Cannot access the UI and cannot uninstall.

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I’m running Avast on Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium. I would like to run a system scan, but I cannot get Avast to open. Double clicking on any of the icons in Avast’s directory doesn’t work, right clicking and selecting “Open” doesn’t work and the avast icon is missing in the notification area in the task bar. I have also tried opening the application via the start menu with no effect. Oddly, Avast does periodically update the virus definitions.

I have tried uninstalling Avast so that I can reinstall, but the uninstaller freezes.

I would mention what version of Avast I have installed, but since I cannot open Avast to check, I simply have no idea.

Does anyone have any idea what is going on and how I would fix this?

2

What avast version are you using, free/Pro/AIS/Premier ?
What errors are you getting ?

Have you tried an avast repair:
win7 - Control Panel, Programs & Features, uninstall a program, select ‘avast! Anti-Virus,’ click the Uninstall/Change and select Repair, click next and follow.

You may need to reboot after the repair.

If that fails, what error is given ?

You may need to do a clean reinstall, more on that if required and when we know what avast version you are using…

3

I’m using the free version.

I tried to repair the installation prior to attempting an uninstall. Same issue. No errors are given, the uninstaller simply freezes. Nothing happens.

Oddly, I restarted my computer and the Avast icon showed up in the notification area in the task bar and I was finally able to get the UI to open. I am currently running a virus scan, but there is still something not quite right. I’ve had issues like this before.

4

Do you mean the avast! Uninstall Utility or the windows Uninstall ?
I presume you mean the windows uninstall as the avast uninstall utility should run from safe mode.

Anyway lets go to the next step a clean reinstall:

  • Download the latest version of avast, 8.0.1489 http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again (if you didn’t save your last download). Use that when you reinstall.

  • Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, aswClear.exe find it here and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for all versions).

    1. Now uninstall avast! - using add remove programs, if you can’t do that (as appears to be the case) start from the next step, reboot.- 2. run the avast! Uninstall Utility, it will request it be run from safe mode (and will handle the boot into safe mode), first for 7.x if previously installed and then for 8.0, once complete reboot into normal mode.- 3. install the latest version, reboot.