Something happened that I submitted an empty post, don’t know how ti fix it so I am resubmitting a new post.

I am running Windows 7 and installed avast and applied all updates. When running a boot scan Avast starts up and says it checked 0 files and quits and reboots to Windows 7 all in about 1 minutes time.

What do I do to resolve this? Do I need to run a rootkit remover, or combofix? I use Avast all the time and have never had a problem with a boot scan before.

Thanks for your help in advance.

What version of avast?
Did you run a “default” full scan and did avast recommend you to run a boot scan?
If you did run a full scan what were the results?

Try running a full scan using default settings.
And run a full scan with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM).
If needed you can download MBAM from here.

Running Avast 8.0.1497 with latest updates and virus definitions. I just ran a full virus scan with default settings and came back with zero viruses. How ever it said it couldn’t check some files due to passwords on archive files, most were .js or I think .pup files.

No the program did not recommend doing a boot scan, but I have always done a boot scan as it runs before other programs hook into the operating system. I ran malwarebytes yesterday and only found some pup (probably unwanted programs) which I then selected and deleted.

Now back to the bootscan, is there a rootkit or something keeping the boot scan from running? I should be able to run a bootscan on a HP Windows 7 laptop? It bothers me that it won’t run…

Thanks for any other ideas that you may have…

How ever it said it couldn't check some files due to passwords on archive files, most were .js or I think .pup files.
it is normal .... and this forums most frequently asked question, so lots of info if you search

try avast repair
contolpanel > ad/remove programs > avast > uninstall > repair option … wait a minute and reboot

any change?

I resolved the problem. I had changed msconfig to not load start up items. This caused Avast to start up and then quit. I changed the msconfig to load up everything then rebooted my laptop and now avast is running a bootscan as it should.

This problem has been resolved, thanks for your help.

Now I have one more question is it possible to still have a rootkit infection and not know it? I always run Malwarebytes and Avast as the two tools I count on all the time. Nut sure if I need to add another tool to my toolkit.

Thanks for everyone’s input on this topic…

What makes you think you may have a rootkit? ???

Well it’s interesting. The regular Avast scan did not pick up any infections, but the bootscan has flagged dll files infected with win32:mindspark-B [PUP].

Why are we finding problems with the bootscan that are not being flagged by the regular scan? I would think a virus scan is a virus scan and should come up with the same results regardless of whether is is a full scan or a boot scan? Or am I missing something?

The major difference is scans is that a boot scan does an extremely deep scan while a full scan is not so deep.
I have, and many other forum members, found that the default quick and full scans are sufficient.
In fact we have one forum member who relies solely on a default quick scan once a week.

But, if you still feel you may be infected follow the instructions here.
And start a thread in the viruses and worms child board. Please be patient and one of our malware experts will assist you. :slight_smile:

win32:mindspark-B [PUP].
PUP scan is default off in quick/full scan .... but default on in boot scan PUP = not a virus / Possible Unwanted Program

mindspark info

Many of the Mindspark products require the user to install a toolbar. According to the IAC's business strategy, IAC is increasing its “toolbar” business, which places various clickable tools on the browsers of Internet users, and enables IAC to collect a fee each time the toolbar is used.

The myWebSearch Toolbar also known as MyWay Speedbar, MyWay Searchbar, MyAllSearch Search Assistant, MyWay Search Assistant or MyWeb Searchbar is a web-browser add-on that provides search function to the browser menu. The toolbar was required in many of Mindspark products, allowing user to query myWebSearch search engine.
myWebSearch Toolbar was previously known as MyWay Searchbar. HP and Dell pre-install this software on some of their commercially sold PCs. Because the older versions of the program displayed pop-up advertisements onto the user’s screen and contained an adware function, and was installed without user’s permission, the MyWay Searchbar was once classified as spyware and/or adware.[25] The new version of the MyWebSearch toolbar is more subtle however, in that it does not display pop-up ads, arguably does not contain the adware function, and can only be installed when user clicked the installer, McAfee, Norton and many other antivirus software marked it as a safe program.[26][27]

The software is still regarded as a potentially unwanted program by some security companies such as Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware because, for example, its install defaults are obnoxious, and many people claim that it is hard to uninstall. Mindspark does, however, has a removal tutorial on its website.[28]