Lost System Tray icon

[system]

Hi all :

  Last night when I booted, the Avast Icon would NOT 
  appear in the System Tray; in the past this has happened,
  but when I rebooted, it would appear. After last night, I
  rebooted at least 6 times without an "appearance". Went
  to Add/Remove Programs to "Repair", but an "Antivirus 
  Setup" dialogue box appears & going through it a "Debug"
  log eventually is the result. So I downloaded & ran the 
  Avast Uninstall Tool and further "cleansed" my system of
  Avast. Downloaded afresh, got "New" Registration 
  Number, Installed & still no icon in system tray. Info
  shows I have ver 4.7.889, not 4.7.892 . 
  recommendations ?

[DavidR]

There is definitely something wrong there, 4.7.889 was a beta build I believe, it went from 4.7.871 to 4.7.892 on the regular avast release versions. So perhaps that could have an effect but, since you say you used the uninstall utility that should have cleared any registry remnants

You could try a manual program update and see if that works in getting 4.7.892 but, it would seem that the install failed in some weird way but I can’t see how it would show a beta build release version. It would probably be best to download the latest version of avast and confirm that it is version 4.7.892 . Use that when you reinstall.

avast! icon missing - As a temporary measure you can create a desktop shortcut for this file C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashDisp.exe.

As these are the usual avast icon killers, what other security based software do you have that might block new startup entries, e.g. Spybot S&D (TeaTimer), AdAware (AdWatch), SpySweeper, PrevX, WinPatrol, ProcessGuard, etc. ?

Check the option in the Appearance tab of Program Settings. Or Make a link to ashdisp.exe in your startup folder. Or Add the path to ashDisp.exe into a value named avast! in the Windows Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run (see c:\avaststartup.reg if help needed)

[system]

I too lost my Avast tray icon (yesterday or today) for no apparent reason I can detect. Surfing is all I’ve been doing, no system changes. First I tried a System Restore to the 28th. Still no tray icon. Then I tried a repair install online and got error screen like Spirits got. I check msconfig and no Avast listed anymore! So in frustration, I removed my 4.7.871 with aswclear.exe to be safe, as did Spirits. Then d/l’d and installed 4.7.892. All appeared OK but still no tray icon after reboot.

Checked SetupLog info and toward the bottom I keep seeing “Install Check: C:\Program Files\Alwill Software\Avast4\ashDisp.exe does NOT exist” Sure enough, it is NOT appearing in this folder. So I can’t do a desktop shortcut as you recommended, David and not sure I’m competent enough to do your other suggestions without some guidance.

A clean Avast Removal Tool and reinstall should install clean, no? Is this a problem with the latest program update 4.7.892 on the website? 4.7.892 had been running OK up until this icon disappearance I noticed today. FYI All files are running in task manager normally so I assume all resident shields are “working”. But when I checked msconfig, avast is no longer listed there, after the install of a clean version!

Any suggestions Avast team? A bug in the new release? I only run SpywareDoctor with all realtime guards “on” and Comodo FW with my Avast. Several on-demand only scanners as needed.

EDIT: Running per Task Mgr: ashWebSv.exe, ashMaiSv.exe, ashServ.exe, aswUpdSv.exe.

I used 4 resident shields (Standard, Web, Network, Mail)before all this occurred today. I clearly have no way to configure myself to just 4 resident shields because I have to way to see that on-access screen anymore.

[system]

I also just discovered nothing happens when I click either the desktop A-icon, Menu, Updating, AVS Update or by clicking the link on the main page of GUI, Database Only link, Update Now. Nada, program renders no errors except in event viewer; prgm just does nothing. I checked Event Viewer, Antivirus and see lots of this error along with update errors, but just today, since the fresh reinstall after the traay icon disappeared…

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: avast!
Event Category: Client
Event ID: 90
Date: 9/30/2006
Time: 7:03:59 PM
User: N/A
Computer: STUDY
Description:
Function setifaceUpdatePackages() has failed. Return code is 0x20000019, dwRes is 20000019.

