.

Please help! all I want to do is uninstall avast and be able to use WMP again :'(


Things I've tried:

1) I've tried system restore to pre-Avast uninstallation. This brings back a fully functional WMP, but it also brings back Avast.

2) I've tried using control panel uninstall - this gave me a prompt BSOD on restart and a non-functional WMP.

3) I've tried the Safe-Mode + Avast uninstaller method. This gave me a nonfunctional WMP.

4) I've tried turning off&on WMP [after #2 and #3] via the "Turn off Windows.." thingy to see if it would bring it back - but still no functional WMP after avast uninstall.


I really don't understand  :'( why would a good program break things on the way out?
also, I know some people may recommend using VLC or other players instead. I do have VLC and it's a nice program, but if it's not too much to ask - I'd really like to have my computer back to not being broken.

Many thank you to those who may be able to help. :'(

[CraigB]

Iv never heard of avast doing what you say it has done, what other security progams are installed on your system ? Did you fully remove your previous av with the correct uninstaller before installing avast ?

[Shiw Liang]

Or his WMP was infected and avast moved it to chest

[CraigB]

Or his WMP was infected and avast moved it to chest

Thats a possibility.

[SHARKY7SHARKY]

Look in the chest like they say or

Uninstall Avast in safe mode with uninstaller then try this fix


http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows_media_player_diagnostic

[xtinguish]

Had a similar problem to this myself, so I just downloaded a new copy of wmp from Microsoft and installed it over the existing copy and all was well. Hope it works for you.

[Shiw Liang]

Had a similar problem to this myself, so I just downloaded a new copy of wmp from Microsoft and installed it over the existing copy and all was well. Hope it works for you.

+1
But that still doesn't explain what actually caused it

[xtinguish]

There have previously been problems with Avast and wmp. ie on XP machines where Avast locked all the controls and changed wmp to a horrible red colour which was not possible to change back. Eventually a registry fix was found and the problem was permanently corrected in a future release. I assume that this could be a similar type of thing which only affects a small number of users. Lets hope so.

[Tripsy]

thank you for the ideas everyone!

hmmm, I'll try system restore again and checking the chest (my poor WMP...). I didn't think to try it since it worked fine up until uninstall, but that might be a good catch.

The WMP diagnostic link is a nice find too! I didn't know they had one of those. if it's not in the chest, I'll try the safemode+uninstall+diagnostic method.

if both those don't work, I'll look more into seeing if I can find a downloadable WMP and reinstalling. I looked into it briefly before but Microsoft tells me to buy Win7 since WMP is included. I already have it tho! Grrrrr ,

might be a bit until I can try it out (need to wait until my next break) - but I'll be sure to report back if it works!

Thanks again everyone!


oh, a new reply before I could post. hmmm, changed it to red? I did come across that post, but my WMP won't open so I don't even know if it's red or not. it's nice they made a registry fix for it. Good job Avast! I downloaded avast just 2 weeks ago, but that registry fix thingy might be a potential lead if the above options don't work. thanks again!

[SHARKY7SHARKY]

If you did need to uninstall media player it will revert to an older version

[Tripsy]

Hello!

Case Closed! I got my WMP back. Thank you Sharky7Sharky for the WMP diagnostic link. it fixed the problem for me. It seems avast changed some of the wmp registry when it uninstalled  In the end I lost my playlists, but I'm glad to have gotten WMP back. I can always redo my playlists - they were getting a bit disorganized anyways

Thanks again Sharky7Sharky and everyone else who offered suggestions! 

[SHARKY7SHARKY]

You may be able to revert back & burn your play list if needed.
Glad it's sorted.

[REDACTED]

I must also thank you SHARKY7SHARKY. I had exactly same issue, I uninstalled Avast and my WMP stopped launching. I kept banging my head on the wall until a google search got me on this thread. I read through till I found where Tripsy thanked you for the WMP diagnostic link. I quickly headed to try the link and bam, my WMP is back! I cannot be more grateful, please thank you for this.