Sorry if this post is not in the right category, but I didn’t find anywhere to post about U3 version of avast!
So here I am, with my 1GB SanDisk Cruzer USB U3, experimenting trouble using avast! :-[
Since 1 or 2 weeks ago, when I launch avast!, U3 launchpad gives me an error:
“An error has occured while trying to start the selected program”
So I decided to uninstall and reinstall avast, but:
when installing, launchpad says “Installation complete” => normally installation is NOT complete before avast! has turned on automatic updates and performed a scan of the key
when trying on an other PC (at university), avast! installs and runs perfectly, and when I come back home it doesn’t run no more
So the problem is in MY computer… but I didn’t make any important change last weeks…
I also tried to uninstall all U3 launchpad, format the key, then reinstall it, and the problem is still there…
All my others programs (cruzersync, Filezilla, Winrar, EditPad etc…) work perfectly.
So please give me new ideas…
Do avast! need any service to run?
What shall I do?
Many Thanks for your help, and sorry for my poor frenglich
Does the Launchpad’s “An error has occured while trying to start the selected program” message come up even before the avast splash screen is displayed?
If so, can you check your TEMP folder…? Is it accessible? Does it have some disk space available?
The message appear, and nothing else happen… no splash screen
The avast process just apprear half a second in the task manager and disappear when the message come up
I have more than 400MB free on the key
but I think you’ve found something… the TEMP folder, in “C:\Documents and Settings\El Polo\Application Data\U3”, with contains “cleanup.exe” and “Launchpad removal.exe”, is read-only…
I tried to change it, but even when I deselect the attribute and apply changes, it doesn’t change…!
it appear normal until I close and reopen the properties window, then it remain read-only
modification:
were you talking about this temp file? I think I misunderstood…
so, I don’t know what to do… I can copy/paste here avastu3.ini and setup.ini :-\
modification2:
I’m sure the problem is somewhere on my PC… I tried booting Windows in Safe mode, the launchpad runs correctly, other u3 programs too, but avast! doesn’t
there’s a parameter, or something somewhere… could you please indicate me the basic parameters of avast! ? does it use Internet explorer settings? does it use any technology as .net or anything like that?
the error occur in the installation too, avast! always ask to turn on automatic updates and perfrom a scan… before launchpad indicates “installation complete”
but on my PC, it simply indicate “installation complete”
there must be a process during installation that fails, and make all the program fails to launch later…
modification3:
here is a part of the launchpad log file:
[LaunchPad][02/02/2007 00:21:28.218][PID:492][TID:544]: Failed to create the action process for action with command "C:\Documents and Settings\El Polo\Application Data\U3\0000060329031215\1F30627F-0195-44d4-8C24-1999F3C02C50\Exec\AvastU3.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\El Polo\Application Data\U3\0000060329031215\1F30627F-0195-44d4-8C24-1999F3C02C50\Exec\AvastU3.exe""
[LaunchPad][02/02/2007 00:21:28.218][PID:492][TID:544]: Failed to execute action appStart for application 1F30627F-0195-44d4-8C24-1999F3C02C50. Running the action watcher process failed.
I tried a trick that worked, but just one time
at university I copied the c:/doc…/app/…u3/…/…/exec folder of avast, which was normal, with lots of files and programs
at home, there is just avu3_upd.exe and AvU3Launcher.exe in this same folder
I pasted all the “normal” exec folder, and ran avu3launcher, and avast ran!!!
but… that was just a temporary trick, next time I’ve launched avast, the bug came up again…
does avast! need any external tool? any service, platform, software, update of windows…???
is there any avast!U3 developper here???
what is this process that happen during correct installation? (i mean when avast ask for updates and first scan)
what can prevent avast to do that???
avast need something!!! and I don’t know what…
Well, it’s important what is on the U3 device itself, the stuff extracted to C: is just temporary.
When you uninstalled and reinstalled avast! (as written in the first post) - did you download a fresh copy of the installer (or did you install it directly from the U3 central) - or did you have a local copy? What I’m asking is what was the exact version you installed
I tried with all I was able to, with the first package (that was on the key originally), with the lastest version directly on the Sandisk download center, with the lastest version directly on the U3central, the lastest .u3p version on avast! web site, and the lastest .exe version (on avast! web site too)
edit: humm, in English, is the name “USB key” correct ? or is there an other word?
edit2: of course the temp folder on c:/ drive is not important, but the content on my usb drive is exactly the same at home and at university, but it doesn’t work at home…
Because U3 drives are different from ordinary usb drives, http://www.u3.com/ The applications are written to run on U3 Smart drives and won’t run on ordinary USB pen drives.
U3 USB sticks are special devices which show a menu icon in the system tray when inserted, and also support auto-run of programs from USB sticks. They require a special installer package which will work with the U3 installer. Optionally, all plugins and settings of an installed desktop version can be copied to the U3 stick too. Please only download this package if you really have an U3 stick!
Just to say that I have exactly the same problem that you are experiencing. I have tried the Avast u3 edition on 4 different pc’s, and it works on all but 1. All the other u3 programs work on all 4 pc’s. I tried your trick of copying the contents of the exec folder from one pc on which Avast was working to the pc on which it wasn’t, and it then worked, until I ejected the u3 device. By the way I have a sandisk Cruzer.