[system]

Hi David ( & Others ) :

  Of the programs you mentioned, only have the FREE
  version of Ad-Aware. Just did a "Search > All files and
  folders" using the search "term" "ashDisp" and nothing
  was found .
  Have the exact same Avast processes running in Task
  Manager as buttoni .

  P.S. It was an "Alert" from my firewall that the "new"
  Avast was 4.7.889 ; how true I do not know !?
  I have also been having trouble getting my ISP's
 "Accelerator" icon to appear in System Tray after booting
  and their "instructions" mention it uses a proxy server on
  my computer & that IO > Connections > Settings should
  have "Use a proxy server for this connection" box 
 "checked" and "localhost" & port number 8080 entered;
  Should this be entered somewhere in my Avast Settings ?

[system]

I too am having the problem of my ISP icon not appearing in the tray, Spiritsong! I even reinstalled my ATT DSL Browser software to resolve that issue! The ISP tray icon appeared and I thought I had solved THAT problem. But then I noticed it too had disappeared! What is going on? I’m starting to feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone. I’ve done Ewido, Avast & Adaware scans in safe mode and I’m NOT infected with anything they can detect. My Avast Update connections setting is presently & has always been “I am permanently connected to the internet”. This setting is correct for my ATT DSL connection & has heretofore allowed me to update successfully. I’m having no problems connecting to the internet for all other purposes.

[DavidR]

If you start the ashsimpl.exe (Simple User Interface) on the Menu there is an about avast option, which should be able to provide information on the avast version.

There have been previous issues with icons disappearing from the system tray in Windows, it doesn’t happen to just avast, it seems there is a flaw in displaying or icons going missing http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=system+try+icons+missing, this search string returns many hits.
http://www.tech-pro.net/howto_013.html
http://winhlp.com/WxSystray.htm

@ buttoni
If the file is missing there will be no icon, so you should try an avast repair and see if that can restore the file. Check the windows Start button, Run, type ‘msconfig’ without the quotes and click OK, check the Startup Tab and see if there is an entry for ashDisp ?

[system]

David, ashDisp is not in msconfig because a Search shows it is not on my HDD. Each time I have tried to do a Add/Remove, Change/Remove, Repair Install (which I have done several time before successfully) I no longer get the nice big clickable buttons at the left, Repair, Uninstall, etc. like I used to. I get installation screen, What Language?, Avast Setup Welcome Screen, Read Me screen, EULA screen, Proxy Screen (I click Direct Connection, as always, because I have NEVER used Proxy setting for Avast and my DSL connection), Tells me where it will install program, and then says “There was an error” and I click View Log button. Here it is:

