Firewall never starts. Current build.. new install of XP Pro

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Good Morning,

I’ve come home for a week to fix my parents computer which just got bloated. They have a fresh copy of windows xp pro sp3 32bit (when I get home I’ll test on my xp x64) with all updates and I decided to go with Avast because of the reputation and cost. Now, I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled 3 times. I have not once gotten the firewall to start. It says it’s off and pushing the button to ‘turn on’ does not work.

I tried disabling windows xp firewall, but that didn’t change it. I’ve noticed a lot of other installs with problems like this.

Now I’m going to give it 48 hrs to work, otherwise I’m going to ask for a refund and go to another product. This is the most vanilla os I can think of and it doesn’t work? That’s just sad.

2

I suggest an installation from the scratch:

  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. If, for any reason, you can’t run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after you’ve run it.
  5. Install avast! using the setup saved on 2. Boot.
  6. Register your free copy or add the license key for Pro.
  7. Check and post the results.
3

Followed instructions, problem remains.

Had a BSOD 2 days ago, had to start in last known good config.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: System Error
Event Category: (102)
Event ID: 1003
Date: 3/8/2010
Time: 12:58:26 PM
User: N/A
Computer: –
Description:
Error code 1000007e, parameter1 c0000005, parameter2 80526f4f, parameter3 f7a14a30, parameter4 f7a1472c.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 53 79 73 74 65 6d 20 45 System E
0008: 72 72 6f 72 20 20 45 72 rror Er
0010: 72 6f 72 20 63 6f 64 65 ror code
0018: 20 31 30 30 30 30 30 37 1000007
0020: 65 20 20 50 61 72 61 6d e Param
0028: 65 74 65 72 73 20 63 30 eters c0
0030: 30 30 30 30 30 35 2c 20 000005,
0038: 38 30 35 32 36 66 34 66 80526f4f
0040: 2c 20 66 37 61 31 34 61 , f7a14a
0048: 33 30 2c 20 66 37 61 31 30, f7a1
0050: 34 37 32 63 472c

Other than that, no problems and Avast 5 has been reinstalled 4 times now. Here’s the frustrating thing. If I can’t get it to work, how can I get my older parents to troubleshoot? Also there should really be a exit option on avast. It’s frustrating to have to reboot to get anything done.

4

Any other ideas?

5

Ok, problem not resolved, so I want a refund. Who do I talk to?

6

Send an email to sales@avast.com

7

I had this problem too (also running windows XP SP3). It only seems to be a problem if I don’t log on as an administrator (eg using guest account). If I log on using an adminstraor account the firewall is fine. It doesn’t seem to matter whether windows firewall is on or off.