Author Topic: Lost System Tray icon  (Read 36135 times)

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Spiritsongs

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Lost System Tray icon
« on: September 30, 2006, 06:18:00 PM »
 :)  Hi all :

      Last night when I booted, the Avast Icon would NOT
      appear in the System Tray; in the past this has happened,
      but when I rebooted, it would appear. After last night, I
      rebooted at least 6 times without an "appearance". Went
      to Add/Remove Programs to "Repair", but an "Antivirus
      Setup" dialogue box appears & going through it a "Debug"
      log eventually is the result. So I downloaded & ran the
      Avast Uninstall Tool and further "cleansed" my system of
      Avast. Downloaded afresh, got "New" Registration
      Number, Installed & still no icon in system tray. Info
      shows I have ver 4.7.889, not 4.7.892 .
      recommendations ?

Online DavidR

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Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2006, 06:49:20 PM »
There is definitely something wrong there, 4.7.889 was a beta build I believe, it went from 4.7.871 to 4.7.892 on the regular avast release versions. So perhaps that could have an effect but, since you say you used the uninstall utility that should have cleared any registry remnants

You could try a manual program update and see if that works in getting 4.7.892 but, it would seem that the install failed in some weird way but I can't see how it would show a beta build release version. It would probably be best to download the latest version of avast and confirm that it is version 4.7.892 . Use that when you reinstall.

avast! icon missing - As a temporary measure you can create a desktop shortcut for this file C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashDisp.exe. 

As these are the usual avast icon killers, what other security based software do you have that might block new startup entries, e.g. Spybot S&D (TeaTimer), AdAware (AdWatch), SpySweeper, PrevX, WinPatrol, ProcessGuard, etc.  ?

Check the option in the Appearance tab of Program Settings. Or Make a link to ashdisp.exe in your startup folder.  Or Add the path to ashDisp.exe into a value named avast! in the Windows Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run (see c:\avaststartup.reg if help needed)
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buttoni

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Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2006, 11:45:38 PM »
I too lost my Avast tray icon (yesterday or today) for no apparent reason I can detect.  Surfing is all I've been doing, no system changes.  First I tried a System Restore to the 28th.  Still no tray icon.  Then I tried a repair install online and got error screen like Spirits got.  I check msconfig and no Avast listed anymore!  So in frustration, I removed my 4.7.871 with aswclear.exe to be safe, as did Spirits.  Then d/l'd and installed 4.7.892.  All appeared OK but still no tray icon after reboot. 

Checked SetupLog info and toward the bottom I keep seeing  "Install Check: C:\Program Files\Alwill Software\Avast4\ashDisp.exe does NOT exist"  Sure enough, it is NOT appearing in this folder.  So I can't do a desktop shortcut as you recommended, David and not sure I'm competent enough to do your other suggestions without some guidance. 

A clean Avast Removal Tool and reinstall should install clean, no?  Is this a problem with the latest program update 4.7.892 on the website?  4.7.892 had been running OK up until this icon disappearance I noticed today. FYI All files are running in task manager normally so I assume all resident shields are "working".  But when I checked msconfig, avast is no longer listed there, after the install of a clean version! 

Any suggestions Avast team?  A bug in the new release?  I only run SpywareDoctor with all realtime guards "on" and Comodo FW with my Avast.  Several on-demand only scanners as needed. 

EDIT:  Running per Task Mgr:  ashWebSv.exe, ashMaiSv.exe, ashServ.exe, aswUpdSv.exe. 

I used 4 resident shields (Standard, Web, Network, Mail)before all this occurred today.  I clearly have no way to configure myself to just 4 resident shields because I have to way to see that on-access screen anymore.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2006, 02:23:41 AM by buttoni »

buttoni

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Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2006, 02:12:41 AM »
I also just discovered nothing happens when I click either the desktop A-icon, Menu, Updating, AVS Update or by clicking the link on the main page of GUI, Database Only link, Update Now.  Nada, program renders no errors except in event viewer; prgm just does nothing.  I checked Event Viewer, Antivirus and see lots of this error along with update errors, but just today, since the fresh reinstall after the traay icon disappeared.......

Event Type:   Warning
Event Source:   avast!
Event Category:   Client
Event ID:   90
Date:      9/30/2006
Time:      7:03:59 PM
User:      N/A
Computer:   STUDY
Description:
Function setifaceUpdatePackages() has failed. Return code is 0x20000019, dwRes is 20000019. 

