Author Topic: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot  (Read 6102 times)

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Offline jcrognale

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Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« on: February 25, 2019, 04:37:53 AM »
Avast updated and upon restart I get the Black Screen of Death. Win 7

What can i do to fix?

Offline Asyn

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #1 on: February 26, 2019, 12:20:58 PM »
- 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

Offline jcrognale

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #2 on: February 26, 2019, 02:03:55 PM »
 Which Avast..? Free
- Which version..? Latest
- OS..? WIn7 Professional SP1 64-bit
- Other security related software installed..nope
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..only avast

Offline Asyn

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #3 on: February 27, 2019, 05:07:51 AM »
First, uninstall Avast in safe mode and reboot.

Then:
1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions..!!)
3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
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 jcrognale

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #4 on: February 27, 2019, 04:48:20 PM »
I can't get into safe mode or boot at all I have attached the hdd to another machine and run sfc /scannow and chkdsk /f /r. And even used avastclear from the other pc on the hdd that won't boot. I tried startup repair and https://neosmart.net/EasyRE/.

All I get is a black screen and a cursor. I don't have access to Ctrl-Alt-Del or task manager or sticky keys.

I have an image of the drive before I did all this if rolling back would help.

Offline mchain

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #5 on: February 27, 2019, 06:22:26 PM »
What you could be seeing could be a failure of the BIOS or UEFI handoff at boot to start Windows MBR or Master Boot Record. 

Your system is starting the basic system diagnostic operating system but when that is finished, it hands off to Windows and Windows will start loading.

Normally, there should be a message stating 'operating system not found' or similar.  MBR could be corrupted OR your hard drive died.

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=avast&q=Windows+boot+sector+file+name&ia=web
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Did+my+hard+drive+die%3F&t=avast&ia=web
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=bios+and+uefi+boot+systems&t=avast&ia=web

One way to know if you have a good hard drive is you can see it as present in your BIOS or UEFI screen.
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801

Offline jcrognale

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #6 on: February 27, 2019, 06:35:43 PM »
It sees the hard drive in my bios and can read/write to it on my other (older) PC. I already did mbr/bcd stuff (bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot  & bootrec /rebuildbcd).

Nothing is working.

Offline mchain

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #7 on: February 27, 2019, 06:52:01 PM »
At this point best to start backing up files you don't want to lose.  Check your CMOS battery for failure.

Did you try to restore the known good image yet?

Also:  https://support.avast.com/en-ww/article/11/#artTitle  (If this applies)
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801

Offline jcrognale

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #8 on: February 27, 2019, 06:55:53 PM »
I don't have a recent image. But imaged the drive as soon as it wouldn't boot (so before i tried all the fixes)

Any other ideas?

Thanks!

Offline mchain

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #9 on: February 27, 2019, 07:02:45 PM »
Can you see the drive in the original system?  (You say you can read/write in another older PC, which likely means you've physically removed the drive from the original system)
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801

Offline jcrognale

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #10 on: February 27, 2019, 07:15:39 PM »
Yup. I keep tying different things on the current PC and old one (as a secondary drive), moving the drive back and forth. Both see it and can read from it. The one it belongs in just can't boot. I get a black screen with a cursor and nothing else.

Offline mchain

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2019, 04:25:10 AM »
I'd try a linux live cd and see if your system will boot from it (Don't install the full version, just run the linux os off the cd only).  Are you able to open the Win 7 drive in the original system or not?

Is the system time correct?
Windows 10 Home 64-bit 22H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.1.6099 (build 24.1.88821.762)  UI version 1.0.797
 UI version 1.0.788.  Windows 11 Home 23H2 - Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Avast Premier Security version 24.2.6105 (build 24.1.8918.827) UI version 1.0.801

Offline jcrognale

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Re: Avast updated and now my machine won't boot
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2019, 04:42:42 AM »
I ended up having to reinstall windows
« Last Edit: March 05, 2019, 04:03:33 PM by jcrognale »