wow-64.exe not launching properly after avast update

[Nightwalker097]

I just reinstalled WoW yesterday, could not get it to load.  Troubleshooting it today I have this exact problem, so the issue has not been resolved.  After a fresh reboot of the PC, WoW will load just fine.  I was able to play for several hours with no problems.  I logged out of both the game and the launcher for about 10 minutes.  I was able to log back into the launcher, but when I hit PLAY, the game itself does not load.  Same indication that all the other in this thread have had. When I uninstalled Avast and rebooted, WoW loads fine every time.

Now I was just informed that when my wife loaded her WoW, she had no problems and her computer has been running all day.  She is using the free version of Avast.

Hope this is fixed soon as I have paid for Avast and wish to continue using it.

[kwiq]

Hi Nightwalker097,
cau you provide us procmon log when Wow fails to load properly It would help us to resolve the issue ?

1) download procmon tool from (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procmon)
2) Start procmon
3) Start Wow and induce the issue
4) Save procmon log. Select File in menu ->  Save... ->  Events to save : all events, Format : Native process Monitor Format, Select path where you want to save the log
5) zip the procmon log and upload them to avast ftp (Nightwalker097_wow_fail.zip)

Thank you for help ! 

[Nightwalker097]

Hi Nightwalker097,
cau you provide us procmon log when Wow fails to load properly It would help us to resolve the issue ?

1) download procmon tool from (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procmon)
2) Start procmon
3) Start Wow and induce the issue
4) Save procmon log. Select File in menu ->  Save... ->  Events to save : all events, Format : Native process Monitor Format, Select path where you want to save the log
5) zip the procmon log and upload them to avast ftp (Nightwalker097_wow_fail.zip)

Thank you for help !

The following file has been uploaded to ftp://ftp.avast.com/incoming/

Nightwalker097_wow_fail.zip

There are three files, two log files and one text file for details.  If this did not work, let me know who I can send a link to.

[kwiq]

Hi Nightwalker097,
can you try to disable avast self protection, rename C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\x64\aswhooka.dll library to aswhooka.dll.org and start wow64.exe ?
Let me know if it helped
Thank you !

[Nightwalker097]

Hi Nightwalker097,
can you try to disable avast self protection, rename C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\x64\aswhooka.dll library to aswhooka.dll.org and start wow64.exe ?
Let me know if it helped
Thank you !

System will not allow me to change the file name, access denied.   Yes, I am using a Admin account.

[REDACTED]

I have been exchanging emails with Avast support about this for a couple of weeks now, the response today surprised me considering some of the messages in this thread.

--------------------------
Hello John,

you are the only one who write to us with this issue.

Could you try just disable Avast if it will help to run the game. Don't uninstall, just stop all the shields.

Kind Regards,
Michal Hušek
The Avast Support Team
-----------------------------------

I swear there are messages in here indicating that people have been in touch with support.

[DavidR]

Hi Nightwalker097,
can you try to disable avast self protection, rename C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\x64\aswhooka.dll library to aswhooka.dll.org and start wow64.exe ?
Let me know if it helped
Thank you !

System will not allow me to change the file name, access denied.   Yes, I am using a Admin account.

Did you first disable the Avast Self-Defence module ?
AvastUI > Settings > Troubleshooting - uncheck the 'Enable Avast self-defence module' option.

[mchain]

Yes, Self-Defense will protect avast files and prevent renaming, which is why you'd need to disable it for the moment.

[REDACTED]

I did the steps here, renaming the file after turning off self defense and wow launches every time for me.

[Nightwalker097]

I disabled the Avast Self Defense Module, changed the aswhooka.dll to aswhooka.dll.org.  Loaded WoW-64.exe with no difference, it did not work.  I rebooted the computer, loaded WoW, and it loaded fine, but it was doing this before.  WoW would load after a fresh boot, but after an undetermined amount of time it would no longer load. Time varied.

I also tried to disable all shields, this had no effect, WoW still did not work.

So until this is figured out, I will uninstall Avast.

[REDACTED]

I disabled the Avast Self Defense Module, changed the aswhooka.dll to aswhooka.dll.org.  Loaded WoW-64.exe with no difference, it did not work.  I rebooted the computer, loaded WoW, and it loaded fine, but it was doing this before.  WoW would load after a fresh boot, but after an undetermined amount of time it would no longer load. Time varied.

I also tried to disable all shields, this had no effect, WoW still did not work.

So until this is figured out, I will uninstall Avast.

Yours is exactly what mine was doing before I renamed the file, I wonder if there aren't multiple things going on.  The last thing I did before renaming the file was a complete removal, including using the avast tool to clear everything out, and a re-install at support's request.  When I sent them my troubleshooting logs they said I had a mix of old and new dll files. 

