42040 Error

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi guys. This is my first post.

I ran Avast in my previous Win98 PC for the last few years and recently built a new PC and installed XP Pro SP2 and Avast v4.7 Home. Things were fine until last night. I keep getting a 42040 error.

I tried to update my virus protection database file, but it says that it is up to date.

I have a compilation date of 11-12-2006 and a version number 0648-0.

When ever I click on the “a” ball in my System Tray, I get a box that says “avast: The AAVM system detected a RPC error” in the title bar and a “The operation could not be completed” message in the box.

2

What were you doing when you got this error ?

There is a new VPS update, but that shouldn’t be an issue with this problem.

AAVM subsytem detected and RPC error, http://www.avast.com/eng/faq-other-questions.html#idt_1539, check these options.

Is there also a red circle and bar on the avast icon ?

3

The problem started when I was checking my Thunderbird mail and it said that Avast had picked up a potential threat. Then I noticed the circle and bar on the “a” ball.

I followed the Trouble shooting link and have done everything except #7.

More info: I checked the “Log Viewer” and clicked “Error” on the far left. I had these entries:

Time_____System________1584_________AAVM - Initialization error AavmStart: avworkInitialize failed, 0000A438.
Time_____my name_______3192_________aswSplash - Program error description: 42040 = VPS file was destroyed.

Thanks for your help.

PS: Is there anyway to copy and paste these error messages from the log?

4

You can ‘export current list’ to a .txt file or using the Edit, Filter (or possibly the Find) to select/find those relevant entries then ‘export selected lines’ to a .txt file.

The Red circle can also be an indication of the presence of another AV.
Have (or did) you have another AV installed in this system, if so what and how did you get rid of it ?

5

Avast is the only AV I have ever had on this PC since I built it about 3 weeks ago.

I am using another PC to post at this forum because I do not like surfing the net without AV protection.

If I can not find another way, I will remove and reinstall Avast. My experience with Avast was very good with my previous PC.

6

You could 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. You need to be on-line to do this.

If that doesn’t work try, uninstall, reboot, install, reboot.

However, just gone over your first post again and this “Program error description: 42040 = VPS file was destroyed.” might be overcome by a repair, if not (try this before a reinstall), download the VPS file, save to a USB or CD and then copy to the system with the problem. Run it to install the latest complete VPS file, avast! VPS Update - Manual Download.

7

I was going to try your advice which I read on my Linspire (a variety of Linux) PC, but when I booted up the Win XP PC, Avast downloaded a new virus definition database. I have Avast set to auto-update and it seems that the new database cured the problem.

I will keep your manual update download method handy in case I ever have this problem again.

Thanks for all your help.

8

No problem, welcome to the forums.

Stick around and browse the forums, especially the sticky topics at the top of each of the forums. They provide a wealth of information to help you get the best from avast.