AVAST upgrade has crippled my computer, cannot uninstall, only browser runs

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

This morning AVAST upgraded to a new version. It rebooted my computer after the upgrade. When my computer came back up, my applications (except for browser) don’t run. I get lots of these errors: Application Error - The application was unable to start correctly (0xc00000e5). Click OK to close the application. I cannot uninstall AVAST - uninstall does not run (I can click on Uninstall and it asks me if it’s OK to do the uninstall, then nothing happens.) I figured if I uninstalled I could reinstall and that might fix the problem.

Help!
Doug Roberts

2

Uninstall Utility >> https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility

3
  • Which Avast…? (Free/Pro/IS/Premier)
  • OS…? (32/64 Bit…? - which SP/Build…?)
  • Other security related software installed…?
4

Already rebooted a few times ?
Already tried a repair of avast ?

5

Hi Pondus -
That AvastClear worked. I’m back in normal Windows mode and my apps run. Now I’m going to reinstall Avast.

I am using the free version, Windows 10, 64 bit.

Doug

6

I reinstalled Avast and I’ve got the same problem back of my apps not running. Excel.exe does it. Things went wrong during the Avast Startup Scan.

Going now again to uninstall using AvastClear in safe mode.

My other piece of security software is Comodo Firewall. I thought that was necessary for complete security.

Doug

7

Hi -
I’m looking for a suggestion on what to do now that I have successfully uninstalled Avast a second time. I now have caused this problem of no apps running to occur two times, each time followed by uninstalling Avast in safe mode with AvastClear.

I’ve been using Avast with no problems for a very long time. Is it a problem that I run Comodo Firewall? (I’ve been running Comodo Firewall without issue for just as long as I’ve been running Avast.) I thought Comodo Firewall provided coverage that was not covered by Avast.

Currently I’m running with no security.

Thanks for any help. That AvastClear was a lifesaver when uninstall did not work in normal mode.

Doug

8

Remove Comodo completely.
There is no need for it as Windows already has firewall that does the job.

Next to that, Comodo isn’t just a plain firewall anymore and can cause conflicts with other security software.

9

Does it work if you remove Comodo…?

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Like I said in the other thread, I have the same problem on both my PCs and I am also running Comodo. So there might be a lead there. Might as well be coincidence though. Three is not exactly a big sample size.

11

I’m doing that removal now. How do I turn on the Windows Firewall?

Thanks for the quick reply.

Doug

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Windows 10 should turn on the build in firewall automatically if there is no other firewall installed.

13

Same problem. Windows 10. All kinds of application errors. I use Comodo as well. In the past there was no conflict. Something in Avast changed, apparently, that has created a conflict.

14

So I’ve got Windows Firewall turned on. It already was turned on. I’m also getting a message from Windows that Windows Defender is not turned on. Do I need that?

The installation of Avast is now complete and the startup scan is complete. Applications run without error.

Thank you. Please let me know about Windows Defender.

Much appreciated.

Doug

15

In Windows 10 Defender is automatically turned of when another av is installed.

16

What is an “av”? If I’m using Avast, do I need Windows Defender?

Thank you Eddy.

Doug

17

Question: Why did Firefox and PaleMoon browsers work when all other executables did not?

Thanks.

Doug

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What is an "av"?
AV = [b]A[/b]nti [b]V[/b]irus
do I need Windows Defender?
It is integrated in the OS and can not be removed, only disabled / turned off
19

OK, thanks for the info on Windows Defender being integrated into the operating system. Do I need Windows Defender?

Separate question: Why did the browsers FireFox and Pale Moon keep working when all the other applications (.EXEs) would not work. If they had not then I would not have been able to contact you folks.

Thanks for the info.

Doug

20

Defender is just a basic av almost entirely relying on signature detections.
You sure don’t need it if you have avast :wink:

About the browsers, I have to guess as I can’t see your system and what is going on etc.
My guess is that the other applications are using Windows files (or parts of it) that the browsers don’t.

If they had not then I would not have been able to contact you folks.
Ofcourse you could have come here. You are not the only one in the world with a computer and Internet access. (Neighbors, friends, family, library, schools etc) ;)