Avast Free on Vista - Windows won't load re User Profile after latest update

[REDACTED]

Hi
   I've been a loyal user of Avast free for ~12 YEARS :-)  But...yesterday it FUCKED me big time.  I am a Pro Mobile DJ and have an old Dell XPS thats just a DJ machine running the original Vista for the last couple of years, but I still have all my old software and email on( that I only use when absolutely needed). This was a state of the art machine, and I had about 30 hrs of install time, a ton of Music and Video Software!  Sooooo yesterday, after bringing my music files up to date....I said to myself, let me see if there is an Avast Program update ( as I only update 1/mo).  And there was an update.....it installed and asked me to Reboot, so I did !  When It got to my Windows log on.....it said  ~ ' the User Profile could not be found '  :-((((((((((((((((((((((((((  I'm also a PC PRO! It took me HOURS to goggle fixes and finally create a New user and move all me User files into the new profile and tweak my DJ software back into working :-((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((  And on top of that.....somehow my Internet access is now caput as well...... :-(((((((((  I know Avast free is just that, and I've been the beneficiary...but this is NG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I do have a GHOST for this machine....that I might use to 'bring it back' ? :-)

[Asyn]

- Which version of Avast Free..?
- OS..? (32/64 Bit..? - which SP/Build..?)
- Other security related software installed..?
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..?

[bob3160]

This is a family friendly Forum so please watch your language.
Editing out the stuff not family friendly would be nice.

[REDACTED]

HI...Clean install of Avast from when I bought the machine 14 years ago? And the update was yesterday
no other 'active' AV or Malware software
Vista 32 Bit....fairly to date?
I'm getting ready to leave for work and that machine is packed
As I said...I'm a PC PRO !
this machine has had NO issues till this !

sorry about the 'curse' but.....hey...!

[bob3160]

Sorry about no further input but hey....!

[Asyn]

If you need/want help, edit your initial post and answer the questions in Reply#1.

[DavidR]

You mention the word Pro twice in your first post, so what is your backup and recovery strategy ?
You also say that I do have a GHOST for this machine....that I might use to 'bring it back', I would have gone for that option much sooner than

I also have an old XP Pro system, with lots of software that is:
A: discontinued
B: simply won't run on windows10.

So for many, many years I have been doing a weekly hard drive image on all of my systems (keeping the last 5 images) and daily backups of volatile files.  This has saved my backside many times (not once AV related in over 14 years of using avast free), if I experience a problem that is likely to take longer to resolve than restoring the last drive image, then I restore the drive image.

Of course you could also consider doing a drive image before doing a program update.