I’ve recently un-installed Avast4 and replaced with Avast5. When starting Outlook I’m getting the message “the add-in ashoutXt.dll could not be installed or loaded” Does someone know how to configure Outlook so it does not attempt to load a file that is no longer there?
Close Outlook and then I suggest an installation from the scratch:
- Download the latest version of avast! Uninstall Utility and save it.
- Download the latest avast! version and save it.
- 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.
- 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.
- Install avast! using the setup saved on 2. Boot.
- Register your free copy or add the license key for Pro.
- Check and post the results.
Tech,
I followed your instructions for uninstalling in Safe Mode. I then installed v5.
Am no longer getting the message when starting Outlook.
Thanks for the help!
Sometimes the Extend.dat file get messed up for outlook under Application Data, Microsoft, Outlook in your user folder. Usually if you remove them it will recreate the default file addons only and you can reinstall any other addons
Reinstalling avast after fixing the extend.dat file will reinstall the addon so it can work properly.
Glad it all got worked out though. 
You’re welcome. Feel free to come back any time you need help or just to change experiences 8)
I did tried the steps you recomended but still i am facing same message when i start my out look? I use Vista. Please will you guide me to get rid of this problem.
many thanks
Yousuf
I’ve had this problem a lot lately, don’t know why it just started.
However, it seems to only happen when creating a new outlook profile, or installing outlook for the first time.
Just let it disable the add-on.
Close Outlook.
Re-open Outlook. There should be no errors now, and the Avast Plugin will be disabled.
Go to disabled items (in Outlook 2003, it’s Help > About > Disabled Items) (In Outlook 2007, Help > Disabled Items) and re-enable the avast plugin.
Close Outlook. Re-open, and the problem should be gone, and the plugin should be running.
Still not working.
this is the first time in 2 years that Avast has disappointed me a lot.
Add-in “Avast!4” still appearing. (C:\program Files\Alwilsoftwares\Avast4\ashOutXt.dll) cannot be loaded.
Quiet a weird problem/.
So, you tried Tech’s suggestion as well?
The solution mentioned by Tech will work. However the following solution might also work.
In directory C:\Program Files\Alwil Software create a new folder Avast4 and the copy file ashOutXt.dll from directory C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5 to directory C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4.
This will make Outlook happy. (You can also create a shortcut named Avast4 in directory C:\Program Files\Alwil Software that points to the C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5 directory.)
I think it is an Avast installation bug. During installation the avast 5 install only updates the Outlook addon for the userid that is installing v5! All other userids that use Outlook on the same PC will still point to the Avast v4 directory/addon which the v5 install has deleted.
Perhaps “Vlk” can publish some instruction on how to install the Avast v5 addon in Outlook?
jdh
I suggest further investigation on this. It’s a bug (if there is such a problem).
Update: Shortcut does not work, sorry should have tested that before I mentioned it. I tested it now and it does not work using a shortcut!
Tech:
You are absolutely correct, but I have only three PC to test that on. Now it so happens that all three PC are used by multiple users and each has a different admin userid. I have installed Avast, btw v5.0.462, on all three PCs and the userid used to install had no Outlook problems but for all other userids Outlook failed with the message that the avast4 addon C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashOutXt.dll could not be loaded!
Creating directory Avast4 in C:\Program Files\Alwil Software and copying ashOutXt.dll into that directory from C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5 fixed the problem for all userids on the three PCs. Not a high enough number of PCs in my oppinion to say for sure this is a Avast install issue. But it certanly looks like one :-\
jdh
I can confirm the latest post of ‘jdhatpha’
No problem with the outlook user of the install, all other users cannot install the addon.
The solution by ‘coolsilver’ deleting the ‘Extend.dat’ file is a viable way to solve the problem.
As this is a problem that stumps new users, it should be put in a ‘sticky’ note!
thanks man, it worked… me so relieved now.
thanks a lot
hpoehrli:
Yes, ‘coolsilver’ suggestion of deleting the ‘Extend.dat’ works but that will cause all other Outlook addon’s to get lost also! I suggest that if you want to do something with ‘Extend.dat’, then use a hex editor and simply edit …\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashOutXt.dll to …\Alwil Software\Avast5\ashOutXt.dll and the problem is solved without loosing any other Outlook addons. Btw the ‘Extend.dat’ file is in: …userid…\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook, for those that want to use the hex edit method
yousuf78:
Glad it worked ;D
jdh
I am using Microsoft Outlook 2007. I tried as per your message down. Still I am getting the error message “Add-in “Avast! 5” cannot be loaded …”
Pls help
You can check the registry to see where it is trying to locate the add-in.
- Go to Start>Run> type “regedit”
- Locate the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Exchange\Client\Extensions
Under that key you should see “avast! 5” (without quotes). Make sure that this points to the correct location of the dll. On most systems it should say:
4.0;C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast5\ashOutXt.dll;1;10000111111000
If you see something else then just correct the path and everything should work.
This work for all users under same pc or others pc. Close Outlook and then proceed to DELETE the EXTEND.DAT outlook file under quoted post from “coolsilver”. Do the same for each user and restart outlook. The Avast Outlook Plugin will be running totally normal.
I don’t think that cheating Outlook with a folder named avast4 and copying the .dll file in it is a clean solution.
OS: WindXP Pro SP3 - MSO 2003 Pro SP3
Dear Tech,
Everything went fine until step 5… several times
I got an error and some code= Return code: 0x000036B1
What would this mean?
I’m really disappointed with this new version, it didn’t turn out as former ones… =/