Can't Start Avast!4

[Moonwind]

I have installed Avast!4 Home and can't start the program.  A pop-up seen and it says: C:/Program Files/Alwil Software/Avast4/ashAvast.exe is not a valid Win32 application. How to solve this problem to enable my computer to be protected. Thanks.

[Darth AkSarBen]

What operating system do you have? Service Packs?  Do you have any other Anti Virus software running at the time you tried to install Avast!4 Home edition?

You might also have a corrupted download that did not install correctly.  Download the correct version  and overwrite the current saved installation file and re try installing.
This page also offers ideas and suggestions: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000726.htm

[Moonwind]

What operating system do you have? Service Packs?  Do you have any other Anti Virus software running at the time you tried to install Avast!4 Home edition?

You might also have a corrupted download that did not install correctly.  Download the correct version  and overwrite the current saved installation file and re try installing.
This page also offers ideas and suggestions: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000726.htm

I use Windows XP Professional Service Packs 2. There is no other Anti Virus softeare running in my computer.  I would try to download a correct version and reinstall it.

[Spiritsongs]

   Hi :

      SPECIFICALLY, WHAT antivirus program(s) have you had on this
      computer ? Some, like Symantec/Norton and McAfee, have
      "Removal Tools" that should be used PRIOR to installing Avast and
       having "It" function properly .

[Darth AkSarBen]

I agree with Spiritsongs about prior AV software.  Seems like there is always lingering entries in the registry somewhere.  Even on my comptuer there is a Symantec service that I disabled  START  RUN  services.msc  and if there is reference to Symantec in there, click on it and choose "disable". 
Try the download again and save it and re-try. *S*

[DavidR]

I have seen this in a recent post "pop-up seen and it says: C:/Program Files/Alwil Software/Avast4/ashAvast.exe is not a valid Win32 application."

I believe it was related to a possible bagle rootkit infection. So you may have been infected when you installed avast.

Bagle Rootkit variant:
See http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=26554.0
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=25941.0
This seemed to have the best results with this type of attack and is reasonably user friendly.
http://research.pandasoftware.com/blogs/research/archive/2006/12/14/Rootkit-cleaner.aspx
Also F-Secure Blacklight may not always be available, http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight - Direct line, ftp://ftp.f-secure.com/anti-virus/tools/fsbl.exe

[Maxx_original]

Beagle..

[DavidR]

Beagle..

Any other advice on how Moonwind might resolve this other than the spelling of Beagle ?

[essexboy]

Beagle..

Any other advice on how Moonwind might resolve this other than the spelling of Beagle ?

Sure

Download the following programme But when you save it to disc re-name it to Gotcha.exe, otherwise the programme will not run. This is very important

Download ComboFix from Here or Here to your Desktop.

• Double click combofix.exe and follow the prompts.
  
• When finished, it shall produce a log for you. Post that log and a HiJackthis log in your next reply
  

Note: Do not mouseclick combofix's window while its running. That may cause it to stall

[Maxx_original]

Beagle..

Any other advice on how Moonwind might resolve this other than the spelling of Beagle ?

the same problem was discussed (in last few days) already, so i wanted to point the thing, that sometimes is good to use search button before creating a new thread imho..

[Maxx_original]

and it was a unjoyful sigh about the situation with Beagle... but avast will be more bullet-proof in future and should be able to resist against this type of attack..

[FreewheelinFrank]

The Beagle/Bagle removal tool mentioned here seems to have been effective for another user, as Maxx_original's suggested search revealed.

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=31119.msg258505#msg258505

Direct link here:

http://www.zonavirus.com/datos/descargas/95/elibagla.asp

Maybe the beagle ate the Bagle.

[Moonwind]

Everything tried but still failed.

[Spiritsongs]

   Hi "Moon" :

      Did you try what "essexboy" recommended !?

[Moonwind]

Eventually the attempt of using combofix.exe has been proved successful in fixing the errors. And, now the avast!4 is able to start without any problem. Many thanks to everyones and special thanks to essexboy and Spiritsongs.