Avast 5 Completely Crashes Computer

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hey,

I installed the free version of Avast! 5 on my friend’s computer
because they got malware when running AVG and I personally am not
a huge fan of that program… (removed the malware with MBAM-Free)

Problem is, right before the installation completes,
the computer completely shuts down – no blue screen,
nothing. Just black. Then restart.

I now cannot log in. It blacks out again, then restarts.

I was able to log into safe mode. I removed Avast! and
then was able to log in normally again. I tried reinstalling
with the same problem.

Running safe mode, the program loads but it tells me,
“Urgent: avast! service stopped”.

I removed AVG with their removal tool and tried again. No
success.

I have MBAM-Free installed. Never had a problem with it
on any other computer that I have Avast! on.

The computer is Windows XP SP3 on an AMD
Sempron 3000+ (1.61 GHZ) w/ 2 gigs of ram…

I’d really like to put on Avast! cause AVG
was slowing down their computer significantly. And
I don’t really know how well other free antivirus
programs work.

Nothing else I that is installed would be interfering with
it (that I know of…)

Can anyone help?

Thanks!!
~DT

Oh, also…
Avast! isn’t showing up in the Add / Remove programs list.
and, the version is 5.0.236.57423 …

2

It sounds like you installed in older version of Avast. The current version is 5.0.677. Please make sure prior to uninstalling Avast and doing a clean install that you run the AVG uninstaller tool again:

http://uninstallers.blogspot.com/
http://www.askvg.com/ultimate-collection-of-uninstallers-removal-tools-for-all-popular-anti-virus-software/…reboot after running the tool

Uninstall Avast and do a CLEAN install:

  1. Save a copy of newest version of Avast (5.0.677) for the version you need and save it to your HDD:
    Free – http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download#tab4
  2. Download the Avast Uninstall Utility, aswClear5.exe http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for both 4.0 and 5.0).
  3. Disconnect from the Internet at this time.
  4. Uninstall Avast through “Add/Remove Programs” through Control Panel if possible.
  5. Boot into Safe Mode (hit F8 repeatedly) and run the Avast Uninstall Tool.
  6. Reboot twice.
  7. Install the newest version of Avast and reboot.
  8. Get Internet access and update Avast definitions.
  9. Register your copy or add the license key for Free, Pro, or AIS.
    Free – http://www.avast.com/registration-free-antivirus.php

Let me know how this works out for you. Thank you and welcome to the forum. :slight_smile:

3

Thanks for the suggestion SafeSurf.

I remember downloading the installer yesterday from Cnet, so
I assumed it was the updated version… Maybe I typed the
version number wrong… I don’t have access to the computer
right now because it’s at my parents house, I will try your
suggestion tomorrow.

Thanks again, have a good one :slight_smile:

4

MBAM scan came out clean? No other security software on the machine?

Thank you…you too. Let me know if you have any problems.

5

Well, that didn’t work.

I ran the AVG removal tool, Avast removal tool and McAfee removal tool (just incase)

Tried installing avast 5 again, and the computer still went black.
Tried installing it in safe mode and the program installed but the
shields would not load nor would the computer make it past the login
screen in regular mode. And when I restarted after it blacks out, MS
says, “The computer has just recovered from a serious error.”

MBAM scans came up clean; same with IObit Security 360 (which is just installed on
a flash drive) and the U3 version of Avast!

I suppose the computer just doesn’t like Avast! 5. It’s XP SP3 and meets
minimum req’s…

Any ideas?

Thanks!
~DT

Edit:

I’m not sure what these mean, but they’re
the numbers windows generated in the Error Report:

BCCode : 1000007f BCP1 : 00000008 BCP2 : 80042000 BCP3 : 00000000
BCP4 : 00000000 OSVer : 5_1_2600 SP : 3_0 Product : 256_1

6

Yep…you can’t install in Safe Mode. Uninstall again as I instructed, but for installation you need to be in normal mode.

7

Hehe, I figured that out. It was worth a
shot seeing how it wouldn’t install in
regular mode. :stuck_out_tongue:

I ended up getting 4.8 to install and that
found the problem. The entire computer is
trashed with Win32:Vitro. Funny; nothing
else I had on there could find it… but
it’s already wrecked havoc and wrote
itself to every EXE file :frowning:

Looks like I’m gonna have to reformat :frowning:

Thanks for your help, Safesurf.
~DT

8

Keep in mind that when you do reinstall Avast, 4.8 support is being discontinued just after the end of this year so you need to install the latest version of 5.0. Version 5.1 should be released in the next 1 - 2 months (keeping my fingers crossed), but in the meantime, 5.0.677 is the latest version.

Do you need help with malware removal as I can have a Certified Malware Removal Expert assist you after I have you run some diagnostics?

9

You can read the last 2 posts of this thread for more information about this malware and action you should take: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=58252.0.

Please let me know if you would like additional assistance as I mentioned earlier. Thank you.

10

Nasty surprise for me today. I was asked by a pop-up from Avast to update to 5.0 and the computer crashes before it fully loads.
I got my son to come and he un-installed the new version in “safe mode”. Luckily I still had the version 4.8 file and installed that once more. Computer running again.

11

I suggest that you do the clean install suggested by SafeSurf in the first reply of this topic.

When you get to this note:
5. Boot into Safe Mode (hit F8 repeatedly) and run the Avast Uninstall Tool.

First run the uninstall utility for avast 4.8 and follow that with 5.0 and then reboot and reinstall avast 5.0.677.

12

I am having the same exact problem. I had to uninstall it after being a faithful customer for over 2 years without ever having a problem. After disabling avast, the computer works fine. And now I have succumbed to installing Microsoft Security Essentials. I want my Avast back. Please fix the problem Avast. Too many people are experiencing this horror.

13

Uhhhh, problem 1 or 2? Two separate problems in this thread. One virus-related, one still unclear. Start your own thread for assistance with your problem, please.