Can't update manually, can't uninstall or reinstall

Hi I’m using the free version of AVAST virus scanner and like the title says I can’t update manually, even after a reboot or remove or modify the program.
Also the behaviour shield fails a bit because I have to disable it then re-enable it to load up the drivers for my E-MU 1212M pro audio card, thinking about just not installing the behaviour shield next time because the issue still has not been fixed for a long time. Any help would be great if possible, thanks.

It sounds like you have a corrupt installation.

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

  • Download the latest version of avast, 5.0.594 http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free.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, aswClear5.exe find it here and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for both 4.8 and 5.0).

    1. Now uninstall (using add remove programs, if you can’t do that (which you said you can’t uninstall) start from the next step), reboot.- 2. run the avast! Uninstall Utility from safe mode, first for 4.8 if previously installed and then for 5.0, once complete reboot into normal mode.- 3. install the latest version, reboot.

No I only use AVAST for a virus scanner and SpyBot for the other nasties…I think it became corrupt from turning on and off the shields whenever I booted windows because it stops the drivers for me E-MU 1212M pro audio card from loading properly (the behaviour shiled) I really hoped there would be a fix for that by now. Thanks alot for the help! It worked a treat, went into safe mode and used the uninstall tool you linked me, thanks again =)

No problem, glad I could help.

OK glad that it is now working as it should.

The question doesn’t only ask about what AV you use/have installed now, but historically as that too can have a conflicting impact if remnants are left behind. So are you saying you have never had any other AV installed on this system (as the last thing we want is a recurrence) ?

We are seeing some instances of problems with Spybot S&D and I believe there are better anti-spy/malware applications MBAM and SAS are about top of the heap now.

The 5.0.594 had some behaviour shield improvements as some were experiencing a performance hit, but nothing like this.

  • avast! Behaviour Shield, general information from an interview Softpedia - Ondrej Vlcek
    Ondrej Vlcek: The Behavior Shield that we shipped in version 5.0 is a new component that is going to be further developed moving forward. For example, in version 5.1, we will be adding more sensors that will allow for even finer-grain filtering.

For now, the Behaviour Shield is focused on exploits coming via typical mechanisms (browser, PDF reader, and flash vulnerabilities, for example). It also closely monitors all kernel-mode code (drivers) loaded into the operating system, and is able to detect zero-day rootkits.

What is your OS ?

You could delay the avast services until after system services and see if that makes any difference:

  • You could try adjusting this setting. From the avastUI, click Settings, Troubleshooting section, check the ‘Load avast! services only after loading other system services’ and see if that makes a difference, see image. If that doesn’t make any difference let me know and reverse that option.

Welcome to the forums.