01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Started: 01.10.2006, 08:36:20
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Running setup_av_pro-37c (892)
01.10.2006 08:36:20 system: Operating system: WindowsXP ver 5.1, build 2600, sp 2.0 [Service Pack 2]
01.10.2006 08:36:20 system: Computer WinName: STUDY
01.10.2006 08:36:20 system: Windows Net User: STUDY\peggy
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Cmdline: /uninstwiz
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Old version: 37c (892)
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Install check: ‘C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashDisp.exe’ does NOT exist
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: SGW32P::CheckIfInstalled set m_bAlreadyInstalled to 0
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: DldSrc set to inet
01.10.2006 08:36:20 system: Computer DnsName: STUDY
01.10.2006 08:36:20 system: Computer Ip Addr: 192.168.1.64
01.10.2006 08:36:20 registry: Get registry: Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Version=6.0.2900.2180
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Operation set to INST_OP_INSTALL
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: GUID: 4e5c92e2-e785-40f0-b877-7b0798986a70
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Default server pseudo definition loaded as ‘’.
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: SelectCurrent: selected server ‘FailSafeServer’ from ‘main’
01.10.2006 08:36:20 package: GetPackages - set proxy for inet
01.10.2006 08:36:20 internet: SYNCER: Type: use IE settings
01.10.2006 08:36:20 internet: SYNCER: Auth: another authentication, use WinInet
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Entered SetupProcessPro::Do( INST_OP_INSTALL )
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Entered SetupProcessWin32Avast::Do( INST_OP_INSTALL )
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Entered SetupProcessWin32::Do( INST_OP_INSTALL )
01.10.2006 08:36:20 general: Entered SetupProcess::Do( INST_OP_INSTALL )
01.10.2006 08:36:28 internet: SYNCER: Type: no proxy
01.10.2006 08:36:28 internet: SYNCER: Auth: no authentication
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress thread start
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress start - 1
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: compatCopyFile( \servers.def.vpu, C:\DOCUME~1\peggy\LOCALS~1\Temp_av_proI.tm~a00892\onefile ) failed with error 0x00000002
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: InvalidateCurrent: invalidated server ‘FailSafeServer’ from ‘main’
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: SelectCurrent: unable to find any suitable server in ‘main’
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: while trying to get file ‘servers.def.vpu’, error 0x00000002 has occured, try 1
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: tried 1 servers to get file ‘servers.def.vpu’, but failed (0x00000002)
01.10.2006 08:36:31 file: GetNewerStampedFile:GetFileWithRetry failed: C:\DOCUME~1\peggy\LOCALS~1\Temp_av_proI.tm~a00892\onefile, servers.def.vpu, error: 0x00000002
01.10.2006 08:36:31 package: Download servers.def, servers.def.vpu failed with error 0x20000011.
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: compatCopyFile( \servers.def, C:\DOCUME~1\peggy\LOCALS~1\Temp_av_proI.tm~a00892\onefile ) failed with error 0x00000002
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: InvalidateCurrent: invalidated server ‘FailSafeServer’ from ‘main’
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: SelectCurrent: unable to find any suitable server in ‘main’
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: while trying to get file ‘servers.def’, error 0x00000002 has occured, try 1
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: tried 1 servers to get file ‘servers.def’, but failed (0x00000002)
01.10.2006 08:36:31 file: GetNewerStampedFile:GetFileWithRetry failed: C:\DOCUME~1\peggy\LOCALS~1\Temp_av_proI.tm~a00892\onefile, servers.def, error: 0x00000002
01.10.2006 08:36:31 package: Tried to download servers.def but failed with error 0x00000002.
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress end - 0
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress thread end
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: InvalidateCurrent: invalidated server ‘FailSafeServer’ from ‘main’
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: SelectCurrent: unable to find any suitable server in ‘main’
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: SYNCER: Type: Invalid
01.10.2006 08:36:31 internet: SYNCER: Auth: no authentication
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: SelectCurrent: unable to find any suitable server in ‘main’
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress end - forced
01.10.2006 08:36:31 general: progress thread end

About Avast shows I am running 4.7.892 upgraded from whatever the last version was (4.7.871 I believe).

Any thoughts on why, when I click Change/Remove button in Add/Remove, I no longer get the Repair Uninstall button to click on? I found that particularly odd. So what it’s trying to do here may not be a “repair” install, but a full install ontop of a full install! I’m stabbing in the dark here.

Comodo FW is allowing OUT for ashServ.exe, IN/OUT for ashWeb.exe, ashMai.exe,ashWebSv.exe. I even “unstealthed” my modem/router today & retried Repair (just to be sure that wasn’t cause). No change. All the scenarios play out exactly the same way as previously mentioned. I never had these issues before this upgrade and feel it has to be something with this upgrade. It seems a total uninstall via aswclear removal tool and download of fresh copy from Alwil download server (both I did)should have corrected any problems, since the problems just occurred in the last two days & seem to be directly related to that upgrade. Unless the downloadable copy on the server is not “squeaky clean”? I’d sure like VLK or someone on the programmer’s side to explain the total lack of ashDisp.exe in a clean downloaded copy of the program.

Interesting note: There is a marker for ashDisp in Windows Prefetch folder, but a Search yields no instances of it in Avast folder or elsewhere on HDD after fresh download at website.

• David, please feel free to split me off into a separate thread if you deem appropriate. What I was experiencing seemed so parallel to Spiritsong I thought this might be better for troublshooters. Didn’t mean to “cut in” on his thread.