Spiritsongs

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Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2006, 04:03:13 AM »
 :)  Hi David ( & Others ) :

      Of the programs you mentioned, only have the FREE
      version of Ad-Aware. Just did a "Search > All files and
      folders" using the search "term" "ashDisp" and nothing
      was found .
      Have the exact same Avast processes running in Task
      Manager as buttoni .

      P.S. It was an "Alert" from my firewall that the "new"
      Avast was 4.7.889 ; how true I do not know !?
      I have also been having trouble getting my ISP's
     "Accelerator" icon to appear in System Tray after booting
      and their "instructions" mention it uses a proxy server on
      my computer & that IO > Connections > Settings should
      have "Use a proxy server for this connection" box
     "checked" and "localhost" & port number 8080 entered;
      Should this be entered somewhere in my Avast Settings ?
« Last Edit: October 01, 2006, 05:18:13 AM by Spiritsongs »

buttoni

  • Guest
Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2006, 05:29:52 AM »
I too am having the problem of my ISP icon not appearing in the tray, Spiritsong!  I even reinstalled my ATT DSL Browser software to resolve that issue!  The ISP tray icon appeared and I thought I had solved THAT problem.  But then I noticed it too had disappeared!  What is going on?  I'm starting to feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone.  I've done Ewido, Avast & Adaware scans in safe mode and I'm NOT infected with anything they can detect.    My Avast Update connections setting is presently & has always been "I am permanently connected to the internet".  This setting is correct for my ATT DSL connection & has heretofore allowed me to update successfully.  I'm having no problems connecting to the internet for all other purposes.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2006, 02:13:33 PM by buttoni »

Online DavidR

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Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2006, 02:43:15 PM »
If you start the ashsimpl.exe (Simple User Interface) on the Menu there is an about avast option, which should be able to provide information on the avast version.

There have been previous issues with icons disappearing from the system  tray in Windows, it doesn't happen to just avast, it seems there is a flaw in displaying or icons going missing http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=system+try+icons+missing, this search string returns many hits.
http://www.tech-pro.net/howto_013.html
http://winhlp.com/WxSystray.htm

@ buttoni
If the file is missing there will be no icon, so you should try an avast repair and see if that can restore the file. Check the windows Start button, Run, type 'msconfig' without the quotes and click OK, check the Startup Tab and see if there is an entry for ashDisp ?
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buttoni

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Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2006, 03:57:01 PM »
David, ashDisp is not in msconfig because a Search shows it is not on my HDD.  Each time I have tried to do a Add/Remove, Change/Remove, Repair Install (which I have done several time before successfully) I no longer get the nice big clickable buttons at the left, Repair, Uninstall, etc.  like I used to.   I get  installation screen, What Language?, Avast Setup Welcome Screen, Read Me screen, EULA screen, Proxy Screen (I click Direct Connection, as always, because I have NEVER used Proxy setting for Avast and my DSL connection), Tells me where it will install program, and then says "There was an error" and I click View Log button.  Here it is:

