Help!!!

[Chris C]

7 providers, 5 running.  The message was just a window that had three different topics on it and one of them was highlighted in red saying my anti-virus was turned off.  Sorry I can't be more specific, but that's all I remember.

[Lisandro]

7 providers, 5 running.

Please, name the providers one by one (at left), which is disabled and which is not... specially Standard Shield...

[Chris C]

When I opened that window, it said the instant messing was running.  6 of the 7 icons were in "color"...........but Standard Shield was gray.  When I place my curser on the avast globe, it tells me there are 7 providers with 5 running.

[bob3160]

If standarsd shield is gray or not running, then you in essence don't have on demand scanning therefore,
The Security Center is warning you that your AV program isn't enabled.
Start Standard Shield and your problem will be solved.

[Chris C]

Done!  Thanks, Bob.  I appreciate both your patience and help.

My "Outlook/Exchange is waiting for a subsystem to start".  What does that mean?  Is it normal?

[DavidR]

@ Chris C
Try the windows Start, Run, type 'services.msc' without the quotes, check the entry for avast! Antivirus (executable file is ashServ.exe), it should be a Startup Type: Automatic, if not click Start, then change it to automatic and reboot.

Let us know what it was and if the above resolved it.

Outlook/Exchange is only required if you are using MS Outlook (not express) or MS Exchange, so if not disable/terminate it. What it is waiting for is MS Outlook to start, so it could be waiting a long time if you don't use it.

[bob3160]

Done!  Thanks, Bob.  I appreciate both your patience and help.

My "Outlook/Exchange is waiting for a subsystem to start".  What does that mean?  Is it normal?

Your welcome.  Glad your problem is finally solved and avast! is again protecting your system.
Just follow Davids reply for the Outlook/Exchange issue.

[Chris C]

@ Chris C
Try the windows Start, Run, type 'services.msc' without the quotes, check the entry for avast! Antivirus (executable file is ashServ.exe), it should be a Startup Type: Automatic, if not click Start, then change it to automatic and reboot.

Let us know what it was and if the above resolved it.

Outlook/Exchange is only required if you are using MS Outlook (not express) or MS Exchange, so if not disable/terminate it. What it is waiting for is MS Outlook to start, so it could be waiting a long time if you don't use it.

I followed those instructions.  Don't know what it was or was supposed to resolve!  It is still "waiting".  I use Outlook Express for my e-mails, so MS Outlook is not something I access.  So just let it "wait", right?

Since you fellows are so darned helpful, I've one more question: (see what you get for helping people?)

When I first turn on my computer, and just as the desktop comes up, avast takes over my system for almost 5 minutes...........................it won't let me do anything.  Then it posts a small window which tells me "avast needs to restart your operating system.  Do you want to do it now?"  If I click yes, the whole process starts over with the same end result.  Of course, I've learned to just click "no" and go on about my business.  Any solutions for that?

[DavidR]

The instructions are to check why the Standard Shield is greyed out, terminated. It starts as a windows service and should be automatic.

You say you followed the instructions, then what did you find ?
Was the service set to Automatic, Manual or Disabled ?

Terminate the Outlook/Exchange provider and should stop the waiting for sub-system message.

We still don't know what providers you have running, just that 5 are and 2 aren't Tech asked this before.

7 providers, 5 running.

Please, name the providers one by one (at left), which is disabled and which is not... specially Standard Shield...

We ask questions to help us to offer advice and help.

With all that is going on I believe it would probably be quicker to reinstall avast.

Download the latest version of avast and save it to your hard disk so you can find it again. Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, find it here, save that too.
1. Ensure you are off-line and uninstall avast, reboot.
2. Run the avast uninstall utility, reboot.
3. Install the latest version of avast you downloaded, reboot, enter registration key.

[bob3160]

David,
That should already have been done on page one of this problem:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=23040.msg190451#msg190451
I also thought that except for "waiting" problem this was all solved???
Guess I went to sleep to early...

[DavidR]

Thanks Bob, it just seems very weird how things seem to be getting worse rather than better.

@ Chris C
For the Operating system restart needed by avast message - First check the contents of the C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\setup.log file, which should show you why it thinks the reboot is needed.
This could be solved, in some systems, by deleting the file C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\reboot.txt

If that doesn't resolve it check this:
You can also check this registry entry (right after computer restart):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager, if it contains "PendingFileRenameOpertaions".

Check its contents and if there's only "reboot.txt" from avast4\setup folder, delete PendingFileRenameOperations, don't delete any other key.
Back-up (export) the registry key before you edit/delete, just in case.

[Chris C]

.

@ Chris C
For the Operating system restart needed by avast message - First check the contents of the C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\setup.log file, which should show you why it thinks the reboot is needed.
This could be solved, in some systems, by deleting the file C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\reboot.txt

If that doesn't resolve it check this:
You can also check this registry entry (right after computer restart):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager, if it contains "PendingFileRenameOpertaions".

Check its contents and if there's only "reboot.txt" from avast4\setup folder, delete PendingFileRenameOperations, don't delete any other key.
Back-up (export) the registry key before you edit/delete, just in case.

Sorry guys.  It must be frustrating to be trying to help someone who thinks you speak Greek!  I usually don't know how to do or understand half of what you are suggesting.  When I tried to follow these same instructions from the avast people ( C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\Setup\setup.log file), I got to Avast 4 and there was nothing after that...............so it didn't "show" me anything!  And I don't have the slightest idea what a registry entry is or how to find it.  And I don't have the slightest idea how to "backup or export" the registry key I don't know how to access in the first place.  I really do appreciate your trying to help.  I know you think I don't because I seemingly don't follow your instructions and provide the answers you ask.  It's because I don't know how...................heck, if I knew how to do all of this I wouldn't have gotten on this forum in the first place. 

[DavidR]

I got to Avast 4 and there was nothing after that...............so it didn't "show" me anything!

What does nothing mean, no folders, no files or you just couldn't access the folder, what ?
We need detailed information to be able to help, we also need answers to questions asked, we still haven't got a clue what providers are running, not 7 providers, 5 running.

Don't worry about the registry for now as I said "If that doesn't resolve it check this:" before contemplating that. That is why I previously suggested the reinstall and running the uninstall utility which should remove all registry entries, but since you have done that already as Bob mentioned.

However, this latest problem further convinces me that this install is screwed, sorry about the technical term.  That is why I feel even though you have done it once, you follow the instruction above in FULL print the page so you can do it in order whilst off line.

[Chris C]

"Nothing" meant a blank page. I clicked on "My Computer.......clicked on C drive......Program Files.........Alwil Software.........Avast4........and the next screen that came up was blank.     Right now avast shows 7 providers, 6 running.  "Running" are Instant Messenger, Internet Mail, Network Shield, P2P Shield, Standard Shield and Web Shield.  "Waiting for a subsystem to Start" is Outlook Exchange.

David, I wish I'd only uninstalled and downloaded avast once.  In the past month, as I've been trying to solve this problem, I've followed the procedure to do that at least 10 times!  And, because I'm so computer illiterate, I always print out instructions to follow them.............otherwise I'd never get through them.

[Chris C]

David, I just now noticed where some of the confusion on my part is.  I just looked at Tech's attached window again and noticed a provider I didn't even know existed.  I was assuming my security center only had the 7 providers shown on my computer.  Now I know why you wanted them "labeled".  Sorry.  Told you I was computer illiterate!