Both Windows Defender AND Avast are turned off and I can't get Avast to turn on

Using Windows 8. Action Center tells me that both Avast and Windows Defender are off yet I cannot get it to turn on Avast. I click it and then click the turn on button but nothing happens.

I can still scan by opening the program but it isn’t scanning in the background I guess.

Repair Avast:

  1. Control Panel → Add/Remove programs → Avast
  2. Click on ‘Repair’.
  3. Follow instructions.
  4. Reboot.

Since the new update is out, I’ve problems. 5 shields are disabled, unable to turn on them manually.
I would like to show you screenshots, but i don’t know how this works.
So I write what I read in the control panel;

Problem: Unsuccessful application reconfiguration

The product has been reconfigured by windows installer. Product name Avast update helper. Product reference 1.4.136.333 Product language 1033 Manufacturer Avast Software. Success or error status of the new configuration 1638.

https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=218260.0

Thank YOU. This worked.

WAIT.
Not so fast.
It is back to turned off again I am getting the same message.

I just learned that CCCleaner which I had until a few minutes ago in my computer was infected in 2017 with a virus. My computer is acting up and it is really hard to get My Documents to open and all that. I have been uninstalling all kinds of programs to try to solve the issue and it keeps seeming to be all right and then acting up.

Now I see that Avast has been turned off again. If I do the repair thing again as instructed would it detect any viruses that this CCCleaner may have placed in my computer?

I cannot afford to pay Avast to clean up issues it says it has detected. How do I resolve these issues on my own? Is there another free product I could use?

So now I did the repair and tried to do a boot scan but just like last night I could not get past a file after c:\PhS_CS…s\Textures Lighting Effects\Adobe P8P.tb0 the very next file says something about a Big Canvas and then the boot scan fails and I get a black screen telling me it can’t find a boot device. In order to get the computer restarted I pressed the power button, held for a count of 6 seconds, and then pressed again.

It was the EXACT same last night. I opened up Avast and the shields are still on.

Does this indicate a virus?

Start a topic in V&W and post your logs there: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?action=post;board=4
Instructions (basic diagnostic logs): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=194892.0

I can’t download Malwarebytes. Each time I try even from other websites Firefox freezes up and I wait and wait and then finally press the power button to reboot.

Skip MBAM and try FRST.