01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Started: 01.10.2006, 08:36:20
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Running setup_av_pro-37c (892)
01.10.2006 08:36:20 system: Operating system: WindowsXP ver 5.1, build 2600, sp 2.0 [Service Pack 2]
01.10.2006 08:36:20 system: Computer WinName: STUDY
01.10.2006 08:36:20 system: Windows Net User: STUDY\peggy
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Cmdline: /uninstwiz 
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Old version: 37c (892)
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Install check: 'C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashDisp.exe' does NOT exist
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: SGW32P::CheckIfInstalled set m_bAlreadyInstalled to 0
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: DldSrc set to inet
01.10.2006 08:36:20 system: Computer DnsName: STUDY
01.10.2006 08:36:20 system: Computer Ip Addr: 192.168.1.64
01.10.2006 08:36:20 registry: Get registry: Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Version=6.0.2900.2180
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Operation set to INST_OP_INSTALL
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: GUID: 4e5c92e2-e785-40f0-b877-7b0798986a70
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Default server pseudo definition loaded as ''.
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: SelectCurrent: selected server 'FailSafeServer' from 'main'
01.10.2006 08:36:20 package: GetPackages - set proxy for inet
01.10.2006 08:36:20 internet: SYNCER: Type: use IE settings
01.10.2006 08:36:20 internet: SYNCER: Auth: another authentication, use WinInet
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Entered SetupProcessPro::Do( INST_OP_INSTALL )
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Entered SetupProcessWin32Avast::Do( INST_OP_INSTALL )
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Entered SetupProcessWin32::Do( INST_OP_INSTALL )
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Entered SetupProcess::Do( INST_OP_INSTALL )
01.10.2006 08:36:28 internet: SYNCER: Type: no proxy
01.10.2006 08:36:28 internet: SYNCER: Auth: no authentication
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress thread start
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress start - 1
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: compatCopyFile( \servers.def.vpu, C:\DOCUME~1\peggy\LOCALS~1\Temp\_av_proI.tm~a00892\onefile ) failed with error 0x00000002
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: InvalidateCurrent: invalidated server 'FailSafeServer' from 'main'
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: SelectCurrent: unable to find any suitable server in 'main'
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: while trying to get file 'servers.def.vpu', error 0x00000002 has occured, try 1
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: tried 1 servers to get file 'servers.def.vpu', but failed (0x00000002)
01.10.2006 08:36:31 file: GetNewerStampedFile:GetFileWithRetry failed: C:\DOCUME~1\peggy\LOCALS~1\Temp\_av_proI.tm~a00892\onefile, servers.def.vpu, error: 0x00000002
01.10.2006 08:36:31 package: Download servers.def, servers.def.vpu failed with error 0x20000011.
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: compatCopyFile( \servers.def, C:\DOCUME~1\peggy\LOCALS~1\Temp\_av_proI.tm~a00892\onefile ) failed with error 0x00000002
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: InvalidateCurrent: invalidated server 'FailSafeServer' from 'main'
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: SelectCurrent: unable to find any suitable server in 'main'
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: while trying to get file 'servers.def', error 0x00000002 has occured, try 1
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: tried 1 servers to get file 'servers.def', but failed (0x00000002)
01.10.2006 08:36:31 file: GetNewerStampedFile:GetFileWithRetry failed: C:\DOCUME~1\peggy\LOCALS~1\Temp\_av_proI.tm~a00892\onefile, servers.def, error: 0x00000002
01.10.2006 08:36:31 package: Tried to download servers.def but failed with error 0x00000002.
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress end - 0
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress thread end
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: InvalidateCurrent: invalidated server 'FailSafeServer' from 'main'
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: SelectCurrent: unable to find any suitable server in 'main'
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: SYNCER: Type: Invalid
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: SYNCER: Auth: no authentication
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: SelectCurrent: unable to find any suitable server in 'main'
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress end - forced
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress thread end


About Avast shows I am running 4.7.892 upgraded from whatever the last version was (4.7.871 I believe). 

Any thoughts on why, when I click Change/Remove button in Add/Remove, I no longer get the Repair Uninstall button to click on?  I found that particularly odd. So what it's trying to do here may not be a "repair" install, but a full install ontop of a full install!  I'm stabbing in the dark here.

Comodo FW is allowing OUT for ashServ.exe, IN/OUT for ashWeb.exe, ashMai.exe,ashWebSv.exe.  I even "unstealthed" my modem/router today & retried Repair (just to be sure that wasn't cause).  No change.  All the scenarios play out exactly the same way as previously mentioned.  I never had these issues before this upgrade and feel it has to be something with this upgrade.  It seems a total uninstall via aswclear removal tool and download of fresh copy from Alwil download server (both I did)should have corrected any problems, since the problems just occurred in the last two days & seem to be directly related to that upgrade.  Unless the downloadable copy on the server is not "squeaky clean"?  I'd sure like VLK or someone on the programmer's side to explain the total lack of ashDisp.exe in a clean downloaded copy of the program.

Interesting note:  There is a marker for ashDisp in Windows Prefetch folder, but a Search yields no instances of it in Avast folder or elsewhere on HDD after fresh download at website.

* David, please feel free to split me off into a separate thread if you deem appropriate.  What I was experiencing seemed so parallel to Spiritsong I thought this might be better for troublshooters.  Didn't mean to "cut in" on his thread.
« Last Edit: October 01, 2006, 04:21:54 PM by buttoni »

buttoni

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Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2006, 06:18:14 PM »
One last bit of info, I notice I have allowed avast.setup OUTBOUND access in Comodo Firewall.  I failed to site that in previous post. 

My only other thoughts is that could my modem set in "stealth mode" during the download of the fresh copy, have prevented ashDisp.exe and update feature from installing properly?  (but I got no install error messages during/after the install to indicate anything was amiss).  If you think that possible, now that I have "unstealthed" it, I could try to do clean uninstall with aswclear and redownload.  I'll wait to proceed until someone replies.

