Author Topic: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on  (Read 3041 times)

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Offline srg6340

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Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« on: September 12, 2019, 05:30:55 AM »
Hello to all.

Upon boot today, Avast does not start: the Avast icon displays message "! Avast Free Antivirus You are unprotected". Right click on icon and open User Interface brings the usual square figure, but full dark with message: "Loading.. This should not take long." and option to Exit. Well, nothing happens and after a few mn I click Exit.

At the same time, Windows Action Centers signals two problems:
1/ Spyware and unwanted software protection (important) Defender and Avast both report they are turned off 
2/ Virus Protection (important): Avast reports that it is turned off

Clicking the button "Turn on Now" for reported problem 2/ asks if I want to run "C:\Program Files\Avast Software\Avast\wsc_proxy.exe from Avast Software s.r.o." with options of "Yes, I trust the publisher and want to run this program". Problem 1/ brings to the same, if choosing to turn on Avast rather than Defender. I have tried both a couple of times, with subsequent reboot. To no avail, same issue again.

I then tried the Avast Repair option, and since can not open Avast UI it was done from Windows Control Center \ Programs and Features: selected Avast then Uninstall then Repair. It does not seem to have any impact, the same issues again after reboot.

Hereafter some additional info:
a- I run 2 Dell laptops, one running Windows 7 SP1 is with above reported issue. This current message is written on the 2nd laptop, running under Linux
b- I have been using Avast Free Antivirus on the W7 laptop, well, forever it seems. A couple of weeks ago, uninstalled and reinstalled Avast because AvastSvc.exe was eating up too much CPU forever and was freezing the comp, or at least painfully slowing it down.
c- both W7 and Avast are regularly updated (though I can not say which version of Avast, but well, it was re-installed lately as indicated)
d- just had a look in Admin Tools / Event Viewer / Application, noticed repeated Errors and Warnings involving respectively Avast update Helper and AvastSvc.exe. But I don't have a clue what these are about, this is beyond my reach.

Can please give an indication as to what to attempt next? I have not connected this W7 running laptop for now, reluctant to do that without Avast running.
Thanks in advance
Sergei

Offline Asyn

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Re: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2019, 06:24:51 AM »
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 srg6340

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Re: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2019, 06:43:46 AM »
Thanks for the links, i will proceed accordingly then

Offline Asyn

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Re: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« Reply #3 on: September 12, 2019, 06:46:59 AM »
You're welcome.
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 srg6340

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Re: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2019, 07:36:04 AM »
All done, so i will wait for a while and hopefully confirm no more issue.
Cheers

Offline Asyn

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Re: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2019, 09:55:51 AM »
OK, report back.
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 srg6340

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Re: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2019, 04:15:41 AM »
Here's what I can report, a day after re-install (and this is a second re-install, after a first one about 2/3 weeks ago)

Re-install was done using the Avast Clear - only once, in spite of advice to un-install all former versions ? I don't know if there any priors left, always updated thru the interface.

First was a bit of a surprise yesterday, the interface looked like old one - at least not the latest i remembered. Under settings / update, I could update the virus database but not the application update: the option was there of course, but clicking it did not trigger anything. Today, back to the current interface, as much I can tell and application update option operating, there is no need for any update. I have gone thru Smart Scan, Full Scan, Boot Scan and a Malwarebytes scan as well, no results: all clear.

Only I am back where I stood 2/3 weeks ago: AvastSvc.exe regularly clogging things up for a few mn (85% to 95% of CPU, more or less 600,000 K of memory - as per Task Manager and Process Manager which I run to check on things). Also, I am in hot country and not too much aircon, so I run Speedfan: temperatures are 2 to 3 deg. C higher than usual.

Event viewer still lists a loop of Avast Update Helper / Avast Browser Update Helper attempts that fail, and repeat, and fail and so on. Trying for Event Log Online Help leads to a Microsoft blank page: not too helpful.

So, I guess it would not bring much to try and re-install again? As well, I guess it would be a pain in the neck to try and go deeper into details, without high chances of finding out what's wrong? Never had that since about 2005, as much as I can remember) but then things change (laptop getting old, Windows 7 support soon ending).

A question I'd like to ask: is it reasonably safe to connect to the net without Avast on the comp, thru hotspot on a mobile phone that does run Avast also (free version) ? Usually connecting to emails, newspapers, financial sites and Youtube: all very classic, never really had alerts except maybe when streaming some series or movies (which I could limit to Linux laptop then).

Thanks for any advice
Sergei


Offline srg6340

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Re: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2019, 12:26:26 PM »
Better news, it seems back to normal. Hereafter is how.

Looking again at Application Events in Event Viewer, I noticed the recurring Error: 'Product: Avast Update Helper -- Error 1316. The specified account already exists." That gave the hint that maybe, un-install of Avast was not complete? So I run it again a couple of times, and then switched from everyday "user account" to "admin account". There I discovered Avast Safe Browser and Avast Driver Updater still there - totally forgot about these. So I un-installed them from Control Panel / Programs & Features. Went back to "user account", used the off-line Avast Installer, went online and updated.

It seems all back to normal, AvastSvc.exe / aswEngSrv.exe usually less than 1% CPU and 20 / 40,000 K memory. Feels better!


Offline srg6340

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Re: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2019, 12:31:05 PM »
So, thanks to ASyn (Certainly bot.. AI?)

Still I am curious of expert's opinion: is it reasonably safe to go online with a laptop without AV by connecting hotspot from a mobile phone with appropriate Avast?

Offline bob3160

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Re: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2019, 11:18:05 PM »
So, thanks to ASyn (Certainly bot.. AI?)

Still I am curious of expert's opinion: is it reasonably safe to go online with a laptop without AV by connecting hotspot from a mobile phone with appropriate Avast?
If it's your mobile phone and your hotspot, you control it's security so it's like connecting via your router at home.

Free Security Seminar: https://bit.ly/bobg2023  -  Important: http://www.organdonor.gov/ -- My Web Site: http://bob3160.strikingly.com/ - Win 11 Pro v22H2 64bit, 16 Gig Ram, 1TB SSD, Avast Free 23.5.6066, How to Successfully Install Avast http://goo.gl/VLXdeRepair & Clean Install https://goo.gl/t7aJGq -- My Online Activity https://bit.ly/BobGInternet

Offline Asyn

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Re: Windows Action Center warns Avast and Dedender are not on
« Reply #10 on: September 14, 2019, 08:20:35 AM »
So, thanks to ASyn (Certainly bot.. AI?)
You're welcome. And nope, HI. ;)
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