I still don't consider this fixed as I have self defense turned off and that dll isn't loading.

[Nightwalker097]

I disabled the Avast Self Defense Module, changed the aswhooka.dll to aswhooka.dll.org.  Loaded WoW-64.exe with no difference, it did not work.  I rebooted the computer, loaded WoW, and it loaded fine, but it was doing this before.  WoW would load after a fresh boot, but after an undetermined amount of time it would no longer load. Time varied.

I also tried to disable all shields, this had no effect, WoW still did not work.

So until this is figured out, I will uninstall Avast.

Yours is exactly what mine was doing before I renamed the file, I wonder if there aren't multiple things going on.  The last thing I did before renaming the file was a complete removal, including using the avast tool to clear everything out, and a re-install at support's request.  When I sent them my troubleshooting logs they said I had a mix of old and new dll files. 

I still don't consider this fixed as I have self defense turned off and that dll isn't loading.

I have not used the Avast removal tool, but after a standard uninstall via Windows WoW loads fine every time.  I find it interesting that with Avast installed, usually after a fresh boot WoW will load just fine and run fine as well.  After logging out of WoW, just the game, and waiting for some time, when I try to log back into WoW it won't load.  I agree, there might be multiple things going on that is the combination that is causing this issue.

Hoping the Avast team can get this fixed soon.

[bob3160]

I disabled the Avast Self Defense Module, changed the aswhooka.dll to aswhooka.dll.org.  Loaded WoW-64.exe with no difference, it did not work.  I rebooted the computer, loaded WoW, and it loaded fine, but it was doing this before.  WoW would load after a fresh boot, but after an undetermined amount of time it would no longer load. Time varied.

I also tried to disable all shields, this had no effect, WoW still did not work.

So until this is figured out, I will uninstall Avast.

Yours is exactly what mine was doing before I renamed the file, I wonder if there aren't multiple things going on.  The last thing I did before renaming the file was a complete removal, including using the avast tool to clear everything out, and a re-install at support's request.  When I sent them my troubleshooting logs they said I had a mix of old and new dll files. 

I still don't consider this fixed as I have self defense turned off and that dll isn't loading.

I have not used the Avast removal tool, but after a standard uninstall via Windows WoW loads fine every time.  I find it interesting that with Avast installed, usually after a fresh boot WoW will load just fine and run fine as well.  After logging out of WoW, just the game, and waiting for some time, when I try to log back into WoW it won't load.  I agree, there might be multiple things going on that is the combination that is causing this issue.

Hoping the Avast team can get this fixed soon.

Please do a clean install and see if that fixes the problem.

Clean Install of Avast:
https://goo.gl/4Ptzkf
If you need additional help with the Clean Install, watch this:
https://youtu.be/p-h3myRD51A

[REDACTED]

I'm starting to think it only worked for me because it thought I would stay excited.  I played today, exited out of the game to watch a show online.  When I went to start the game back up it did not start.  Having been on the support side of the world I know how frustrating issues like this can be, I'm still annoyed at the insistence by the support agent that I was the only one reporting the issue.  It may very well be time to find a new product, and then I will have to make sure that every person on the staff that I have recommended Avast to, as well as all of the students and their parents find out about my support experience.

[Nightwalker097]

I disabled the Avast Self Defense Module, changed the aswhooka.dll to aswhooka.dll.org.  Loaded WoW-64.exe with no difference, it did not work.  I rebooted the computer, loaded WoW, and it loaded fine, but it was doing this before.  WoW would load after a fresh boot, but after an undetermined amount of time it would no longer load. Time varied.

I also tried to disable all shields, this had no effect, WoW still did not work.

So until this is figured out, I will uninstall Avast.

Yours is exactly what mine was doing before I renamed the file, I wonder if there aren't multiple things going on.  The last thing I did before renaming the file was a complete removal, including using the avast tool to clear everything out, and a re-install at support's request.  When I sent them my troubleshooting logs they said I had a mix of old and new dll files. 

I still don't consider this fixed as I have self defense turned off and that dll isn't loading.

I have not used the Avast removal tool, but after a standard uninstall via Windows WoW loads fine every time.  I find it interesting that with Avast installed, usually after a fresh boot WoW will load just fine and run fine as well.  After logging out of WoW, just the game, and waiting for some time, when I try to log back into WoW it won't load.  I agree, there might be multiple things going on that is the combination that is causing this issue.

Hoping the Avast team can get this fixed soon.

Please do a clean install and see if that fixes the problem.

Clean Install of Avast:
https://goo.gl/4Ptzkf
If you need additional help with the Clean Install, watch this:
https://youtu.be/p-h3myRD51A

Followed procedures for Clean Install.  WoW still will not load.  Even after a fresh boot.  Waited 25+ min and tried again, no luck.