Author Topic: Weird update issues with Free, Win 7 x64 (winsock, repository fixes don't work)  (Read 6309 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
After the most recent Program update, I started having issues with the Windows Action Center.

First, I was having the "UI Failed To Load" problem. I went into Services and reset the background updates to Automatic.

Now, the Action Center doesn't recognize that the virus definitions are fully updated, and the UI isn't recognizing the updates either, even after manually downloading and installing the updates.

What's the deal? How can I fix this?
« Last Edit: February 21, 2019, 11:19:02 PM by Noneed Tuno »

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Re: Weird issues with Free and Windows 7 x64
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2019, 08:33:19 PM »
More pics:

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Re: Weird issues with Free and Windows 7 x64
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2019, 08:47:56 PM »
Win 7 Home Premium x64, HP desktop from 2014, AMD dual-core microproc, 4GB RAM

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Re: Weird issues with Free and Windows 7 x64
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2019, 03:51:52 AM »
Went through Control Panel/Programs, selected "Change"; attempted update.
It showed that the program was updated (both program and engine/virus definitions), but the Action Center still shows the flag, and the icon is still showing the yellow caution triangle.

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Re: Weird issues with Free and Windows 7 x64
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2019, 04:56:55 AM »
By using https://www.malwarebytes.com/adwcleaner/, I was able to reset the winsock in Safe Mode.
This appears to have restored normal function, but I still don't know why this started, or how long this will go on.

Submitted a bug report through the UI.

Program version 19.1.2360 (build 19.1.4142.454)
Virus definitions version 190125-4
UI version 1.0.326
« Last Edit: January 26, 2019, 04:58:58 AM by Noneed Tuno »

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Re: Weird issues with Free and Windows 7 x64 (It happened again!)
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2019, 10:40:22 PM »
Virus definitions update 1 February --
Windows Action Center "Antivirus is not turned on" (it was; virus updates went through)

Reset Winsock with ADWCleaner in Safe mode again; upon reboot, I couldn't access the UI through the system tray or double-clicking the icon.

I had to go into the command prompt, verify the WMI repository, and salvage the repository as per this Avast article:
https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/81

After the reboot, things were back to normal. However, I don't understand why a simple virus definition update should cause so much trouble.

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Re: Weird issues with Free and Windows 7 x64
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2019, 03:56:17 AM »
I found a possible cause, and so far the fix works:

In services.msc, both Remote Desktop Configuration and Remote Desktop Services have to be set to Automatic.
RD Config (as the name implies) is the higher of the two; it must be on in order for RD Services to operate.

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Re: Weird issues with Free and Windows 7 x64
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2019, 05:55:48 AM »
Windows Security Updates (on Tuesday, of course), and it happens again.
The icon disappears from the system tray, and I can't double-click the GUI (no response).
I go through AdwCleaner to reset the winsock, and reboot.

Then, I update Avast Free Antivirus (finally! It was from last week).
After which, I use an old tool - Spybot S&D - to turn off some system startups.
I look around and see there's some old RealPlayer procedure calls, which I of course turn off.
I get a popup from Avast -- "Please restart your computer".
Nope, I'll leave it on for now.  It's too much trouble getting Avast started again.
(Besides, it might not be an Avast popup... if I got a response from the admins, I'd know for certain if someone was trying to socially engineer an antivirus shutdown.)

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Re: Weird issues with Free and Windows 7 x64
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2019, 10:58:21 PM »
Can one of the admins or super users walk me through this, please? I don't know how to get through this.

Every time a virus definition update is requested, indeed with any update of either Avast Free or Win 7 Home Premium x64, I get what's shown (picture attached) on my taskbar.

Neither resetting the winsock, rebuilding the repository, nor any of the other fixes recommended by Avast, solve the issue. It always returns.

I need help, or I'm looking for a new AV. This after using Avast Free for over a decade.

I'm trying to be polite here, but I guess you get what you pay for, don't you?
« Last Edit: February 21, 2019, 11:13:13 PM by Noneed Tuno »

Offline Asyn

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Certainly Bot
  • *****
  • Posts: 76037
    • >>>  Avast Forum - Deutschsprachiger Bereich  <<<
Repair Avast:
1. Avast GUI -> Settings -> Troubleshooting
2. Click on 'REPAIR APP'.
3. Follow instructions.
4. Reboot.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Repair Avast:
1. Avast GUI -> Settings -> Troubleshooting
2. Click on 'REPAIR APP'.
3. Follow instructions.
4. Reboot.
Did a repository rebuild (seemed to fix, but no guarantees).
Trying it now, but what can the app do that I haven't tried manually?
CCleaner has shown firewall rules changes, after engine definition updates through the Control Panel (GUI wasn't accessible at one point).
I thought that would be the end of it, but it wasn't.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2019, 09:37:28 PM by Noneed Tuno »

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
Here we go again... after repair app:

The dreaded red X's have returned.
"This shouldn't take long": 20 minutes

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
"This shouldn't take long": one hour.
I'm going in through the Control Panel to Change for a fresh install of the engine and virus definitions.
Then a reboot.

Offline Noneed Tuno

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 30
I can't trust the "repair" app.
The Control Panel engine and virus definition re-install worked, for now.
I need to understand what's going on. Why do either updates of Windows or Avast Free cause this problem?
As often as Windows updates for whatever reasons they do (malicious software remover tools, etc), this will happen again, and often.
With Avast updates set to stream, I thought this wouldn't occur.
Somewhere, there's two programs fighting for control, and I'm not computer savvy enough to trace the issues.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2019, 11:00:15 PM by Noneed Tuno »

Offline Asyn

  • Avast Überevangelist
  • Certainly Bot
  • *****
  • Posts: 76037
    • >>>  Avast Forum - Deutschsprachiger Bereich  <<<
- Which Avast..? (Free/Pro/IS/Premier)
- Which version..?
- OS..? (32/64 Bit..? - which SP/Build..?)
- Other security related software installed..?
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..?
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0