Can't enable on Windows 8.1

[system]

Hi there. I’m using Avast Free (2014.9.0.2013) on a Windows 8.1 box, and since a few weeks ago, I can’t seem to get it to work.
I’ve searched the forums and saw an earlier problem which was supposed to be solved already on these versions.

The problem is that, upon installing, everything seems to work fine… on the next reboot, the service appears as disabled and it won’t start (when pressing Start, it’ll say some program is trying to disable the antivirus, but it will never activate again).

This is a screenshot of how it shows (it’s in Spanish, sorry):

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a518/jlaencina/Capturadepantalla2014-02-18133055_zps26eb2737.png

I’ve tried uninstalling the program using awsClean on safe mode, then reinstalling… this works, but only till the next reboot (it’ll show as disabled again).

When trying to repair (from Control Panel’s Add/Remove programs), I get an access denied error (like it can’t write to the Program Files folder). This is the log (on “Error” verbosity to discard information messages):

12:40:55Erroraction[372,6776]Error copying file 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\VisthAux.exe' to 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\Old-VisthAux.exe', code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:40:55Errorproductstate[372,6776]Error saving product state, code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:40:57Errorpendingfileop[372,6776]Commit: MoveFileEx('C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastEmUpdate.ini', ''), status: 5 (0x00000005) []
12:40:58Erroraction[372,6776]Error creating a hardlink 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\libeay32.dll' to 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\OpenVPN\libeay32.dll', return code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:40:58Erroraction[372,6776]Error creating a hardlink 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\ssleay32.dll' to 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\OpenVPN\ssleay32.dll', return code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:40:58Erroraction[372,6776]Error copying file 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\INF\x64\aswBoot.exe' to 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\aswBoot.exe', code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:40:58Erroraction[372,6776]Unable to install assembly 'x86_avast.vc110.crt_11.0.60610.1' with error 0x00000005!
12:40:58Erroraction[372,6776]Unable to install assembly 'amd64_avast.vc110.crt_11.0.60610.1' with error 0x00000005!
12:40:58Errorsystem[372,6776]ServiceInstall: Service avast! Antivirus could not be updated, code: 5 (0x00000005) []
(snip)
12:40:59Errorsystem[372,6776]ServiceInstall: Service aswRvrt could not be updated, code: 87 (0x00000057) []
12:41:00Errorsystem[372,6776]ServiceInstall: Service aswVmm could not be updated, code: 87 (0x00000057) []
12:41:00Errorsystem[372,6776]ServiceInstall: Service aswStm could not be updated, code: 87 (0x00000057) []
12:41:00Errorregistry[372,6776]SetValueImpl: cannot set value 'ProgramFolder' = 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast', code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:41:00Errorregistry[372,6776]SetValueImpl: cannot set value 'SetupFolder' = 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup', code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:41:00Errorregistry[372,6776]SetValueImpl: cannot set value 'DataFolder' = 'C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast', code 5 (0x00000005) []
(snip)
12:41:00Errorregistry[372,6776]SetValueImpl: cannot set value 'DefaultInstance' = 'aswSnx Instance', code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:41:00Errorregistry[372,6776]SetValueImpl: cannot set value 'Altitude' = '137600', code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:41:00Errorregistry[372,6776]SetValueImpl: cannot set value 'Flags' = 0, code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:41:00Errorregistry[372,6776]SetValueImpl: cannot set value 'ProgramFolder' = '\??\C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast', code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:41:00Errorregistry[372,6776]SetValueImpl: cannot set value 'DataFolder' = '\??\C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast', code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:41:01Errorpkgenginevps[372,6776]InstallVps: DefinitionsFolder (C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\defs\14021701) not prepared, code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:41:03Errorsystem[372,6776]Error calling DllUnregisterServer 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll', error code -2147319780 (0x8002801C)
12:41:03Errorsystem[372,6776]Error calling DllUnregisterServer64 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE64.dll', error code -2147319780 (0x8002801C)
12:41:04Errorinstupcore[372,6776]SaveCompleteUpdateActions: CreateFile('C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\CompleteUpdate.gpb') has failed with code: 5 (0x00000005)
12:41:04Errorpkgengine[372,6776]ExtractSetupVPXs: SuperCopyFile('C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\instup_ais-7dd.vpx', 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\New\Instup.dll') has failed with error code 5 (0x00000005) []
(snip)
12:41:05Errorpkgengine[372,6776]ExtractSetupVPXs: SuperCopyFile('C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\offertool_ais-7dd.vpx', 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\New\aswOfferTool.exe') has failed with error code 5 (0x00000005) []
12:41:05Errorpkgengine[372,6776]ExtractSetupVPXs: SuperCopyFile('C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\avbugreport_ais-7dd.vpx', 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\New\avBugReport.exe') has failed with error code 5 (0x00000005) []

When trying to update from Control Panel’s Add/Remove programs, from the log it seems like it can’t find the servers and will give an error (if I manually open that URL on the browser, the files download with no problem). This is the log from trying to update:

