Windows Action Center has started complaining that my spyware and antivirus protection is turned off. I can turn on Windows Defender, but not Avast. If I open Avast it says the system is Secure…everything up to date…all shields active. This problem started after Avast downloaded the 8.0.1488 update. I’ve tried uninstalling Avast, downloading the 8.0.1488 installer and reinstalling. I tried it 3 or 4 times now. This is on a new Acer laptop running Windows 8 64 bit.
Did you run the avast uninstaller utility?
I initiated the uninstall from the usual place…Programs and Features. That brought up the Avast menu with the options to update/change/repair/uninstall. I tried the repair option first, that didn’t work so I uninstalled and downloaded a fresh copy of 8.0.1488, but that didn’t fix the problem either.
Well, I reinstalled the old version 8.0.1483 and the problem went away, so it must be a bug in 8.0.1488. Some other people reported the same problem with 8.0.1488 in another thread.
Which is the thread? On all computers that Avast! Free 8.0.1488 is installed ALL of them are reporting on action center that AV protection is disabled. All computers are with Windows 8 64-bits. None of the computers with this new version is correctly working with Action Center. This makes me wonder if Avast tested this version on windows 8 at all…
What is your OS(s)?
What other security software do you have now or ever had?
If removed how was it removed?
What are you using as firewall? ???
Windows 8 64bit on all computers
Never had anything else than Avast
Windows firewall, only
This started to happend right after the 1488 update and with 1488 update only.
I admit I don’t know much about W8. I will suggest a clean install though.
- download and save http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility
- download and save http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe
- run uninstaller from step #1 (you will be prompted to reboot into safe mode, do so).
- reboot into normal mode
- install set-up from step #2
- reboot and register
As you can see, I’m running the latest version of avast!8:
http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1368129148451-71509.png
I’m also using Windows 8 Pro
http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1368129327089-65730.png
There aren’t any problems with the Security Center
http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1368129432945-24339.png
If you need help with doing a clean install, please follow the video
described here:
[b]http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=93544.msg906287#msg906287[/b]
Have you rebooted your system since updating ???
Of course I did. I’m not doing a clean install in 6 computers. Too much PITA
You could try doing it on one computer just to see if that cures your problem and then decide what to do with the others.
I have avast! 8 installed on several Windows 8 computers and have only seen the problem once prior to a reboot. Your computer, your decision.
I am sorry, I dind’t want to be rude. You’re right. I’ll try that out in one computer and see how it goes.
Same here. Windows 8 64 bit (standard, not pro edition) on an Acer Aspire V3 771G laptop. Just Avast installed. Using Windows firewall. No other security programs installed.
I even did a clean install of Windows 8 yesterday. With nothing but Avast 1488 installed, Action Center reported anti-spyware/anti-virus disabled. Uninstalled 1488, and installed 1483 and problem went away.
Haven’t tried 1489 yet.
I just updated from 1483 to 1489, and so far Action Center is reporting Avast is turned ON. Fingers crossed.
It’s the same for me since 8.0.1483!!! I have just updated to 8.0.1489 and problem in action center is still here 
Did you do a clean install ?
yeah I did it the first time I’ve installed Win8 on my laptop and I did another clean install 2 days ago after suggestion on another post
I might have spoke too soon. After another reboot the problem came back in 1489. Rebooted a third time and the problem went away. ???
I figured i would just let this run its course till a later patch. I have the same issue. I have SuperAntiSpyware, Malwayrebytes pro, and Avast Internet security all updated and with valid licenses. The issue really does have to do with how these load in. SAS and Avast both load later than they should normally triggering the control center prompt. I had uninstalled eset smart security suite and had this issue. Did clean windows 8 install and only installed avast worked fine. After installing malwayre bytes and sas as well as a few Windows Updates the issue came back.
I have also found that on occasion, doing a Repair of avast! followed by a re-boot cures the problem.