Free Avast background service keeps stopping every ~20 minutes. An “X” appears on the taskbar Avast icon.
This problem was already brought to this forum in November 2015. Message advised me to re-start the topic.
I have spent a lot of time trying all the things that were suggested then, without results:
–Made sure I had the latest version
–Ran a “repair” from the Windows 7 Programs and Features list
–Uninstalled Avast as completely as I could and reinstalled the software. Rebooted at least twice.
–The Avast service “properties” in the Windows services list could be set to always restart the service when it stops, but the user has no access to changing the properties of the Avast service
I’ve been using Avast a long time but never had this problem before. If there’s no solution I’ll have to turn to another virus shield.
Eddy, A search for “Farbar,” “FRST.txt,” and “Addition.txt” has not turned up any of these items. I also looked manually at the Avast folder in “Program Files” without result. Can you give me an idea of where those files are supposed to be? Thanks
Error: (04/17/2016 05:06:14 PM) (Source: Service Control Manager) (EventID: 7031) (User: )
Description: The Avast Antivirus service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 1 time(s). The following corrective action will be taken in 5000 milliseconds: Restart the service.
Lets run this fix and see what happens … If it fails we will try a full re-install
CAUTION : This fix is only valid for this specific machine, using it on another may break your computer
Open notepad and copy/paste the text in the quotebox below into it:
Run FRST and press Fix
On completion a log will be generated please post that
THEN
Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode onto your desktop.
[*]Close all open programs and internet browsers.
[*]Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
[*]Click on Scan.
[*]After the scan is complete click on “Clean”
[*]Confirm each time with Ok.
[*]Your computer will be rebooted automatically. A text file will open after the restart.
[*]Please post the content of that logfile with your next answer.
[*]You can find the logfile at C:\AdwCleaner[S0].txt as well.
Thanks Essexboy. I ran FRST using the fixlist you sent me. The fixlog is attached.
Several attempts to download the ADW cleaner were unsuccessful. I proceeded to again try reinstalling Avast, but after uninstalling it I found a way to download the cleaner and ran it even though Avast was no longer on the computer. I did not find the ADW log file you mentioned at the exact location you gave or with the exact name but I found two log files in a similar location with similar names and I’m attaching them.
As I mentioned in my first posting to this forum, I had already uninstalled and reinstalled Avast before posting. I removed it as thoroughly as I could, but after the new installation the background program was still stopping every ~20 minutes. Today I again uninstalled the program, and then removed all the Avast folders I could find, and did a registry cleaning. Then I downloaded Avast from your site and reinstalled it (after running the ADW cleaner, as mentioned). I’m afraid the Avast service still stops about every 20 minutes.
Thanks for your help. I never did try the Avast uninstaller, but switched to AVG free antivirus. And one of the AVG background services also kept stopping. The problem appears to have been in the computer–among others. But I’m now using another computer–and Avast free anti-virus without any issues so far.
I had the same problem with Avast background service stopping every half hour or so on my Windows 7 PC. I tried to the repair the program using the uninstall utility. When that didn’t work I uninstalled and reinstall Avast using control panel.
I recently installed a Virtual Private Network on my computer. That appears to have been the problem. When I turned off the VPN, the background service problem went away.
I turned on the VPN, then did the following:
Opened the Avast user interface.
Selected “Settings”
Selected “Update”
Scrolled down to “Proxy Settings”
a. Clicked “Specify proxy server”
b. Selected the “Type:” (in my case HTTP)
c. Copied the IP Address from my VPN service Dashboard and pasted it to “Address:”
d. I didn’t need to change the “Port:” number from “8080”
e. Selected “Authentication Type:” (in my case Basic authentication (plaintext))
f. Entered “Username” and “Password” for my VPN.
Forgive me for asking this. But, does Avast plan on developing new software that will “fix” this issue permanently - so that the complicated fixes mentioned in this thread are no longer necessary? If so, is there an anticipated release date?
Perhaps. But nonetheless, I have the same problem on my 64-bit Windows 7 system. I’ve decided that now is a good time to upgrade to a pro-level antivirus. Of course, this rules out Avast’s pro-level offering. If this problem is evident in the free version, there’s no reason to expect it to not be there in the pro version.
In any case, I’ve downloaded the “avastclear.exe” Avast-remover software … and have also downloaded the pro version of WebRoot antivirus (recommended by PC magazine). If I encounter similar problems with it, then I guess I’ll be back to square-one. But somehow, I don’t expect that to happen.
This will probably be my last post here. It’s now been 12 days since I switched from Avast Free antivirus to Webroot SecureAnywhere pro antivirus software. And in that time, I’ve noticed 2 things:
I’m no longer having issues similar to the issues I had with Avast Free … and no “new” issues either.
A daily security issue I was having with my Thunderbird email utility simply “disappeared” once I dumped Avast Free.
So, whether this issue was a Windows issue or a user issue is a moot point now.
I just started having the same issue multiple times today on Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1… the Avast service is stopping itself, and I see a red warning icon in the task area.
Only recent changes were installation (today) of the following via Windows Update:
KB3179573 - Update for Windows 7 for x64-based Systems
KB915597 - Definition Update for Windows Defender (Definition 1.227.123.0)
I have the same issue and it’s truly appalling that some forum members dismiss it as our own problem while ignoring there are a couple of threads here in the forum illustrating the issue. Before ruling this out as a non-issue, I suggest you look into this matter. If you are not an Avast employee, I do not think you have a say in whether or not this is a universal/personal problem.
Regarding this issue, I have been using a couple of methods other than reinstalling. I’ve tried repairing the software and restarting my PC. I’ve tried initiating full virus scan but this problem re-emerged during the scans and stopped my scans completely. I updated my AV’s virus definition (and the program itself) with no avail. I resetted my AV’s settings to default. I am using Avast Internet Security (free trial) on Windows 10 (64 bits). Before anyone asks if this happens on Avast Free Antivirus, the answer is yes, even before I switched to Avast Internet Security few hours ago.
deity, if you want support please start your own thread and provide details.
If you have read this thread you would know that although the problem might be the same, the cause of it can be different.
One person had malware on his system, the second one was using a wrong setting and the third one did not had avast up-to-date.
Note:
If you only want someone from avast to respond, you should not be posting on a public webboard.
You misunderstood my comment but I don’t really blame you.
Yes I do realize the causes of the same problem can be different but do you read the latest comments in NEW August versions: 12.3.2279 + 2280? Many different people report the same problem and it is not a coincidence this is happening. I saw at least 3 threads in this forum section stating the same problem and in most of these threads Avast employees pointed out it was a bug on their virus definition or whatever update they have published. I got this issue 5 hours ago and although I cannot reproduce the issue for the time being (in the process of full virus scan), I am worried this problem may pop up again as it just happened approximately one hour ago. Early on a message popped up from Avast stating a program was attempting to shut down Avast and asked if I authorized it. It is scary enough to see the possibility of a potential malware trying to wreck my system.
Now I am not sure if my problem is on Avast’s side or my side but you won’t understand the paranoia unless you experience this problem first hand without any clues to what is happening. I hope you understand.