Cannot start AVAST after running Win 7 System Restore

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hallo,

I am located in Thailand.

AVAST updated from 6.0.1367 to 7.0x automatically a couple of days ago. DAT updates installed OK after that. But today, I ran Windows 7 Home Premium x64 System Restore. Now I have a big problem. In “Programs & Features”, I can see Avast 6.0.1367. There is no sign of v7.0.

When I launch it, the program reports that it has stopped or is in an inconsistent state. Clicking the “Start Program” button has no effect. The message above that button reads: “Urgent: avast! service stopped”. When I try to start the service, the following message is displayed: “The Avast antivirus service started and then stopped”. If I try to disable it, I get an “Access Denied” message even if I disable the protection module in “Settings”.

If I try to uninstall 6.0.1367, the message reads: “Error reading product data from C:\Program Files\AVAST software\Avast\setup. Setup cannot continue”.

If I try to run the full installer I downloaded which is 74,924,032 bytes, the message is the same plus the following: “Can’t installl VPS update. Please report the following error codes. v6.0.1367, SI: 0x00000005, ST: 020000000D, LE: 0Xx00000000.”

The installer works fine on another machine though, so I know it’s OK.

I tried using an earlier System Restore point, but Windows reports: “System Restore did not complete successfully. Your computer’s system files were not changed.” If I try to undo the restoration, the same error message appears".

I’ve tried running “Windows Last Known Good Configuration”, but that had no effect either.

Does anybody know what to do in this situation? I don’t mind deleting registry keys if that’s what’s required.

2

I suggest an installation from scratch (specially step 4):

  1. Download the latest version of avast! Uninstall Utility and save it.
  2. Download the latest avast! version and save it.
  3. Uninstall avast from Control Panel (if possible). If, for any reason, you can’t run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after that.
  4. Run the avast! Uninstall Utility saved on 1 in Safe Mode. Boot after you’ve run it. Repeat this for any major avast! version you have ever installed/upgraded in your computer.
  5. Install avast! using the setup saved on 2. Boot.
  6. Register your free copy or add the license key for Pro. Or even upgrade your key from old versions.
  7. Check and post the results. If, for any reason, you did not solve, try doing the step 3 in Safe Mode anyway.
3

Thank you. I was able to uninstall/reinstall again.

I’m only left with the eternal update problem again now. We are on dialup in this part of the country and the connection often drops without warning. Unfortunately, the AVAST servers are very sensitive and terminate the connection immediately if that happens. So what we have to do all the time is to download the manual defintion files and update that way. But at the moment, I can only see definition updates for the previous version. Do you know when manual updates will become available for v7.0x?

4

I’m curious - did the reinstall solve your system restore problem?

5

Sorry, the integrity and fidelity of the download is absolutely necessary.

The same of version 5 and 6 works with version 7.

6

Probably not. Some users reported problems with system restore and avast! version 7.

7

That really isn’t too swift…many people use system restore and depend on it. The use of 3rd party back up isn’t really necessary when using Windows 7…avast should adjust to make system restore useable in my opinion! It’s making it really hard to understand all the pitfalls of using avast.

avast Internet Security (Paid) Version 7.0.1407 Virus Definitions 120229-1

8

Additionally - are we supposed to wait until we actually need system restore - then find out it doesn’t work??? I find this very alarming.

9

I thought v.7 would be alot better than v.6 was dealing with the system restore problem but I guess not. I agree this needs to be fixed. I have had to deal with this problem myself and it is a real pain. You should not have to uninstall and reinstall everytime you do a system restore!

10

Difficult to say. I haven’t tried using again yet. The error I got was 0x080070005. I did a search for that and one suggestion was to unhide hidden system files, then remove the checkmark from “Read Only” in System Volume Information/Properties and try and run SR again (re-enable the Read Only flag again afterwards)… I tried it, but it didn’t make any difference.

I think the problem is related to the way the program update works which presumably removes certain elements of the previous installation in order to run. That prevents SR from reinstating the previous version because those elements are no longer present. It’s probably better to disable the automatic program update so that you can create a manual SR first when an update becomes available. That should allow you to run SR without a problem.

11

OK, thanks for that.

[UPDATE]
I am d/l the file now, but according to Firefox, it’s 48.7MB. But on the d/l page at: http://www.avast.com/download-update it says it is only 31MB. Do you think it’s OK to install? I don’t want to destroy my new installation again.