Free Version 5.0.594: Odd AvastSvc.exe crashes [Win 2000 SP4]

[topsecretnick]

Hello everybody,
I'm having an odd issue with the free antivirus version 5.0.594:

OS: Windows 2000 SP4

* All current windows updates are applied, with the exception of
KB971108 and 979906, which are both Microsoft .NET updates
which for some reason won't install via my Windows Update.

* My Firewall is Sygate Personal Firewall 5.5.

* I had avast Free Version 4.8 installed and removed in in Windows
safe mode using the current avast uninstaller/cleanup tool.

* I booted into regular Windows mode and installed Avast Free 5.0.594.

* I applied all avast program and definition updates.

* The new avast worked fine for about two system reboots, but now
the AvastSvc.exe service keeps crashing.

* For now I've deactivated the Avast service, the tray icon of course
displays a red X, when I open it and click repair AvastSvc.exe crashes
again and nearly always makes the system either very slow or unresponsive.

I'll be happy to provide further info as needed - thanks a lot for your assistance

Best regards,
Georg

[topsecretnick]

Just to give a quick update:
My event log shows that at startup time the following
drivers fail to load:

Aavmker4
aswSP
aswTdi

I believe they are related to avast:
=> Does anyone know a possible solution?

Many thanks again.

Best regards,
Georg

[CharleyO]

***

Have you tried a repair of avast?

To do a repair of avast :

Control panel > Add/remove programs > click once on avast to select it > click on Change/Remove > scroll down the left pane and click on repair > click OK> follow directions

The above might be slightly different in W2000


***

[topsecretnick]

Hello CharleyO,
thank you for your reply.

Yes, I have already tried that.

What's odd is that avast always works great right after the
installation - but as soon as I reboot AvastSvc.exe crashes.

-> I'm therefore guessing some of the services that are supposed
to start are causing conflicts.

My event log states that the avast service depends on
"aswMon" - possibly there's an error there.

Many thanks again.

Best regards,
Georg

[Vlk]

Does the problem happen even with the latest pre-release build?

[topsecretnick]

Hello Vlk,
thank you for your reply.

Yes, I can confirm that this issue happens with the pre-release
build of Free AV 5.0.656 as well.

My event log states that the service "avast! Antivirus" depends on the service
"avast! Standard Shield Support", which could not be started due to an error.
The reason given is that it has not been tried to start the service since the last
system boot.

If I should create any dumps / logs just let me know anytime.

Many thanks again.

Best regards,
Georg

[igor]

Are there any recent (i.e. from 5.0.656) .mdmp files in the folder
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Alwil Software\Avast5\log
?

[topsecretnick]

Hello igor,
thank you for your reply.

-> c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Alwil Software\
is empty, but I had to uninstall V5.0.656 and install V4.8 today and
I'm guessing the log folder of V5.0.656 is removed when doing an uninstall?

If you can confirm this I'll be happy to install V5.0.656 again for testing purposes and
I would then check the folder for .mdmp files.

Many thanks again.

Best regards,
Georg

[edited: version number]

[Rickajho]

If it helps: I'm running the same setup - W2K Pro SP4 with all updates except .NET and having no problems. The only difference I see is I don't have a personal firewall installed.

Just curious though: How much RAM do you have installed? It's working fine here on a system with 256MB RAM.

[topsecretnick]

Hello Rickajho,
thanks for posting - I appreciate that:

I can only guess if the .NET updates and SyGate Personal
Firewall are causing an issue - maybe it's just a combination
of several factors.

Regarding your question: I currently have 1GB of RAM installed.

Best regards,
Georg

[Rickajho]

Hey Georg

Well it had to happen... I was fine for about two weeks and then ran into a very similar problem to yours. Starting a new thread about that.

How did you revert to version 4.8? The download page seems to state that only the professional home/office version of 4.8 is available and you have to pay for it or it stops working after 60 days.

Rick

[topsecretnick]

Hey Rick,
ouch - sorry to hear that.

-> I got my Free version of 4.8 here
http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download
by clicking the "Downloads & Trial" tab
and scrolling down to "avast! 4.8 Home Edition
(old product)".

Then I booted into Windows safe mode, used the
avast Uninstaller tool from
http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility
to remove version 5, booted into regular Windows
mode and installed 4.8.

You might have to register your copy of 4.8
after the installation.

-> Thank you for letting me know about your other
thread - I'll keep watching that as well.

Best regards,
Georg