Avast free antivirus- first time download will not start up

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

???I just downloaded the avast! free antivirus and I double click the icon on the desktop, and go select it through the start menu, and nothing happens. i tried uninstalling & rebooting and repairing it. any suggestions please! i have security.hijack in my 5 registry keys I need to remove. :cry:
Also have Windows Vista Home Edition

2

Have you tried in safe mode ?

3

Yes - safe mode it wonā€™t load there either.

I went back to try and ā€œChangeā€ and ā€œRepairā€ again but still nothing. My other programs work just that wonā€™t budge. Thanks for the reponse.

4

There is a new Avast Uninstaller Tool. Try an uninstall and clean install with this:

  1. Save a copy of Avast Free and save it to your HDD.
  2. Download the Avast Uninstall Utility http://files.avast.com/files/eng/aswclear6.exe and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for all Avast versions and products). This is a new Uninstaller Tool.
  3. Disconnect from the Internet at this time.
  4. Go to Control Panel and uninstall Avast through Add/Remove Programs if possible and reboot.
  5. If Step 4 fails, boot into Safe Mode (hit F8 repeatedly) and run the Avast Uninstall Tool. Uninstall all previous versions/products you had on this machine.
  6. Reboot.
  7. Install the newest version of Avast and reboot.
  8. Get Internet access and register your copy or add the license key for Free, Pro, or AIS.
    Free ā€“ http://www.avast.com/registration-free-antivirus.php
  9. Update the Avast definitions.

Let us know if this fixes the problem.

BTW: Your email address is showing; you may want to hide it so spammers donā€™t harvest it.

5

I gave up. I have MalwareBytes already installed anyway.

What i cannot find now is how to remove the msascui.exe and ekrn.exe located in the ā€œImagine File Execution Optionsā€. Its been noted they have Security.Hijack. I have looked around and it is believed to be Windows Defender as the msascui.exe and a fake antivirus as ekrn.exe?

6

Struggling to follow a bit, but if you think your machine is already infected with a fake AV you could try the online scanner from Superantispyware. (Or wait for further advice from eg Essexboy).

(MBAM is not an antivirus by the way - you really need MBAM plus an antivirus)

7

Check the information on the first post of this thread under Virus/Worms for you to check your machine for malware: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0.

Follow the directions of obtaining an MBAM log (make sure you update MBAM first) and the OTL logs (save them as ANSI and not Unicode). When the OTL scan completes, it will open two notepad windows. OTL.Txt and Extras.Txt. Post the MBAM log here and the two (2) OTL log as an attachment (Additional Options > Attach > Browse (the logs will be on your desktop > Post). We will then analyze your logs and refer you to our malware expert. Thank you.