can't run avast scan in safe mode

[DavidR]

Normally avast doesn't run in safe mode that is the whole point of safe mode, you have to start it manually using the desktop icon.

You haven't answered what is the essential question why do you need to run avast in safe mode when with XP you can run a boot-time scan ?

[doktornotor]

I just tried running Avast in safe mode again.
This is what it shows:

UNSECURED
Your system is not protected.
Please use the fix now button to start protecting your system.
(Clicking does nothing)

Of course! It's NOT running resident there, and not supposed to be running resident there, ever. Imagine that Avast install somehow made your box broken and you need to uninstall it because the box won't boot otherwise - with what you are expecting about safe mode it'd be completely impossible.

You now can run a manual scan in safe mode if absolutely required. That's all. Plus, as said multiple times, there's no good reason to do so except for exceptional cases and perhaps x64 boxes until boot scan is available there.