Avast causing OE lockups on hyperlinks and more

[Elwinna]

I installed Avast Pro 4.1 just prior to updating my WinXP Home to SP2.  I unistalled Norton 2004 and put in Avast without any problem.  Everything was working fine for a couple days, then my Outlook Express started locking up when I click hyperlinks in emails.  The program would not respond to anything...even control>alt>delete required me to end it manually.  Re-opening did not fix the link problem (though it would return functionality otherwise).  If I reboot it would start up fine for a few hours before the problem came back.  Rebooting when I was getting the freeze problems would also not work properly as I was always getting MCI Command Handling Window (or DDE Server Window) failing to end unless manually ended.  Another problem associated with these previously mentioned is that if I typed a search into my google toolbar then IE would freeze up the same way as the OE did.  Again, rebooting rid me of the problem for a while.

Someone mentioned that the problem could be associated with antivirus so I tried first turning off the script blocking feature but still had the problem.  Then I disabled all 6 providers in Avast (I wasn't ever using the Outlook one anyway) and I haven't had a problem with lockups or strange behavior for several days.

Has anyone experienced this issue or have any suggestions for how I can fix my Avast to work right?  Perhaps because I installed before doing the sp2 update it is messed up.  Should I uninstall the program, then reinstall it?  I'd be happy to entertain suggestions or ideas or post any logs that can help diagnosis.  I really like Avast better than Norton but I almost never reboot my computer so this is driving me crazy.

[stoffell]

Well..
Since uninstalling and reinstalling isn't the hardest thing to try, in my opinion, could you try it out and let us know if it works after that ?

Cheers....

[Elwinna]

I uninstalled using the avclear4.exe and now re-installed after reboot.  If the past is any indication, I should experience lockups in a few hours if it is going to go back to its old problems.  I'll update either way....

By the way...I run Avast on my laptop without any issues at all and it has much the same setup.

[stoffell]

I think 'something' is different between the laptop and that machine. maybe some software or update of windows.... anyway, keep us posted, so we know if it's solved...

[Elwinna]

Update:  Everything has been running smoothly for a whole day and all OE hyperlinks and google toolbar searches are functioning as they are supposed to.  I haven't rebooted to see if I get the shutdown errors but I am confident they are gone too.  If any problems come back I'll post but otherwise I think the uninstall/reinstall took care of the problem.  Thanks for the quick help!!  I am so glad I can keep Avast running now!!

[techie101]

Elwinna,

Please see post below.

Mouse stuck....

[techie101]

Elwinna,

I believe much of your problem was a loss of resouces.

Rebooting a computer from time to time especially when using Windows ME and XP, "reclaims" memory that is being tied up within the system.  Since you said you "hardly" ever reboot seems to explain why it clears up from time to time.

Normally, when the computer no longer needs memory, it should return it to the "bank" for re-use.

Sometimes this does not occur and if you keep using the computer, your memory will get so low, that any function could freeze it up.

This is called "leakage" and occurs more frequently in ME systems than others.

Defragnentation and a Diskscan as part of a regular maintenance routine will keep problems to a minimum.

Good luck.

PS:  You mentioned a "dirty" word...Norton!  
It is not as easy to remove completely as you might think.
If you continue to experience trouble, then we must do an indepth removal procedure for Norton.  You can search the forum for many many posts on Norton removal.

[Elwinna]

ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!

It just locked up when I clicked on the link that I got that someone had posted here!!  Interestingly I also just received "your virus database has been updated" right before that.  OK guys back to the drawing board here.

I have WinXP Home with SP2 and have 1 Gig of RAM.  I have Athlon XP 2500+ and I don't overload my system with games or anything that should use a lot of my resources.  I have a 250 gig and an 80 gig HD that are maybe 20% full.  All I have been doing when the problems start is surfing...not using anything major or even running my jukebox.  Just two messenger programs and my OE is always on.  My defrag is run regularly and when I last checked that a couple days ago it said it did not require defrag.  My computer is really in very well maintained condition with no viruses and lots of protection.  

More ideas??

[Eddy]

Check the Avast log files as well as the system and event logs for errors/warnings. See if they tell something more about what is going on.

[Elwinna]

Well now the log viewer won't start...I click on it and nothing opens, but the words "avast! Log Viewer" that I clicked are now stuck on my screen!!

My antivirus event viewer in winxp shows no "events" in the past few days other than virus being updated (VPS).

I show no service or application errors since yesterday afternoon at 3:30 pm ET.  Security event viewer shows lots of success audits whatever they are.

I will have to reboot to get the shutdown errors then I can post those here.  It will have to wait a few hours though cause I am going to the Marlins baseball game.  Ill post back late this afternoon.   GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!

[Elwinna]

OK I am back (we lost the game ) and I am ready to tackle this problem again.  

On shut down I got the same old error message saying MCI Command Handling window can't close.

The only error recorded in my xp event logs:

DCOM error event 10005 "The service database is locked."  attempting to start the service winmgnt with arguments in order to run the server: {8BC3F05E-D86B-11D0-A075-00C04FB68820}

I have no other errors today in the system, antivirus, application or security event logs.  I have again disabled all the Avast providers.  Does that DCOM error event mean anything significant?

[Eddy]

Are you sure you spelled "winmgnt" correct? Because if you did, you got very likely the Hale Trojan on your system.

[Elwinna]

Sorry....winmgmt is the correct spelling

NOT what I typed as winmgnt

[Eddy]

Check if the RPC service is running please.
start > run > services.msc

[Elwinna]

I have two different RPC

Remote Procedure Call...provides the endpoint mapper and other miscellaneous services Started and Automatic

Remote Procedure Call Locator...manages the RPC name service database Stopped and Manual

And remember, I have Avast in my taskbar but all the providers are currently disabled.