Spiritsongs

  • Guest
Because of VPS 0639-4 !?
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2006, 06:30:14 PM »
 :)  Hi All :

     As of last Thurs Sept 28, I had ver 4.7.871 and had NOT
     done a PROGRAM Upgrade to 4.7.892 ; it was after the
     installation of VPS 0639-4 the next day that the Avast
     icon in the System Tray never "appeared", even trying to
     do a PROGRAM Upgrade to a "newer" version does NOT
    "correct" the situation, so I wonder if VPS 0639-4 is the
    "source" of the no-show of icon in System Tray and/or
     the lack of ashDisp !?  I differ from buttoni in that I use
     Dialup and have Win XP SP1.

sev

  • Guest
Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2006, 07:07:03 PM »
board newbie here, not overly technical.  I lost my tray icons, too, when I turned on the computer this morning.  Several reboots, nothing.  Began turning off other layers of protection one at a time and rebooting to make sure nothing was causing a problem (by the way, avast has been getting along great with comodo, cyberhawk, spyware terminator and winpatrol just fine for the last month until this problem).  Then I came here and did some reading, come to find out I don't have the ashDisp.exe, either.  No trace of it, it's as if it was never there.  Checked via msconfig and a few other programs that list the startup programs.

about avast tells me Build: Oct2006(4.7.892)


So, is there any headway on what this problem may be? 
Has anyone heard of a complete cleaning and reinstall fixing it?
Since I don't have an uninstall option apparent other than Add/Remove, and since I read somewhere around here that the Avast uninstall is better, where can I get it if I need it?

Thanks for any help, I love the product but not this problem.  I assume I've still got the same amount of protection running, I just dont' have the icons?

sev

  • Guest
Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2006, 07:16:15 PM »
I see there is a similar thread going on in this forum, too.   :P


I just tried the Add/Remove option via the control panel to look for a repair option.  However, the only option I had was to install Avast.  I went through the process until it asked me to confirm the installation folder, that's when I stopped.

Apparently I can't uninstall even if I want to, unless someone has a suggestion.

buttoni

  • Guest
Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #12 on: October 01, 2006, 08:45:02 PM »
Well, I just tried one last ditch thing awaiting further Avast assistance.  I uninstalled a second time using the aswclear.exe at this link:
http://files.avast.com/files/eng/aswclear.exe
Then I did a Search and deleted all things Alwil/Avast it would let me.  Then I deleted all things Alwil/Avast I could find in registry search (backed registry up first). Then I removed all Avast application rules in Comodo and turned off Comodo completely.  I shut down SpywareDoctor.  Left my modem "unstealthed".  I thought, there's nothing remaining that could block a clean, successsful install.  I have no other realtime security onboard.  I did fresh install of full program using the setup icon for the  downloaded copy I had saved to my my desktop.  Install went fine, but still no tray icon, no ashDisp.exe file exists on my HDD, Avast is not in msconfig Startup listing, but Win Prefetch indicator for ashDisp.exe still there and I still can't update through UI.  So everything happened exactly the same as last night, even taking those extra precautions I just mentioned.  Deja vu.   :(

Avast team, the downloadable copy is NOT including a copy of ashDisp.exe and in addition is not configuring itself properly during the install.  ???  There is no earthly reason the exact same single file should be consistently discriminated against during a fresh install! 

Until this update and now fresh install problem is fixed, I cannot fine tune or turn on/off the on-access scanners, cannot build a VRDB, cannot update, and can't watch that cute little ball rolling around when I open mail.  The only thing I can say with certainty is Task Manager shows all the usual Avast files running (except ashDisp.exe) and I assume I'm fully protected from malware.
« Last Edit: October 02, 2006, 05:11:20 AM by buttoni »

buttoni

  • Guest
Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2006, 10:31:43 PM »
If it is useful to you, here are my currently running Avast Windows Services:

« Last Edit: October 02, 2006, 05:11:35 AM by buttoni »

Online DavidR

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Re: Lost System Tray icon
« Reply #14 on: October 01, 2006, 10:34:13 PM »
The ashDisp.exe doesn't effect your protection other than you haven't got the interface to the on-access scanners or context menu. As a temporary you can run the Simple User Interface, C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashsimpl.exe this once running you can update the VPS (iavs signature file) it will also give access to the menu, which should give access to other stuff (sorry about the technical term).

Send me a PM with your email address and I will send you a copy of ashDisp.exe zipped. You may still have to do the stuff mentioned in my first post to Spirit.
Windows 10 Home 64bit/ Acer Aspire F15/ Intel Core i5 7200U 2.5GHz, 8GB DDR4 memory, 256GB SSD, 1TB HDD/ avast! free 24.2.6105 (build 24.2.8918.824) UI 1.0.799/ Firefox, uBlock Origin, uMatrix/ MailWasher Pro/ Avast! Mobile Security