cannot turn on mail shield

[ICDogg]

Using avast 5.0 on XP64. Previously used 4.8, which never had any such problem. Never used any non-avast AV on this computer.

Mail client is Outlook Express.

"Fix Now" button has no effect. Neither does "Turn On" button.

I'm thinking that avast is expecting a service to be turned on which might not be. Any thoughts?

[DavidR]

Try a repair of avast. Add Remove programs, select 'avast! Anti-Virus,' click the Change/Remove button and scroll down to Repair, click next and follow. This has in the past resolved this out of sync issue between reported and actual virus definitions version.

If that doesn't work - Try a clean reinstall:
Download the latest version of avast, 5.0.507 http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again (if you didn't save your last download). Use that when you reinstall.

- Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, aswClear5.exe find it here and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for both 4.8 and 5.0).

• 1. Now uninstall (using add remove programs, if you can't do that start from the next step), reboot.
• 2. run the avast! Uninstall Utility from safe mode, first for 4.8 if previously installed and then for 5.0, once complete reboot into normal mode.
• 3. install the latest version, reboot.

I also use OE and no problems with avast 5.0.507.

[scythe944]

Are you checking that mail scanner is running while you have OE open?

I know on 4.8, if you don't have a mail client open, the service won't be running.  After opening the mail client, the service starts.

I could be way off though.  Try David's suggestion.

[ICDogg]

Thank you.

Looks like 4.8 didn't uninstall properly. It still showed up in add/remove programs. But I couldn't remove it there.

 I used the clear utility to remove 4.8 completely in safe mode, restarted, then 5 was no longer running, so I did a repair under add/remove programs for that, and then restarted the avast service.

Seems to be working right now.

[Lisandro]

I suggest an installation from the scratch:

1. Download the latest version of avast! Uninstall Utility and save it.
2. Download the latest avast! version and save it.
3. Uninstall avast from Control Panel (if possible). If, for any reason, you can't run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after that.
4. Run the avast! Uninstall Utility saved on 1. If, for any reason, you can't run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after you've run it.
5. Install avast! using the setup saved on 2. Boot.
6. Register your free copy or add the license key for Pro.
7. Check and post the results.

[scythe944]

Glad to know that you got it fixed.  Old installations can be pesky... 

[DavidR]

Are you checking that mail scanner is running while you have OE open?

I know on 4.8, if you don't have a mail client open, the service won't be running.  After opening the mail client, the service starts.

I could be way off though.  Try David's suggestion.

The internet Mail shield doesn't require that the email client is open for it to start, unlike the MS Outlook plug-in in avast 4.8 (waiting for sub-system message).

[scythe944]

Gotcha... I'm used to using full mail clients.  Thanks.

[DavidR]

No problem.

[punzquill]

DavidR, I cannot thank you enough. I spent all day today trying to get my Avast to work again. I had the same initial problem (the Mail Shield could not be turned on and the Fix It Now button did nothing). I followed your instructions to the letter, and voila...fixed!!  I'm so happy )))))
P.S. I didn't know how to start my computer in safe mode, so I had to clear that hurdle.

[DavidR]

No problem, glad I could help, but you did the major work in using the forum search to find a solution to the problem, not many do.

Welcome to the forums.

[igodzin]

i have windows 7 64-bit and outlook 2010 and Avast 5.0.594. When avast enabled cannot access to POP3 server. when shields are disabled outlook is working. outlook was installed after avast.