False Action Center?

I’m sure this is not an Avast problem but I hope to find some practical info?
Since about 8 hrs ago the W7 Action Center is indicating that I have no virus protection (Windows did not find antivirus software on this puter), spyware protection (Windows Defender is turned off) and no network firewall (Windows Firewall is turned off or set up incorrectly).
I’m running PC Tools fw, no problems.

I have not installed any new software, visited any risky sites and Avast 5.0.594 is fully updated, as usual. I’ve done a scan but nothing found.
I would not like to uninstall and reinstall Avast because it has been running perfectly for many years w/o any hiccups.

Option 1 would be to switch off Action Center, or turn off messages, but I do not know if that is advisable?
Any suggestions most welcome.

Sometimes, Windows Security Center stops recognizing your antivirus or firewall… So, check your system time and date and also http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=23457.msg193534#msg193534

See also: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/repairwmi.htm

  1. If you are on 32bit, run a boot time scan with avast.
  2. Run free Mbam and report back the results. http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
    asyn

Thanks folk, I should have mentioned I’m on W7 Pro 64-bit. I’m running a dual boot with XP Pro 32-bit but w/o this problem.
Date and time 100%
In my repository folder, C:\Windows\System32\wbem, I have five files dated this morning.
Should I follow the Vista procedure indicated on “Solution when Windows Security Center does not recognize antivirus or firewall”?

You’re on W7, I thought…! Why are you refering to vista now…??
As you’re on 64 bit forget about the boot time scan.
But run Mbam, anyway - as some malware can install a fake action center…
asyn

he’s mentioning Vista procedure because Tech referred to that, same can apply to Seven, if it worked…okay, @ the OP: I’ve been through someting like this recently and reinitializing wbem repos on W7/64 just made things worse (as I already replied to Tech when he advised it to me…). Your only way out to get Avast communicate properly with Action Center is to uninstall Avast completely, reboot, and re-install. Your Action Center will then report things properly. The issue is on Avast side, obviously.

@ Asyn: this is no malware issue.

edit: PCTools firewall isn’t detected either? if not that’s also a PCTools issue.

Ok, thanks for the info, Logos…!!
asyn

Well, the procedure is the same for Windows 7.
But it could fail. Then, uninstall/install avast.
I never found in Internet a “definitive” solution for this.

recently it happened to me and still no matter what solution I do it doesnt work, its very frustrating

This is what I’ve done.
Downloaded all required for a fresh install of Avast Free, removed cable, uninstalled, reboot & in Safe Mode ran ‘aswclear5’, reboot, checked and Avast gone, reboot again.
Now W7 and its Action Center very happy, no icon in system tray and therefore no warnings although I have no av at this stage ???
Installed ‘setup_av_free’ w/o any hiccups, went online, reregistered and updated vps.

Only one notification from Action Center - ‘Windows Firewall is turned off or set up incorrectly’ which I accept because as far as I know PC Tools fw would have switched it off.

Now for the twist, floating my cursor over the Avast icon in the system tray, after I rebooted, and Avast is confused - ‘avast! Antivirus: Attention, your system is not fully protected.’
Trying to open the user interface takes exactly 35 secs, warning reads Real-time shield = off
Hitting ‘Turn on’ has no effect and of course the same when hitting similar option at the bottom of the window with the full descriptive red text warning.

Then I ran Sophos Anti-Rootkit, all partitions, which took 45 min but nothing mentionable, a few entries where I had too long file names for stored URLs.

The only clue I have is via this pop-up after a/any reboot:

Registry entry “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\aswRdr\Parameters\WSIgnoreLSPDefault” (created) :
New entry was set to <nl_lsp.dll,imon.dll,xfire_lsp.dll,mslsp.dll,mssplsp.dll,cwhook.dll,spi.dll>

When I shut down completely and switch off mains, wait 5 min and boot up then I’m okay, fully covered by Avast, no warnings.
When I do a reboot then Avast indicates ‘ATTENTION Your system is not fully protected. Please use the Fix Now button to start fully protecting your system.’
At this stage Avast is in that sloooow mood and none of these options effective.

If anybody knows what that Registry change means I’m back to normal :wink:

At this stage all fine, nothing done from my side, after a few reboots Avast at peace. Hoping it will stay like that.
Thanks folks.