.(snip)..
12:39:41Errordldwrap[548,2740]GetFileWithRetry: An error 41227 (0x0000A10B) [Downloader system error] has occured when downloading a file from 'http://l9299840.iavs9x.u.avast.com/iavs9x/servers.def.vpx'. Next try: 9
12:39:43Errordldwrap[548,2740]GetFileWithRetry: An error 41227 (0x0000A10B) [Downloader system error] has occured when downloading a file from 'http://j2532905.iavs9x.u.avast.com/iavs9x/servers.def.vpx'. Next try: 10
12:39:43Errorpkgengine[548,2740]DownloadPackage(download): 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\servers.def.vpx', ip: unknown, has failed with code: 41227 (0x0000A10B) [Downloader system error]
.(snip)..
12:40:01Errordldwrap[548,2740]GetFileWithRetry: An error 41227 (0x0000A10B) [Downloader system error] has occured when downloading a file from 'http://c1831947.iavs9x.u.avast.com/iavs9x/prod-ais.vpx'. Next try: 9
12:40:03Errordldwrap[548,2740]GetFileWithRetry: An error 41227 (0x0000A10B) [Downloader system error] has occured when downloading a file from 'http://z8890451.iavs9x.u.avast.com/iavs9x/prod-ais.vpx'. Next try: 10
12:40:03Errorpkgengine[548,2740]DownloadPackage(download): 'C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\setup\prod-ais.vpx', ip: unknown, has failed with code: 41227 (0x0000A10B) [Downloader system error]
12:40:03Errorpkgengine[548,2740]LoadLatestProdAndParts: download product file 'prod-ais.vpx' has failed. Status: 41227 (0x0000A10B) [Downloader system error]

I’ve used several other anti-malware and anti-virus programs and they show my system as clean (Avast also shows the system as clean… I can analyze with no problems, just the realtime shields won’t work). Tried some from a live-cd and still show as clean.

As an oddity, Windows still reports the Antivirus as active even if the shield is disabled (it usually reports a problem when the shield is disabled and everything is working fine):

http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a518/jlaencina/Capturadepantalla2014-02-18134240_zpsa1670d2b.png

I’ve checked the DCOM and RPC services and they are all ok. Windows Defender is disabled.

Avast has been working fine on 8.1 till a few weeks ago (or, I hadn’t noticed anything).

Is there anything I’m missing? I tried searching the forums but nothing came up that I haven’t tried already (including, as I said, running awsClean in safe mode, then CCCleaner, then reinstalling).

Thanks!

PS: I’ve snipped the logs not to exceed the post’s maximum length, snipping where there were many similar errors together

[Eddy]

I've used several other anti-malware and anti-virus programs

That can be the problem. Remove them all completely. http://malware.ache.nl/remove-av.html

After doing so, run CCleaner.
https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
First “Cleaner”, have it delete all it finds.
Next run “Registry”, fix everything it finds.
Run “Registry” again and fix, till nothing is found anymore.
Reboot and follow these instructions:

1. Download Avastclear, Rejzors uninstall tool and the appropriate Avast program edition.
   Here are the installer links. Note: You need to be ONLINE during this install.
   http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_online.exe
   http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup_online.exe
   http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup_online.exe
   http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup_online.exe

Avastclear : http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avastclear.exe
Rejzors Uninstall tool: http://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-cleanup-tool/

2. Uninstall Avast by control panel [If you don’t have Avast in control Panel go to #4]
3. Uninstall in Safe Mode using Avastclear.
   http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility
4. Run Rejzors Uninstall Utility in Normal Mode (removes traces avastclear doesn’t) - reboot.
   http://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-cleanup-tool/
5. Be Sure Too Check Once Uninstall is Complete:Device Manager>View>Show Hidden Devices
   If there is anything related to Avast with a yellow triangle then uninstall it (highlight, right click) and reboot.
6. Install the version you downloaded.
7. Reboot.

offline installers:
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup.exe

[system]

@Eddy post:2

I've used several other anti-malware and anti-virus programs

That can be the problem. Remove them all completely.

Of course I wasn’t using them at the same time. Just as a measure to check if Avast failed because of an infection of some kind. As I said, I ran most from Live-CDs just to make it sure.

Will try the mentioned procedures tonight, using Rejzorts uninstall tool (which I hadn’t used before, just AvastClear) and will report the outcome.

Thanks

[system]

Nada, it doesn’t seem to work at all. I’ve tried both cleaners in safe mode, rebooted inbetween… even checked the registry manually for anything Avast related.
Nothing seems to work upon reboot, and my computer looks virus-free.

Also, everytime I reeboot with Avast installed, I get the “Avast has been installed” opening in Chrome.

Somehow it doesn’t want to work on my system… I’ve installed other AV for the time being (no problem with any of them), and will check again when there’s an update to the program or when I format my PC, whatever happens first.

[system]

Sounds like you have another AV still working in the background.

[system]

@AdrianH post:5

Sounds like you have another AV still working in the background.

I had never used any other antivirus on this box till I started having problems with Avast (and Windows Defender was disabled). That was definitely not the problem.