Can't Start Background Services on Avast! Free

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

So yeah, today I noticed my system pesting me to start my Antivirus as it was for some reason “off” according to it, I checked Avast! and it says the background services are not running, when I click Start now and say yes to allow changes from Avast! to affect my PC, nothing happens.

I tried logging off and back on, doesn’t do anything, I’ve considered a full system restart but I think that won’t do anything either. I’ve read this is most often fixed by a full reinstall of Avast! but I really wanna know what causes this to happen in the first place? I’ve never had Avast! do this before, and worry something malicious is to blame.

The only other AV I use with Avast! Is MalewareBytes, which I run from time to time just as a “second opinion” to Avast!'s own virus data base, I know some AV don’t like one another, but MaleWareBytes has always played well with others and hasn’t been a problem to date, but could it be?

Really like some advice on how to proceed.

2

Repair Avast:

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

“There was an error while changing the product configuration”

Setup log: http://pastebin.com/eXLBvpZz

Had to drop it in a pastebin, this forum has no spoiler tags it seems.

4
  • OS…? (32/64 Bit…? - which SP…?)
  • Which AV(s) did you use before Avast…?
5

Windows 7, 64bit, Service Pack 1.

And Avast! has been the only Antivirus I’ve used on this PC since I built it a year or so ago, save MalewareBytes which I run from time “just to be sure”.

6
  1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe
  2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions…!!)
  3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
  4. Reboot.
7

I haven’t tired just removing Avast! the usual way, or do you recommend doing it with the tool in safe mode just to make sure it’s uninstalled correctly? Your the one with 30,000 posts so I’ll do as you think is best.

Also what is causing this to happen in the first place? Is it just one of those random flub-ups that happen from time to time on a PC, or something else?

8
  1. Yep.
  2. Let’s see, if the clean reinstall doesn’t help we’ll dig deeper.
9

This sound stupid but, I can’t figure out how to restart my PC in Safe Mode. I restart it, wait till the screen comes back on, rapidly hit/hold F8 waiting for the boot menu, and nothing happens.

It’s a gaming keyboard, a Logictech G105 to be specific.

10

Sorry to double post, but I found I can boot in safe mode via MSCONFIG, and did so, big thanks to WikiHow for that little tidbit. Anyhow everything seems to be fine now, safe mode uninstall and fresh reinstall went without a hitch and background services are up and running near as I can tell, no more “!” from my system about it.

Thanks for the help guys, especially to you Asyn. :slight_smile:

11

Not sure why you would need to boot into safe mode - if it is for the avast uninstall utility (the instructions need to be updated) - when you run that in normal mode it asks to be run in safe mode, answer Yes and it handles the reboot into safe mode and runs there.

12

You’re welcome. :slight_smile:

13

I was unaware and was just doing as instructed, I’ll remember that (hopefully) for the future. :3

14

No problem, I just wish that they would update that web page.