can not start avast

I have installed avast at home pc and i get the error: illegal to run avast with win 32

what to do?

thank

Carlos

Are you sure that is the exact error message ?
As I have seen a similar message and basically that indicated your system was infected and so to was avast.

What Operating System are you using ?
What avast! version and VPS file (virus database) number ?
e.g. 4.8.1229 and 080813-0 latest versions (see about avast! right click the avast icon)

The 4.8 version of avast is resistant to infection (but not impossible) as it has a self-defence module.

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

Did you suspect your system might have been infected before installing avast ?

After answering David’s questions, I suggest a full computer on-line scanning:
Kaspersky (very good detection rates)
ESET NOD32
Trendmicro housecall
F-Secure
BitDefender (free removal of the malware)

Then, I suggest:

  1. Disable System Restore and then reenable it again.
  2. Clean your temporary files.
  3. Schedule a boot time scanning with avast with archive scanning turned on. If avast does not detect it, you can try DrWeb CureIT! instead.
  4. Use SUPERantispyware, MBAM or Spyware Terminator to scan for spywares and trojans. If any infection is detected, better and safer is send the file to Quarantine than to simple delete than.
  5. Test your machine with anti-rootkit applications. I suggest avast! antirootkit or Trend Micro RootkitBuster.
  6. Make a HijackThis log to post here or, better, submit the RunScanner log to to on-line analysis.
  7. Immunize your system with SpywareBlaster or Windows Advanced Care.
  8. Check if you have insecure applications with Secunia Software Inspector.