My Avast resident sheild is disabled and I can’t seem to get it enabled.
I suspect one of the websites ActiveX plugins is the culprit.
Can anybody advise how I can get the thing going again. I can’t seem to do any scan with it.
Keeps reporting an internal error.
thks
Welcome to the forums, DaveH. 
What error is reported? Do you have text or error number?
What is the OS of your computer?
I suspect one of the websites ActiveX plugins is the culprit.One way to avoid activeX is to use a browser that doesn't have it, firefox, opera. If you must use IE then ensure you aren't logged on and running it as a user with administrator privileges (assumes XP OS).
Whilst browsing or collecting email, etc. if you get infected then the malware by default inherits the same permissions that you have for your user account. So if the user account has administrator rights, the malware has administrator rights and can reap havoc. With limited rights the malware can’t put files in the system folders, create registry entries, etc. This greatly reduces the potential harm that can be done by an undetected or first day virus, etc.
Check out the link to DropMyRights (in my signature below) - Browsing the Web and Reading E-mail Safely as an Administrator. This obviously applies to those NT based OSes that have administrator settings, winNT, win2k, winXP.
I can't seem to do any scan with it.Can you expand on this, missing systray icons, processes not running, etc. what ?
Keeps reporting an internal error.What is the error message ?
Sorry,
A false alarm from me, it wasn’t any ActiveX applet but it was a botched update (File version:613) that caused it.
The 613 update was downloaded a couple of days ago seems OK and installed fine.
Somehow it corrupted the avast engine and I could get avast to scan anything. Some internal error message was quoted, can’t recalled the number quoted.
I had to reinstall avast with the update I had downloaded before 613 to get avast up and running again.
Was there a problem with 613?
rgds
Not that I’m aware of, you would see it on the forums if it were a general issue.
You should be able to see what errors/information is logged in the avast Log Viewer.
Glad that you have it sorted now, welcome to the forums.
Thks, but all is not OK. 
I downloaded 613-2 today and the moment I installed the update, all scans are frozen and after a reboot and rescan, the engine reported the message below:
[b]Internal Program Error
The scan completed with error
42003=internal program error.[/b]
That meant another uninstall and reinstall. Currently living with the 611-00 update.
I’m running Win98SE.Every update has worked without problems up till now.
What’s could be wrong? ???
I’m at a loss as to why this might be happening.
Try a repair of avast. Add Remove programs, select ‘avast! Anti-Virus,’ click the Change/Remove button and scroll down to Repair, click next and follow. You need to be on-line to do this. Then try another scan and see if this resolves the problem.
What is the avast program version you are running, the latest is 4.6.763 ?
How about trying to download the full vps file rather than using update and see if this works, just trying to see if there might be something corrupting the update.
avast! VPS Update - Manual Download download and save the Downloaded VpsUpd.exe, file somewhere you can find it again and double click it to manually update the vps.
I am running version 4.6.605 and have always manually updated the vps file w/o problems until 613.
Maybe the current vps file onwards can’t work with version 4.6.605 anymore.
I am trying version 614 to see if it works.
Why try VPS 0614-0 with an old version of avast (4.6.605) why not download the latest version 4.6.763, why would you want to use an old version of avast ?
Looks like I’d have to download the new version.
I am running Win98SE and it has happened that sometimes when I update to a new version, it may not work properly and mess up my system. I am just going by the old saying “why fix something that ain’t broke?”
Looks like version 4.6.605 broke. 
BTW thks for taking the time to look into my problem
Your welcome.
I too am of the same opinion if it ain’t broke, however, in this case security software, etc. there are valid reasons for keeping the version up to date. Minor updates can be either improvements to function or correction of minor bugs, etc. Since 4.6.605 there have been a number of minor updates that have corrected minor issues.
If you don’t keep up to date you won’t benefit from these improvements or fixes, not to mention if you have a problem there are many here on the forums who are only to happy to help. If you find something, I’m sure the avast team will strive to correct it if possible, helping others like yourself.
Although I am replying to you on my newer computer, my old computer is still running W98SE with the newest version of Avast and without conflicts. This should also work for you … provided there are not some major differences in your version of this OS.