Avast 4.8 Home - Antivirus doesn't run

[sushd]

Have installed Avast 4.8 Home (32 bit) on one of my machines two days ago, registered with Avast provided license key and am running the latest updates.

While the on-access protection control seems to working fine, I am unable to run the Antivirus program irrespective of whether I try to run it through the Avast! tray icon (Option - Start Avast! Antivirus) or from Start->All Programs->Avast! Antivirus.

I do get the Avast splash screen which shows memory and startup tests being carried out and once these initial tests are done the splash screen just disappears - and then nothing happens. If I then check Windows Task Manager, it doesn't show any Avast! application running (under Applications) but it does show the AshSimpl.exe process running (under Processes). I am assuming here that AshSimpl.exe is the process for the Avast! simple user interface.

How can this be resolved? Thanks in advance.

regards

[scythe944]

Have you previously had any anti-virus programs installed on this computer?  In which case, a removal tool may be required to fully remove it.

What is your OS?

When I open my Avast Simple User Interface, my task manager shows aswSimp2.exe, but I have a corporate version, so it may be different than yours.

[DavidR]

If you are using the skinless version of the SUI then you would see the ashSimp2.exe.

[scythe944]

Thanks for that DavidR.

[sushd]

The machine is a Compaq Presario 2200 series (pretty old model) with PentiumM 1.6GHz, 768MB RAM running Windows XP Professional with SP3.

I had Kaspersky Internet Security (ver 7) installed earlier, which I had removed using "Add/Remove Programs" before I installed Avast! Home.

Interestingly, inspite of having uninstalled Kaspersky from the machine, Windows Security Center is telling me that I have Kaspersky Firewall installed and running (still) This is surprising (to me) because I had uninstalled the software (Kaspersky), rebooted the machine, removed Kaspersky directories from Program files folder, rebooted machine again - before getting to installing Avast!

regards

[scythe944]

That sounds like we're getting to the root of the problem... 

Try downloading Kaspersky's uninstall utility from their site: http://support.kaspersky.com/downloads/kis6/kiskav6remove.zip

And run that.

You may have to do an uninstall of Avast, then Re-install after running their uninstaller.

After that, you should be ok to go.
EDIT
I may be wrong about the previous link.  It looks like you had version 7 installed, in which case, you should take a look at this page, and follow Kaspersky's directions to remove their program.  The link is here: http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208279463

[sushd]

Finally, Avast! antivirus application seems to be working as it should and the Windows Security Center error is gone too! 

Many thanks, scythe944!


regards

[DavidR]

Congratulations and a belated welcome to the forums.

[scythe944]

Glad I could help, and yes, Welcome!