Hello!
We are aware of this issue and are currently working on a fix.
I’ll keep this thread updated.
Our apologies for the inconvenience 
Moroni
UPDATE:
This is now fixed. All fresh installations are OK from now on.
For existing affected users, if it doesn’t update automatically, the fastest way to fix it is to run C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastEmUpdate.exe and then reboot.
Really not great!
Since update done yesterday evening.
No database
No licence anymore.
No VPN
No CleanUp
No firewall.
But wants money!
Need my Internet. When is it going to work again?
UPDATE:
The problem lies in the communication between the GUI and the Avast services.
This means that despite the error message you see in Avast, the services/shields/protection are active and running.
A fix should be released soon.
Thanks for the info Moroni, good to know.
The date stamp for the latest version release date is 12/31/1969 ??? possible issue???
Hi,
As in French forum this subject isn’t on line, i’m in trouble with this problem.
But only on my mini hp pc with 7 starter 32 SP1 full windows update.
Not with my Asus with 8.1 64.
Is only some Os are only affected by this problem?
As i tried to remove safely Avast Free, problem remain on my hp.
The previous version of Avast Free is good and working fine, without update it.
Should i wait like a lot of people a patch or next version?
Or is there something to do on my hp mini to solve it faster?
Thanks for your answer,
Have a good we too ;D
Gerald
Ps: sorry for my english too 
Seems so, no problems here on XP.
Is it correct?
I went to my settings panel and i saw all shields disabled (grey button). I manualy press enable and Avast required a restart of PC.
I did but still the same.
I got this error message instead:
https://s26.postimg.org/ejpn74i9l/av2.png
.
Also my latest PC name that was connected to Avast is not there anymore.
Avast - or more knowledgable users - will correct me if I’m wrong but I’d advise that, if Avast is working for you, don’t restart or shutdown until the fix is released. The problem appears to have been caused by a flawed emergency update,
Well
For my as i installed on several pc here what i have:
Asus 8.1 64 no problem with latest version no problem at this day
Seven premium family 64 no problem at this day
Hp mini pc 7 starter sp1 32 avast is not running after full and clean install, but the previous version seems to be working fine without update it.
Now, will try other thing but at the end will put previous safe acronis system and will wait like a lot of user too 
Why not remove the update causing the problem and e-mail all your customers!
Hi moroni, is this somehow related to the random GUI window popups?
And here I thought a virus infested my master boot record, causing Avast to not run properly and further screw up my machine. I’ve reset my MBR once and completed three fresh installs of Windows 10… Hours of troubleshooting and work down the drain because someone couldn’t do proper Q&A on an update. Not to mention the many hours I’ll spend tomorrow trying to reinstall everything. Definitely not how I wanted to spend my weekend…
Yeah, this is kinda strange…how it got past testing before release. The company I worked at a few years back, before we pushed out any Norton program/definition updates into our environment, we ran install/scans on our QA network and multiple test workstations & notebooks. As Avast is the AV vendor in this case, I am sure they have stricter policies and processes in place and its valid to expect them to catch this one prior to release.
Pity us regular users have no choice in the matter when it comes to streaming updates. I wonder how this is could be affecting Business users (and the possible resulting shit-storm), especially since they would be the first to get support while the rest of regular users are essentially ignored. Unless those business also have some patch deployment policies after testing updates, so they might not be effected.
I swear if the only fix is a manual reinstall I reckon I am done with Avast for good. Their annoying pop-ups and pushy marketing to get this and that module pissed me off. This fubar will be the last annoyance and I’ll just wait till my subscription expires or give the license to a friend.
Really wish I had of known this was an AVAST issue before hand… spent the past 4 hours tyring different ‘fixes’ across the web and then decided to do a full FORMAT of my hard drive and re install fresh copy of windows thinking my system was corrupted… to find out on a FRESH INSTALL that this problem STILL EXISTS.
obviously its a problem with the latest Avast update not my PC… very annoyed… and Im a PAYING customer not a free antivirus user. IF I was a free user I would have uninstalled Avast and installed another anti virus and never thought twice. Im bound to AVAST due to the $$ I have paid for my licences. PLEASE FIX THIS ISSUE LITERALLY spent 6+ hours today pullling my hair out, ONE VERY UNHAPPY customer right now
No problems here with Windows 7.
Got the same problem on all my PCs.
Both Internet Security and Free Edition are affacted!
Probably. I didn’t see that bug and I have no problems.
Also, I believe it has something to do with internal updater since I always update manually (Over the top custom installation).
The update was not released to all the users, and it’s already been stopped. The fix is on its way.
Yes, the update was supposed to fix that bug.
Hi ^^
So good news for the fix.
So current installed version will say if new update is released.
Must wait is not a problem.
All people should wait, and for the future all should have soft for make system backup to go back if something wrong