Avast! Update won't load on startup

[mkis]

Hi David

It would seem to be the server OS.
I was wondering myself as to what would be the user's options in the Windows 2003 environment.

here is the heading for the HjT log

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 9:39:57 AM, on 6/13/2010
Platform: Windows 2003 SP2 (WinNT 5.02.3790)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)
Boot mode: Normal

[DavidR]

It was that that caught my attention too.

We will have to wait for the OP to confirm one way or another.

If it is a server OS then the standard versions of avast should have failed to installed (incompatibility of OS) and they would require a server version of avast.

[rcpowell2279]

I'm running Windows XP  Pro x64 SP2. I have uninstalled Avast! and reinstalled. Now upon reboot, I get a message box that says avast setup had a problem, needs to close.
Also, how do I make those changes to software loading mentioned above? Services on control panel? Msconfig?

[rcpowell2279]

I'm running Windows XP Pro x64 SP2, all updated.
I have uninstalled Avast! and reinstalled. Now I get a message saying avast setup had a problem, needs to close.
How do I make the changes to startup programs mentioned above? Msconfig? Services in control panel?
These problems have popped up since installing v5, had v4 for years previous, no troubles.

[rcpowell2279]

Oops, sorry for the dupe.

[rcpowell2279]

I made most of the changes MKIS suggested to the startup set. When I rebooted, got a message saying "avast antivirus update encountered a problem and needed to close". However, this was followed a bit later by the avast! popup saying virus definitions had been updated. ??

[rcpowell2279]

Also, I found LSPfix and ran it, it said no changes necessary, and didn't even mention the speedbit files listed above.  ??

[mkis]

Hi there, sorry about late reply but I've been busy elsewhere.

I imagine you can make changes with msconfig, ccleaner Startup manager, or in Services.
Black Viper suggests to use Services instead of msconfig. (I will direct you to the XP Pro page)

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

I find msconfig to be quicker and final in terms of changes that are made. But that is only my preference.
Sometimes I check the changes in Services to see how I'm doing, which is really why I mentioned Services.

The direct to LSPfix is to see if any changes needed to be made - that is a general directive for those entries.

Also there are some questions concerning the usage of SpybotSD and/or Teatimer, and whether or how they run in conjunct with avast.
For myself I have no experience with these products so there is little more that I can add.

Has the recent update in avast virus definitions meant a return to normal running in avast 5?

[rcpowell2279]

Well, after this morning's startup, Avast! is running, but I still get the pesky message: "Avast! antivirus Update encountered a problem and need to close." I haven't seen the update popup yet. The error signature contained in this error message is "szAppName : avast.setup     szAppVer : 5.0.0.0     szModName : ntdll.dll     
szModVer : 5.2.3790.4455     offset : 0004f053     
Not sure where to go from here.

[rcpowell2279]

I do run Spybot and Teatimer. Is this the source of the conflict? Is Teatimer a good idea? Spybot runs only on demand, I suppose.

[Lisandro]

I do run Spybot and Teatimer. Is this the source of the conflict? Is Teatimer a good idea? Spybot runs only on demand, I suppose.

Both are obsolete. Try MBAM on demand for Spybot and WinPatrol for Teatimer.

[mkis]

Indication from error message is that you have a faulting application (avast5) on Windows Server 2003

[DavidR]

This is because the win XP Pro 64bit OS is by all accounts based on the win 2003 server OS, which is one reason why the SPs only go up to SP2 and not SP3 in the XP 32bit OS versions.

So I don't know if there is some strange interaction with ntdll.dll in the XP Pro 64bit version, but we would certainly need some intervention by one of the Avast Team.

[mkis]

Thanks David. hmm...I have XP Pro 64bit OS here but the computer sits idle since my wireless internet connect (VMClite) does not support 64bit, and I do not feel like upgrading at my own expense while I am only on contract for a few more months. As it is, I pay a reasonably high monthly, and I intend to set up a LAN network at home once my contract is fulfilled. But for the time being, my 32bit systems are doing the job nicely.

[rcpowell2279]

I removed Spybot and Teatimer, rebooted, and got both messages: Avast.setup and Avast update both had a problem and needed to close. So what are the options for a fix? Are there any?