I have been using Avast Free for several years now without problem, until very recently. For roughly the past month or so whenever I start my laptop none of the shields nor the Avast Background Service start automatically. The rest of Avast starts and seems to function fine, but these specific components do not. Now every time I start up my laptop I need manually start the Shields and background service. This is the specific error Avast greets me with after start up: http://i.imgur.com/hVxuPOs.png
After looking through some older threads I have tried using the “repair” option in the Avast uninstaller to no effect (including reboot). I have also tried completely uninstalling (including reboot) and then subsequently reinstalling Avast, also to no effect.
Also, I’ve turned on debug logging through the options menu, but am unsure which logs I should check and post here. Any assistance would be appreciated.
No. I was unaware Avast required a specific uninstall tool (I haven’t used one of those since I got rid of Norton around 2007). Although after rebooting I did manually remove leftover files from ProgramData and the various AppData directories as well as using a registry analysis tool to track down any stray entries (CCleaner).
Since the forum has apparently eaten my extensive write-up, I will now keep this short.
After running the uninstall tool in safe mode and rebooting a few times just to be on the safe side I’ve reinstalled Avast and rebooted. Win7 starts normally and Avast greets me with a warning about Background Service not running. Start it manually (pressed the “start now” button visible in my initial post) and afterwards everything seems to be running fine.
So Basically I’m back where I started. The uninstaller did not appear to have any discernible effect on the behavior of Avast.
Also, for reference msconfig is set to “Normal startup - load all device drivers and services”.
Hello, I have this exact same issue. I have followed the safe mode uninstaller steps to no avail. It still presents the same issues.
The services need to be started manually after each reboot.
Also, the updater service does not work. Definitions need to be done manually.
Any help would be appreciated. I mean I do have a licensed version and all
Frost do you or did you have any problems with a infection?
Do you or did you have any other security (related) software installed?
Is the BFE service running?
I have had no recent problems with a successful infection. The only times there was anything suspect were from early last year (2014) and Avast took care of those files immediately. I am of the impression that they never had the chance to execute or otherwise fulfill their purpose, as Avast did not detect anything further. Again this problem began in the past month or so (December 2014).
As for security related software, only Microsoft Security Essentials is installed. The only reason that is installed has to do with Windows yelling at me for not having it installed (at least that’s what win7 did the last time I removed it). I’ll look into removing it do to possible conflict with Avast and report back.
I am unsure what the acronym BFE stands for or how to check for it. Please elaborate.
Also, just today (January 4th, 2015) when I started my laptop all the services and shields started automatically. I honestly have no idea what could have changed between now and yesterday. Reinstalling Avast has been the only major change to my system in the past several days. But at the moment Avast seems to have started normally and without issue. I don’t want to call this fixed until I’ve rebooted my laptop a few more times to see what happens.
One more aside: I was browsing “Programs and Features” to check what has been installed in the past month (possible conflict) and the only things that I’ve installed recently are videogames (yay Steam sales!), generic program updates (Speccy, CCleaner, Notepad++), and driver updates (Geforce Driver 344.75, Flash Player 16, Realtek Audio Driver, etc.).
I have some good news and some bad news. The Good: after rebooting four times (with activity in between, so not once right after the other) plus once completely powering off and then starting up by pressing the power button, Avast now starts normally. There have been no further errors about the background service or shields failing to start. The program appears to be functioning properly and all components are responding as they should.
The Bad: Avast is now starting normally, for no apparent reason. This is seriously frustrating because it makes me feel like nothing I did had any real effect on this problem. It was like “okay, Avast is going to be bad for about a month or so and then suddenly get all better”. A problem of this nature solving itself for no apparent reason annoys me greatly.
In short, Avast is starting normally at the moment and I don’t know why.
To Eddy: I greatly appreciate the assistance you have provided.
To soldado: I wish you luck in solving your problem and am sorry I could not provide more insight into how or why my problem fixed itself.
OK, but my experience with forums is that if you have the exact same issue and post a new thread, your post will be closed and a redicrect link added as the response.
I will make a new thread for the exact same issue then…thanks for the helpful feedback.
