avast 6 - service can't be started

[djswarm]

Yes I uninstalled, tried a registry cleaner, reinstalled - no joy
using version 6.0.1125
xp sp3 updates current, 4gb, athlon II x2 4400e, no overclocking

the service hangs forever in "starting"
if I try to manually start it, it immediately exits

"fix" and "start program" buttons do nothing.

Any suggestions?

[Lisandro]

Which were the old antivirus and security programs before avast?

[djswarm]

Which were the old antivirus and security programs before avast?

Same one, Been using avast since 4 and I try to keep it current.

[Lisandro]

Any suggestions?

I suggest an installation from 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. Or even upgrade your key from old versions.
7. Check and post the results. If, for any reason, you did not solve, try doing the step 3 in Safe Mode anyway.

[djswarm]

I suggest an installation from 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. Or even upgrade your key from old versions.
7. Check and post the results. If, for any reason, you did not solve, try doing the step 3 in Safe Mode anyway.

So I've now uninstalled and reinstalled twice, no change.

I did get AAVM subsystem detected a rpc error when I tried to register it.

and the event log says:

Event Type:   Error
Event Source:   Service Control Manager
Event Category:   None
Event ID:   7022
Date:      5/20/2011
Time:      11:21:53 PM
User:      N/A
Computer:   4E
Description:
The avast! Antivirus service hung on starting.

[SafeSurf]

using version 6.0.1125

I did get AAVM subsystem detected a rpc error when I tried to register it.

1. What version of Avast are you using?  Free, Pro, AIS?

2. Are you trying to put in a 4.0 license/key for a 6.0 version?  If you are a paid user and you are trying to put in a 4.0 license for a 6.0 version, please refer to the following:
http://www.avast.com/resend-license.php.  Make sure you use the same email as you used to register for the 4.0 license.

3. If you are using the Free version, just enter http://www.avast.com/registration-free-antivirus.php while online or via the Avast GUI to register.

4.  I know you were asked this before and responded that you only had Avast, but I will ask again:

What other security software do you currently have or did you have in the past on this machine including:
- Antivirus (AV) besides Avast
- Firewall (FW)
- Trial versions of AV, FW and other security programs
- Other security software

- If they were in the past, how did you remove them (the vendor's uninstaller's tool or  another way)?  Remnants can cause conflicts with other security software.

[djswarm]

using version 6.0.1125

I did get AAVM subsystem detected a rpc error when I tried to register it.

1. What version of Avast are you using?  Free, Pro, AIS?

Free

2. Are you trying to put in a 4.0 license/key for a 6.0 version? 

Not even.

3. If you are using the Free version, just enter http://www.avast.com/registration-free-antivirus.php while online or via the Avast GUI to register.

I know how to register the program.

I suspect what ever is causing the main service to fail is also keeping the automatic registration from working.

4.  I know you were asked this before and responded that you only had Avast, but I will ask again:

What other security software do you currently have or did you have in the past on this machine including:
- Antivirus (AV) besides Avast
- Firewall (FW)
- Trial versions of AV, FW and other security programs
- Other security software

I've been using avast on this system since version 4, I don't have other versions on currently, trial versions, other antivirus software, or an inability to say something correctly the first time.

the default windows firewall is turned on and has been the whole time.

- If they were in the past, how did you remove them (the vendor's uninstaller's tool or  another way)?  Remnants can cause conflicts with other security software.

I uninstalled the last version of avast when 6.0 came out using add/remove programs.

[AtlantaGal]

- If they were in the past, how did you remove them (the vendor's uninstaller's tool or  another way)?  Remnants can cause conflicts with other security software.

I uninstalled the last version of avast when 6.0 came out using add/remove programs.

I also use XP SP3 and I can tell you first hand that add/remove programs does not totally remove Avast. You have to use their uninstall tool as well.  Don't know if that will solve your problems, but it's worth a try.

[djswarm]

I also use XP SP3 and I can tell you first hand that add/remove programs does not totally remove Avast. You have to use their uninstall tool as well.  Don't know if that will solve your problems, but it's worth a try.

1) I already did.
2) It was working fine since the initial release.

[SafeSurf]

It was working fine since the initial release.

1. Were you using a beta (pre-release) version prior to this final version?  If so, you may need to do an uninstall/clean install using the Avast Uninstaller Tool (uninstalling v.4.0 as well as 5.0 and 6.0) with reboots in between each uninstall.

2. You are only running an XP firewall (FW), which is a 1-way very weak FW.  I suggest that you get a 2-way FW for better security at some point once we resolve your problem.

3. You state that you do not have any other security programs including on-demand or resident and never had on this machine.  I'd like to check your computer for malware with Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware (MBAM) to rule this out as a possibility for your problem:
·   Download free http://www.malwarebytes.org/ (the blue button) for an on-demand scanner.
·   Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
·   After install, click update so you have latest database before scanning.
·   Under Settings:
o   General: Automatically Save File After Scan Completes is checked off
o   Scanner Settings:  Check all boxes
o   Updater: Download and install update if available is checked off
·   Once the program has loaded, select "Perform FULL Scan", then click Scan.
·   The scan may take some time to finish, so please be patient.
·   When the disinfection scan is complete, a log will appear in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart. (See Extra Note).
·   Click the “remove selected” button to quarantine anything found.  You will find the infection details under the Quarantine tab.
·   The log is automatically saved by MBAM and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab in MBAM.
·   Copy & Paste the entire report in your next reply.

Thank you.