Avast! 5.0.594 doesn't survive diagnostic startup.

Howdy, folks.
http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m349/fastfoodpics/wave.gif

I am using Windows XP Home Edition SP3 on an Emachines T3624. All MS Critical updates and Avast! Definitions are installed.

When I return startups to Selective Startup after using Diagnostic Startup, Avast! 5.0.594 does not return to the selected status in the Startup list in msconfig. However, the Avast! 5.0.594 icon returns to the task bar with the red shield and “x” indicating that the application is disabled and selecting “Enable” from the Context menu /Avast!5.0.594 Shield Control does not work. In addition, selecting “avastUI” on the msconfig startup list does not help as after restarting the computer “avastUI” is again unselected and the “avast! Antivirus”, “avast! Mail Scanner”, “avast! Web Scanner” and “Remote Procedure Call (RPC)” Services are disabled. After setting the Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Service to Automatic/Started, still the Avast! Services cannot be enabled and I get an “Access Denied” error. The only solution is to perform a repair-install or complete reinstallation of Avast! 5.0.594. After this problem first occurred, twice, I was able to reproduce the exact same scenario.

Charlie

Which other security related programs are running…??
asyn

fastfood,

  1. save a copy of avast! 5.0.594 to your desktop or someplace you can find it easily.

  2. Uninstall avast! 5 though add & remove

  3. run the avast! uninstall tool: http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility

  4. reboot twice

  5. boot into safe mode http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ss/safemodexp.htm

  6. install avast! 5.0.594

  7. reboot

It worked for me. :slight_smile:

@ rdmaloyjr, The OP stated that he already uninstalled/installed twice, so something else is going on. Asyn is correct in trying to find out what other security software the OP has as this may be conflicting with Avast.

Fastfood, we will await your reply to Asyn’s question regarding what other security software you have on your machine. This includes previous antivirus, firewall, and other security software that you are currently using. Thank you.

Hi, Asyn.

Thank you for responding. Sorry it took so long to post back. After first posting I went to bed. Then, this morning I found that my Firewall, Zone Alarm 7.0.483 which is the only other security software, even the XP Security Center is disabled, on my machine had some how become corrupted and would not repair or reinstall until I had gotten rid of all related files. Then I ran a boodtime full scan with Avast! which seem to take for ever and had reported three Trojans, all Win32:Trojan-gen in the Outlook Express Store folderwhich arrived as spam disguised as invoices from DHL delivery service. I recall them arriving and coping and sending the source code of the headers to DHL but I do not recall opening them, but perhaps I actually forewarded though I tend to purposely avoid opining spam. Do you think I should submit them to the virus lab?

Thank you.

Charlie

fastfood,

Your copy of ZoneAlarm is way out of date.

The latest version is ZoneAlarm Free 9.2.057.000

Download the latest version here: http://www.filehippo.com/download_zonealarm_free/

Keep all of your security programs up to date.

Up to date security programs have the latest defenses against threats to your computer.

ZoneAlarm is an excellent firewall. Don’t let Asyn misinform you about ZA.

Look in my Sig. I use it. If it wasn’t a great firewall, I wouldn’t use it. :wink:

  1. No problem…!
  2. Drop it. Either use the latest version or better use another free fw (pctools, comodo, etc.)
  3. Scan your system with free Mbam. http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
    asyn

No, it is not. It was an excellent firewall long time ago.
But that’s just my opinion… :wink:
asyn

Fastfood,

Were you able uninstall and do a clean install of Avast?

Did you install MBAM (excellent on-demand scanner for detecting malware)?

Did you update all your security definitions?

Do you still have ZA or not?

Thanks, Guy’s. I wasn’t ware there was a new version of ZA avaiable, I’ll give that and Mbam a shot.

You all have a great day. :slight_smile:

Here are detailed instructions for MBAM:

Check your computer for malware with Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware (MBAM).
· Download free http://www.malwarebytes.org/ 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 Quick 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 if anything positive comes up.

If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts – Click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process; If asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately.