Avast runs very well, but Microsoft message says it is off.

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I have never had any problem with AVAST. But when I restart the computer, and many other times, I get a Microsoft message that anti-virus is OFF, including the AVAST description. I was able to turn off this test, but can you tell me why it did not know it was on? This did not occur until I had to restore Windows from problems unrelated to this. (It may be because I turned off the OUTLOOK portion, because I never use it. All other features are running.)

marvin

2

This is more likely to be an issue with the Windows Security Center rather than avast and certainly not what you did.

What is your OS ?

What avast processes are running in Task Manager, they begin with ash or asw, see image ?

3

Hello marvinlzinn,

There’s a few things you might want to check.

  • Make sure you have administrator rights
  • Press win+r (or start > run), type in “services.msc” (without “”)
  • Services will run and under Services (Local), under the extended tab:
  • You should see these: avast! Antivirus, avast! iAVS4 Control Service, avast! Mail Scanner, avast! Web Scanner.
  • Make sure all of them are started, if not right click for their properties and choose Automatically (Apply settings) and click on Start.

Next step:

  • Press win+r (or start > run), type in “wscui.cpl” (without “”) or start > control panel > security center
  • Under Virus Protection, search for a recommended Antivirus software.
  • If it fails to find any, restart your PC and try again.

Hope this helps, cheers!

zell

4

If they aren’t started then you won’t see ashServ.exe or aswUpdSv.exe in the task manager, which is simpler to get the data.

Not to mention there would be a red circle with bar over the avast ‘a’ icon.

5

I use Windows XP. Task Manager always shows AVAST running. I just don’t know why Windows Security Center would not know it is running when it already knows it is there.

marvin

6

Yes, I am the administrator (The only person who used this computer at home). I will check the rest of your list though. No time for it now.

marvin

7

Thank you. No indication you mentioned that it is not running.

8

The WSC has form for this type of thing.

9

Thank you. This allowed me to change Virus Protection to “Unmonitored”, which means it does not give me anymore annoyed messages. I just don’t know how it got started, but if it happens again I will remember how to shut it off.

10

Changing to unmonitored, isn’t a resolution of the problem but an avoidance of it, this could leave you unaware if something tried to disable your AV and isn’t recommended.

11

Well, that is the only way I can find that will stop it from telling me AVAST is not running when does. I wasn’t thinking about anything trying to disable AVAST. That would be the worst enemy I ever had!’

marvin

12

Did you not try what I suggested in my last post as you didn’t respond ?