Avast will not run, nor update

receive following messages:
“Program cannot load iNews (C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\iNews.htm)”
when I select files to scan, nothing happens
reads: number of scanned files/folder 0/0
run-time of last scan 00:00:00

also
“An error ha occurred while attempting to update! Click here for more information”
when I click, nothing happens

Please advise ???

One or other of the messages could mean the installation isn’t 100%

There are some reasons why this might be, the most common being the presence of or remnants of another AV.

Have (or did) you another AV installed in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?

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).

If this does not help, can you uninstall / boot / install / boot again?
If you have another antivirus in this computer, please, remove it before reinstalling avast.
If you had Norton in the past, please, use Norton Removal Tool for Windows 2000/XP/Vista or Norton Removal Tool for Windows 98/Me.

The only thing I did recently was enter the registration code.

I’ve tried uninstalling, but nothing happens. I can uninstall other programs but not AVAST.

I’ve gone to my program files to attempt this as well, but nothing.

I suggest an installation from the scratch:

  1. Uninstall avast from Control Panel first.
  2. Boot.
  3. Download the latest version of Avast Uninstall and use it for complete uninstallation.
  4. Boot.
  5. Install again the latest avast! version.
  6. Boot.
  7. Check and post the results.

Hi…

Are you unable to uninstall using the uninstall utility here…

Never mind, you beat me to it, Tech! ;D

First download the avast! uninstall utility to your desktop.

Second, boot into SafeMode, now run the avast! uninstall utility.

You haven’t said whether or not you had any other antivirus on your computer? Leftovers from other antivirus software can interfere with avast!'s operation.

Remnants of a previous antivirus(s) must be removed!

Hi all,

I have a problem with AVAST and WINDOWS VISTA. Loaded AVAST ok but when trying to anctivate it in the WINDOWS VISTA SECURITY CENTER (Malware protection) I can not get it activated. At the same time the WINDOWS DEFENDER is active. This might be a very basic security issue but I’m not able to solve this on my own…sorry. The result is that the malware protection = off.
The other issue that in AVAST the Background protection does not stay “on” - neither Normal or High…it always turns “off”.
Please, what should I do to get this sorted out…and once again “sorry” for intuding into this discussion as I had major problems in posting my own “qustion” into this forum. Thanx

Which other antivirus did you have in the past in this computer?
How did you remove it?

Generally this is due to a second antivirus, or remains of a bad uninstall one, in the background…

See picture…