[system]

One last bit of info, I notice I have allowed avast.setup OUTBOUND access in Comodo Firewall. I failed to site that in previous post.

My only other thoughts is that could my modem set in “stealth mode” during the download of the fresh copy, have prevented ashDisp.exe and update feature from installing properly? (but I got no install error messages during/after the install to indicate anything was amiss). If you think that possible, now that I have “unstealthed” it, I could try to do clean uninstall with aswclear and redownload. I’ll wait to proceed until someone replies.

[system]

Hi All :

 As of last Thurs Sept 28, I had ver 4.7.871 and had NOT
 done a PROGRAM Upgrade to 4.7.892 ; it was after the
 installation of VPS 0639-4 the next day that the Avast
 icon in the System Tray never "appeared", even trying to
 do a PROGRAM Upgrade to a "newer" version does NOT
"correct" the situation, so I wonder if VPS 0639-4 is the
"source" of the no-show of icon in System Tray and/or
 the lack of ashDisp !?  I differ from buttoni in that I use
 Dialup and have Win XP SP1.

[system]

board newbie here, not overly technical. I lost my tray icons, too, when I turned on the computer this morning. Several reboots, nothing. Began turning off other layers of protection one at a time and rebooting to make sure nothing was causing a problem (by the way, avast has been getting along great with comodo, cyberhawk, spyware terminator and winpatrol just fine for the last month until this problem). Then I came here and did some reading, come to find out I don’t have the ashDisp.exe, either. No trace of it, it’s as if it was never there. Checked via msconfig and a few other programs that list the startup programs.

about avast tells me Build: Oct2006(4.7.892)

So, is there any headway on what this problem may be?
Has anyone heard of a complete cleaning and reinstall fixing it?
Since I don’t have an uninstall option apparent other than Add/Remove, and since I read somewhere around here that the Avast uninstall is better, where can I get it if I need it?

Thanks for any help, I love the product but not this problem. I assume I’ve still got the same amount of protection running, I just dont’ have the icons?

[system]

I see there is a similar thread going on in this forum, too.

I just tried the Add/Remove option via the control panel to look for a repair option. However, the only option I had was to install Avast. I went through the process until it asked me to confirm the installation folder, that’s when I stopped.

Apparently I can’t uninstall even if I want to, unless someone has a suggestion.

[system]

Well, I just tried one last ditch thing awaiting further Avast assistance. I uninstalled a second time using the aswclear.exe at this link:
http://files.avast.com/files/eng/aswclear.exe
Then I did a Search and deleted all things Alwil/Avast it would let me. Then I deleted all things Alwil/Avast I could find in registry search (backed registry up first). Then I removed all Avast application rules in Comodo and turned off Comodo completely. I shut down SpywareDoctor. Left my modem “unstealthed”. I thought, there’s nothing remaining that could block a clean, successsful install. I have no other realtime security onboard. I did fresh install of full program using the setup icon for the downloaded copy I had saved to my my desktop. Install went fine, but still no tray icon, no ashDisp.exe file exists on my HDD, Avast is not in msconfig Startup listing, but Win Prefetch indicator for ashDisp.exe still there and I still can’t update through UI. So everything happened exactly the same as last night, even taking those extra precautions I just mentioned. Deja vu.

Avast team, the downloadable copy is NOT including a copy of ashDisp.exe and in addition is not configuring itself properly during the install. ??? There is no earthly reason the exact same single file should be consistently discriminated against during a fresh install!

Until this update and now fresh install problem is fixed, I cannot fine tune or turn on/off the on-access scanners, cannot build a VRDB, cannot update, and can’t watch that cute little ball rolling around when I open mail. The only thing I can say with certainty is Task Manager shows all the usual Avast files running (except ashDisp.exe) and I assume I’m fully protected from malware.

[system]

If it is useful to you, here are my currently running Avast Windows Services:

[DavidR]

The ashDisp.exe doesn’t effect your protection other than you haven’t got the interface to the on-access scanners or context menu. As a temporary you can run the Simple User Interface, C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashsimpl.exe this once running you can update the VPS (iavs signature file) it will also give access to the menu, which should give access to other stuff (sorry about the technical term).

