Author Topic: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot  (Read 17319 times)

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Tomo

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Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« on: July 05, 2006, 06:47:20 PM »
I just downloaded and installed Avast 4.* now PC wont 't boot. "C:\windows\system32\system missing or corrupt" error message.  I cant even boot in f8 safe mode.

Looks like WIN XP recovery consule is now my only option but have never used it. Can someone please talk me through repair?

Really bummed!!!

Any help greatly appreciated.
Tom O

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2006, 07:36:29 PM »
I can't imagine this related to avast...  ::)
Why would avast corrupt the Windows\System32 folder?
By the way, are you sure about that path? It shouldn't have a system directory under Windows\System32 ...?!

Do you have any other antivirus installed in this computer?

Running the Recovery Console, you should, at least, run CHKDSK /R to scan all your disk, partition to partition, to correct errors in the system file.
The best things in life are free.

Tomo

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2006, 07:50:23 PM »
Yes it was Avast--the install process required a reboot andwhen it came back up that's when I got the missing or corrupt file message. I mistyped in my previous post--it should have been as follows:
C:\windows\system32\Config\ system    missing or corrupt

Norton AV was installed at the time but I disabled it prior to the Avast install.

Can you hold my hand through a recover operation?
Thanks
Tom O



Offline Lisandro

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2006, 07:55:37 PM »
Yes it was Avast--the install process required a reboot andwhen it came back up that's when I got the missing or corrupt file message. I mistyped in my previous post--it should have been as follows:
C:\windows\system32\Config\ system missing or corrupt
This is C:\WINDOWS\system32\config windows registry folder...
Do you have ever used ERUNT to backup your registry? (http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/) If so, we can recover it...
If not, well... You should boot into the 'LAST WORKING CONFIGURATION'.
Press F8 while booting and choose the last known good configuration option...
Can you try?

Norton AV was installed at the time but I disabled it prior to the Avast install.
Disable is not enough... NEVER WAS...
NAV uninstall or other antivirus uninstall for compatibility reasons: http://www.claymania.com/av-uninstall.html.
See: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=12169.0

A removal tool for such a number of NAV is SymNRT.

The best things in life are free.

ardvark

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2006, 08:15:50 PM »
Hi Tech...

I've noticed that folks leaving other AV's in place or not uninstalling them cleanly tends to be a common (yet unrecognized among most users) problem. Perhaps it might be prudent if Alwil inserted a warning box during the install/setup process that one had to click "OK, I understand" to get past.

What do you think?

Best Regards...
« Last Edit: July 06, 2006, 02:10:39 AM by ardvark »

Tomo

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2006, 08:18:56 PM »
<<Press F8 while booting and choose the last known good configuration option...
Can you try? >>
nope --it still produces the Winx XP missing or corupted file error message

ardvark

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2006, 08:38:04 PM »
Hi Tomo...

Did you try running "chkdsk /r"? Did you try using the SymNRT tool? What are/were the results?

Best Regards...

Tomo

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #7 on: July 05, 2006, 09:11:43 PM »
Yep--found and fixed one error but still not booting--still getting missing or corrupt config\system file
It will also not boot with f8 switch to get to last known good configuration
T


Offline Lisandro

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #8 on: July 05, 2006, 11:12:17 PM »
nope --it still produces the Winx XP missing or corupted file error message
Your registry files are corrupt... for sure avast does not do this... seems a physical error on the disk.
Do you have the Windows CD? So, boot with it and get the Recovery Console from it and run
chkdsk /r
to see what you get...
The best things in life are free.

Tomo

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2006, 01:36:57 AM »
<<Your registry files are corrupt... for sure avast does not do this... seems a physical error on the disk.>>
Wrong AVST DID THIS! It corrupted the files when Avast required a re-boot. I have not been able to boot since-- just re ran CHKDSK /r and no errors on disc
Any other thoughts?
Thanks
Tom O


ardvark

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #10 on: July 06, 2006, 02:16:20 AM »
Hi Tomo...

I've never actually used the recovery console myself but here is a site that will possibly be of help to you...

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm#How%20to%20access%20Last%20Known%20Good%20Configuration:

Let us know how it goes and if you have any further questions.

Best Regards...

Tomo

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #11 on: July 06, 2006, 04:57:14 PM »
<<This is C:\WINDOWS\system32\config windows registry folder...
Do you have ever used ERUNT to backup your registry? >>
NO never used that program--never needed it!

None of the recovery consule functions are fixing the problem Avast caused -fixmbr, fixboot. It will not even boot into safe mode or last working configuration mode.
AVAST really trashed something bad--

What else do you recomend I do.  Have been working on solving problem for nearly 24 hrs now

Tomo



(http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/) If so, we can recover it...
If not, well... You should boot into the 'LAST WORKING CONFIGURATION'.
Press F8 while booting and choose the last known good configuration option...
Can you try?

Offline DavidR

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #12 on: July 06, 2006, 06:17:09 PM »
Quote from: Tomo
None of the recovery consule functions are fixing the problem Avast caused -fixmbr, fixboot. It will not even boot into safe mode or last working configuration mode.
AVAST really trashed something bad--

Lets not forget that you installed avast without uninstalling NAV which is heavily integrated into the system/registry, etc. this forum is littered with issues of debris left after NAV is uninstalled, let alone left in place.

So there are three contributors to this problem as much of a pain and as bad as it is.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #13 on: July 06, 2006, 07:22:42 PM »
NO never used that program--never needed it!
Well, for now on, you know how a registry backup/recovery tool is important.

None of the recovery consule functions are fixing the problem Avast caused -fixmbr, fixboot.
These functions just help the 'boot' or the 'MBR - Master Boot Record' troubles.
Your problem is a FILE problem on the Windows Registry.
Maybe Googling 'Registry Recovery' you can find some tool for that. I don't know any. Just if you have a previous backup.

It will not even boot into safe mode or last working configuration mode.
This is the worst part...  :'(

What else do you recomend I do.  Have been working on solving problem for nearly 24 hrs now

Overinstallation has a minimal possibility of recovery and solve the problem. You won't lose your programs, settings, data, files, etc.
But, the problem in a registry file is crucial and I'm not sure. Can you overinstall Windows? Just choose 'Repair' installation of Windows and install 'over' the old installation.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q314058
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
The best things in life are free.

Tomo

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Re: Avast install trashed my system and now wont boot
« Reply #14 on: July 06, 2006, 07:34:56 PM »
Will try an overinstall and let you know results
Thanks