All shields turned off on reboot

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hello! I’m using Avast Free Antivirus on Windows 7 64-bit. I recently installed the 9.0.2013 update from Settings > Update, and everything seemed to have gone smoothly… that is, until I rebooted my computer. All active protection shields were turned off, Avast reported my computer as unprotected, and no amount of clicking ‘fix’ or ‘resolve all’ would turn them back on.

I’ve already tried repairing the installation from the Control Panel, and I’ve also tried (several times!) to uninstall, use avastclear.exe in Safe Mode, then reinstall again, both with the regular and online installations. Again, everything seems fine when Avast is first installed, but as soon as I restart, the shields turn off again. I’ve tried running full scans with MalwareBytes and turned up with nothing.

What else can I do to try and fix this?

2

What antivirus was used on the system before avast ? is there any other security software installed on the same system other than Malwarebytes ( firewall, etc ) ?

3

I’m pretty sure this computer came packaged with McAfee, which I’ve long since uninstalled with Revo Uninstaller. Other than Malwarebytes, I’m not using any other security software.

4

Revo shouldn’t be used to remove security software, can you please run the McAfee removal tool found here http://www.avast.com/en-gb/faq.php?article=AVKB11 and reboot when completed, you can try repairing avast again to see if it works but I think a clean install would be more beneficial as McAfee leftovers may have corrupted avast.

5

Hrrm. I ran the tool and then did a clean install of Avast, but still, I’m getting the error on reboot.

6

Have all the avast re-installs been done with the same copy of avast ? I’m just wondering whether you might have a corrupted copy :-\

7

No, since I’ve read that can sometimes be a problem, so I’ve redownloaded the installation files a few times already. But let me try it again just to make sure…

8

Use this method… this should fix it…

Note : It’s a DIFFERENT stub installer. Use this installer instead of the one you have now.

I’d recommend a clean install to v9.0.2013

  1. Download Avastclear, Rejzors uninstall tool and the appropriate Avast program edition

Note: You need to be ONLINE during this install (online installer works in all cases whereas offline sometimes doesn’t)

http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup_online.exe

Avastclear : http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avastclear.exe
Rejzors Uninstall tool: http://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-cleanup-tool/

  1. Uninstall Avast by control panel [If you don’t have Avast in control Panel go to #4]
  2. Uninstall in safe mode using Avastclear.
  3. Run Rejzors Uninstall Utility in Normal Mode (removes traces avastclear doesn’t) - reboot.
    Check : Once uninstalled check in device manager>view>show hidden devices if there is anything related to avast with a yellow triangle… if so, uninstall it and reboot.
  4. Install the version you downloaded.
  5. Reboot.
9

I’ve done those steps on previous clean installs, having seen them posted elsewhere in the forum, but I downloaded the setup file from the provided link again and went along with the rest. Still, the shields turn off on reboot, and Avast reports that the avast service has stopped. The program doesn’t respond when I click “start” or “resolve all”.

Is there anything else I can try?

10

Can you please run OTL from here http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0 and attach the logs to your next post, there might be something obvious we can spot but I’ll also report this topic to the avast team and see if they can offer some advice.

11

Alright, here they are! Thank you for your help.

12

I can see no apparent conflicts :

Could you go to control panel > administrative tools > services
Right click Avast services and select properties.
Ensure that it is set to automatic start
Is the service running ?
If not press start and let me know of any errors you receive

13

Oddly, yes, the service is running and it’s set to automatic start, but both the Action Center and the Avast UI report that the service is off.

14

OK I would like to test something out …

First ensure that you have a copy of Avast on your desktop

Uninstall Avast using the control panel and then use Avastclear

Do not re-install Avast yet

After the reboot run this OTL fix

Warning This fix is only relevant for this system and no other, using on another computer may cause problems

Be advised that when the fix commences it will shut down all running processes and you may lose the desktop and icons, they will return on reboot

Run OTL

[*]Under the Custom Scans/Fixes box at the bottom, paste in the following

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/73555776/OTL_Fix.GIF


:Commands
[CREATERESTOREPOINT]

:OTL
[2014/01/29 03:04:05 | 000,421,704 | ---- | C] (AVAST Software) -- C:\Windows\SysNative\drivers\mfaonfog.sys
[2014/01/28 16:04:36 | 000,421,704 | ---- | C] (AVAST Software) -- C:\Windows\SysNative\drivers\jizsfoln.sys
[2014/01/27 13:53:44 | 000,421,704 | ---- | C] (AVAST Software) -- C:\Windows\SysNative\drivers\nhtugayc.sys

:Commands
[resethosts]
[emptytemp]
[Reboot]

[*]Then click the Run Fix button at the top
[*]Let the program run unhindered, reboot the PC when it is done
[*]Open OTL again and click the Quick Scan button. Post the log it produces in your next reply.

Once OTL has completed then reinstall Avast

15

Here is the log. Unfortunately, the error still showed up after this reinstallation. :frowning:

16

OK a shot from the left field… Is Avast registered with a current licence