Avast *Premium* Breaking Following Prompted Reboot

[jedi.khan]

For whatever reason, for the last month or so, Avast has randomly taken to saying my computer needs to reboot as if it had a program update to install. When I've done the reboot, either by clicking the Reboot Now button on the prompt or by using the Windows Start Menu, Avast comes back broken. The UI is stuck on "Loading...this shouldn't take long" and the tray icon says I'm unprotected. I've had to uninstall using Avast Clear at least once, and another time I booted into Safe Mode and used the Repair function. After the time I used the repair function, Avast came back as broken again, but eventually the UI did work after about 15 minutes or so after bootup (the tray icon still showed as Unprotected until the next system boot). I've had Avast (when it was working) and Windows both do scans and they report my system is clean. I've had this random reboot prompt happen on multiple devices that use Avast, and both had the broken Avast on the first occasion it happened.

I am currently trying to resolve the broken Avast on my primary computer, a desktop. The odd thing is that despite the fact that I do a full system shut down on this computer every day, the reboot prompt has remained. It is only when I've done a Restart that the issue has occurred. My secondary computer, a laptop, is currently not undergoing a reboot pending further investigation of this issue.

Both computers are using Avast Premier and are running Windows 10 version 1903 with current October 2019 patches.

I'm going to continue my investigation and testing, updating here if I find anything that might help clarify the issue. Hopefully someone from Avast will have answers at some point soon.

[Asyn]

- Which version of Premier..?
- Other security related software installed..?
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..?

[jedi.khan]

- Which version of Premier..?
- Other security related software installed..?
- Which AV(s) did you use before Avast..?

Avast Premier version 19.8.2393 building 19.8.4793.544
Other security software: Spybot Search & Destroy Free edition ver. 2.7
Haven't used any other AV products in years aside from Avast.

[jedi.khan]

Update: Performed a full system shutdown on my primary computer as usual. Booted back up and Avast was still broken. Rebooted into Safe Mode and used the Windows Uninstall to initiate a repair of Avast. While still in Safe Mode following the repair, attempted to open Avast UI and got a message say "Something went wrong, please restart your antivirus." Clicked on the Restart and nothing happened. Then used the Windows Start Menu to reboot back into normal mode, waited maybe ten minutes before logging in (as I normally do) and found that Avast is working again. Tray icon still has a red X on it indicating an error, but hovering over it says "You are protected" and the Avast UI loads properly as it is supposed to.

Now that I think about it a bit more, I believe this issue has occurred on my primary PC at least once a week, approximately every 6-7 days since early October.

[Asyn]

First, be sure to get rid of all remnants of Spybot..!!
-> https://support.avast.com/article/11/

Then:
1. Download Avast Premium Security: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premium_security_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.

[jedi.khan]

First, be sure to get rid of all remnants of Spybot..!!
-> https://support.avast.com/article/11/

Then:
1. Download Avast Premium Security: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premium_security_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.

My mistake. I'm already using Avast Premium Security.

Also, my version of Spybot is the Free Edition. It does not include AV. I've used both Spybot and Avast together for years without issue and there have been no changes to Spybot in months.

[Asyn]

Well, things change... It's up to you if you follow the advice.

[bob3160]

There is a component in Spybot that prevents installation of new items.
Removing Spybot, then doing a clean install of Avast should solve the problem.
Once Avast is working as it should, you could always re-install Spybot.
Not my choice and personally I don't think it's needed but, it's your computer not mine.

[jedi.khan]

There is a component in Spybot that prevents installation of new items.
Removing Spybot, then doing a clean install of Avast should solve the problem.
Once Avast is working as it should, you could always re-install Spybot.
Not my choice and personally I don't think it's needed but, it's your computer not mine.

My understanding is that booting into Windows Safe Mode prevents any background programs from running, so if I were to do the clean install of Avast while in Safe Mode, anything that Spybot has that might impact the install won't be a factor because it's not running.

And yes, I've tried this. I've done a clean uninstall and reinstall of Avast from Safe Mode. I've also done the Repair process (https://support.avast.com/en-us/article/Repair-Antivirus) while in Safe Mode as well. Both have only been temporary fixes, as the issue comes back a few days later.

[Asyn]

As said, get rid of Spybot first.

[Pondus]

Recomended: Replace SpyBoot with Malwarebytes free if you want a extra scanner

Unless something has changed SpyBoot free is updated once a week (wednesday) and is very limited in what it detect
Malwarebytes may have 10 updates a day so can have more updates in a week then SpyBoot in a year and detect lots more stuff then SpyBoot

[bob3160]

Recomended: Replace SpyBoot with Malwarebytes free if you want a extra scanner

Unless something has changed SpyBoot free is updated once a week (wednesday) and is very limited in what it detect
Malwarebytes may have 10 updates a day so can have more updates in a week then SpyBoot in a year and detect lots more stuff then SpyBoot

For me, I got rid of Spybot a long time ago.
Malwarebytes really hasn't found anything on my system in years.
Avast probably checks as much "malware" as Malwarebytes.

[claudio.serrano]

I have the same issue  "  Avast has randomly taken to saying my computer needs to reboot as if it had a program update to install. When I've done the reboot, either by clicking the Reboot Now button on the prompt or by using the Windows Start Menu, Avast comes back broken.  "

I dont have Spybot or other SW  Just Avast Premium Security...

So whats next?   

[bob3160]

I have the same issue  "  Avast has randomly taken to saying my computer needs to reboot as if it had a program update to install. When I've done the reboot, either by clicking the Reboot Now button on the prompt or by using the Windows Start Menu, Avast comes back broken.  "

I dont have Spybot or other SW  Just Avast Premium Security...

So whats next?

Obviously, you don't have the same problem.
I suggest you start your own topic and describe your problem in detail.
We also need information about your operating system and any other security programs installed.