Love to do that Bob… but. Even after all of the previous free avast version has been deleted when I try to install a new avast download (both stand alone and internet versions) the same error message appears stating… HTMLayout.dll cannot be loaded.
Reported to a Moderator. Let’s see if Avast has an answer for you. 
Still have same problem with free… i uninstalled everything, now trying to install with installers and still same problem
Update windows with all released updates first.
Delete ALL (previousely) installed av’s/malware scanners
Clean your system thorougly
Perform a real clean install of avast.
The real problem is something you have currently on your system.
I have been using avast for years, I recommend it to most of my friends and even put it on my parents computer. I recently purchased a new laptop with Windows 8.1, deleted the default Norton crap that comes on computers and installed Avast Pro, with license, so its a paid version of the software. Was running great… then…
After Windows 8.1 did a “features” update, I had already turned off the windows update due to this being my 3rd attempt at getting avast to run on this machine without the htmllayout.dll error. Yes, I reset the computer back to factory specs each time. This is a brand new system out of the box so I had nothing to loose.
This is not an Avast issue, this is a windows issue somewhere. I have been monitoring my computer closely after my 3rd reset to factory, and the avast was working perfect until yesterday I turned off the computer and it did a features update, when I turned it back on, I got the error, after checking the log files, the only thing that happened was ‘some’ features were updated but I can not see which ones.
Running malware, repair tools, scannow and just about any other fix has failed for me. Only way I have been able to fix it was a factory reset. I will be doing it again today, installing Avast Pro again, and then creating a restore point to see if there is a short cut to the fix other than a complete reset. I will update the post when I complete this task today.
I have exactly the same problem, interestingly mine is a brand new MSI GS70 Stealth Pro laptop running Windows 8.1 fully patched.
Installed Avast (great product I have used for many many years) as soon as I fired up the laptop for the first time and everything was great.
Then about a week ago Avast fails on start-up with the error “HTMLayout.dll cannot be loaded to properly start GUI. Therefore process cannot continue.”
Very little installed on this laptop and the ONLY thing that has changed in the last few weeks has been windows patches. Tried the things mentioned on this forum and still get the error. Very frustrating.
Will be watching to see if anyone discovers the cause…
JW.
Ok, refreshed computer to factory specs, reinstalled all my games and such, working fine. Turned off auto Windows updates. Today, get the “Features update” now getting the same error. So I have narrowed it down to a Windows feature update issue. Luckily I created a restore point. Going to go back to the restore point and see if I get the same error.
Don’t know if it will solve things, but it could be that registering the dll may solve things.
- open a command prompt
- navigate to the folder where regsvr32.exe is located. (depends on the os, c:\windows\system32 or something alike)
- type: regsvr32.exe c:<path to htmllayout.dll>\HTMLayout.dll
Make sure the path as well as HTMLayout.dll is typed correctly (capital/lowercase letters)
- reboot
Good thought…just some location info.
[b]Regsvr32.exe is installed in the System folder.
On a 64-bit version of a Windows operating system, there are two versions of the Regsv32.exe file:
- The 64-bit version is %systemroot%\System32\regsvr32.exe.
Path: C:\Windows\System32\regsvr32.exe - The 32-bit version is %systemroot%\SysWoW64\regsvr32.exe.
Path: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\regsvr32.exe[/b]
…so to add is this correct ?
- open a command prompt
- navigate to the folder where regsvr32.exe is located {see notes above}
- type: regsvr32.exe c:\Program Files\Avast Software\Avast\Setup\htmlayout.dll
This is what has worked for others. However it does not explain why this is happening.
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=140574.msg1030367#msg1030367
Then again the location is not always the same. It can work in:
C:\Windows\system
C:\Windows\system32
C:\Windows\SysWOW64
Now, I must say that in my XP system I only have file HTMLayout.dll in 2 locations:
C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast
C:\program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup
It is not in system or system32 folder and yet my avast! works flawlessly.
Is it wrong to ask for someone to post the htmlayout.dll on a thread post here ?
There are references to downloading it on some of the links but those sites are pegged as malicious by MalwareBytes.
I’d like to see a trusted senior member attach the file from their Avast directory.
I do not know if this will work since my sys is XP Pro_86, but you can try. It is a copy from my:
C:\Program Files\Avast Software\Avast\Setup\HTMLayout.dll
This is from my Windows 8.1.1 32 bit System:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-vSic0iJgyeMjBVbXlCd2dMTU0/edit?usp=sharing
Exactly the same file Bob. Good to know there is no difference between XP and Win 8, well at least in 32 bit.
Good to hear my solution worked.
But my solutions always work, unless they don’t ;D