Avast Simple User Interface won´t open

Hi. Installed Avast home 4.6 (free) recently, on Windows XP pro. Worked great for a while. For the last 2 days, when I open Avast, the User Interface goes directly to a minimized bar in my status bar, and clicking on it does not open it. I can still update and access the settings and the On-Access Protection Control (by right-clicking the icon in my tray), but I can´t access the interface, and so of course can´t scan. Is this a known bug? Thanks for your time.
Geona

No it’s not a bug…
Do you use themes or WindowBlinds?
What do you mean by minimized? The window is over the system tray or just like the other minimized ones?
If you download another skin and double-click it, will it solve?

Can you try to repair your installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair). You must be connected to the internet while repairing.
If this does not help, can you uninstall / boot / install / boot again?

No, I don´t use themes or WindowBlinds. It is minimized normally, like a minimized website. I actually have other skins downloaded, but since I can´t get to the interface screen, I can´t choose them. Donwloading a new skin and double-clicking it leads to the same thing. Avast! apperently opens (the interface is up on my screen during the memory and start-up test), then it goes down to the minimized window. The repair function didn´t fix the problem. :cry: Yes, I could install all over again – anyone have any last suggestions before I do? Thanks.
Geona

I suppose that if you right click the minimized window you won’t get a context menu to choose restore… Am I wrong?

I had the same problem before on a friends computer and solved it with uninstalling,reboot,install,reboot.

Tech,
No. Right-clicking gives me three options: move, close, and about avast!

Neron,
Thanks, it´s looking like I´ll have to, too.

Geona

Weird…
It’s not a minimized window… You should see:
Restore
Move
Size
Minimize
Maximize
Close

Aren’t you clicking an icon?

Not weird, correct, Simple User Interface, intentially minimised and the options reported by ‘geona’ match mine. Perhaps yours are different in the Enhanced User Interface?

Yes, that’s the Pro version… :-[
Sorry…

Wanted to report that an advanced user in another forum provided me with a MacGuyver (or Fonzie) -style solution to this problem. In this unopenable minimized window, right-click and choose move, then press the up or down arrows several times. Doing this jogged the window loose, and the interface came up. Now, it opens every time without trouble. Looks like the virtual world of information is subject to the same “give ´er a good jolt” repairability as the physical one. Hope others find this useful.
Geona

Thanks for letting us know about the solution that worked for you, it may well help others in the future.

Welcome to the forums.