Send me a PM with your email address and I will send you a copy of ashDisp.exe zipped. You may still have to do the stuff mentioned in my first post to Spirit.

[system]

I have had a desktop icon (properties=ashAvast.exe) that I have been able to use all along (just no tray icons). I also have ashsimple.exe in the normal location. Both will invoke the user interface. But what I’m saying is clicking on Updates the User Simple Interface screen does NOTHING. The program, when it is freshly installed, with all security realtime turned off before the install, is not setting itself up correctly for me, with regards to tray icons, updating, Add/Remove Change/Remove screens, or A-ball right click Context Menu features . TaskManager shows aswUpdSv.exe is running. But when I click on update VPS the CPU flickers maybe two times and stops I get no confirmation screens telling me any updating is happening or that I am already up to date. Nothing, nada, zip. Does anyone there have a machine they can do a clean uninstall/download/fresh install on to see if ALL downloads are doing this from the website? There are several people reporting this problem now. I wiill pm you with email for that zip file, but there is definitely more malfunctioning than just the lack of ashDisp.exe.

[system]

Hi All :

  Decided to try the "time-consuming" method of solving
  the "problem" . Used the Avast Uninstall Tool, rebooted,
  used "Search > All files and folders" & the search "term"
 "Avast" that resulted in 8 files found ( 2 were cookies ),
 "Delete(d)" them, ran my registry cleaner which "Fixed"
  more Avast "entries". Then went to www.filehippo.com,
  clicked on the Avast link, Selected the "old" version
  4.7.871 and started the download. When it finished,
   clicked the "exe" to start the installation and thereafter
  the 2 Avast "balls" appeared in the System Tray.
  Generated the VRDB, rebooted & the balls still there.
  Merged the icons, did my Settings, ran a scan ( nothing
  detected ) and rebooted. Icon appeared in System Tray.
  By the way, the GUI showed the latest VPS Update of
  0639-4, whereas what I downloaded from the Avast
  site 2 days ago showed 0639-1 . Also configured the
 "Providers" to my liking, which included "terminating" 2
  of them . At this point in time, still have "a" ball in
  System Tray .
  For the near future, I recommend using the filehippo
  site for downloading Avast .

[system]

Just signed up as I have been watching this thread for some time now. Sorry for jumping in on this thread…but yes buttoni…I have done everything you have done so far but still no icon by the clock. I have un-installed avast with the tool and downloaded avast again with a new register key and still the same results. No icon and no ashDisp any where to be found. All my actions I have done the same as you and all results are pretty much the same.

[system]

@ Spiritsong:

My GUI also showing the 0169-1 signature file from my download at the Alwil website. Thanks for taking the time to give the details of what worked for you. But Avast folks need to fix the latest version being downloaded at the main website, too. We shouldn’t have to uninstall and go back to the older version. I want to wait until VLK or a programmer gives further suggestions before taking any steps that may mess things up worse than they already are. As more users are reporting this now, I think the ball is in their park now, since the upgrade malfunctioned and the fresh downloads do, too.

@David: I have tried twice to send you a PM. Both times it doesn’t appear to go through. My outbox shows empty. Absolutely nothing has gone right in the last two days!

[alanrf]

Just as an experiment …

I downloaded the latest avast setup file from the avast website following the avast home edition links … saved file setupeng.exe to disk.

I just uninstalled (via add/remove programs) my avast 4.7.892. After rebooting I ran aswclear.exe to remove any leftovers.

Then I ran the setup file. I selected typical install. I allowed avast to install to its default directory choice, it installed without any error messages. I allowed it to restart the system.

On restart the normal avast new install popup screen, it opened the two icons on the task bar and installed an update to VPS. ashdisp.exe is present in the avast programs folder and … all appears to look just like a normal clean avast install.

I am running Windows XP SP2 and the Windows XP firewall (I am also behind a router).

Sorry that I cannot recreate the problem.