I just installed avast home and I don’t have the a icon in my system tray. It was there initially but when I rebooted it did not reappear so I am not sure that the program is active. I checked active processes in the TASK MANAGER and found that ashserv.exe, ashwebsv.exe and ashmaisv.exe are all running. Also under preferences I have the “show avast tray icon” checked.
Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas as to whether the program is actually active.
Luigi108
Lots of people experience this and a forum search would reveal that.
As a temporary measure until this is resolved you can create a desktop shortcut for this file C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashDisp.exe (the avast icon and interface to the providers). Right click on the file and select Send To, Desktop (create shortcut).
What other security based software do you have that might block new startup entries, e.g. Spybot S&D (TeaTimer), AdAware (AdWatch), SpySweeper, Spyware Doctor (StartUpGuard), 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
Thanks for the reply …
I missed the search bar on top of the page. Generally I do search before posting.
Just to be sure I understand, even though the a icon is missing, the AV is operational.
Luigi
The avast icon is an interface and not a part of the defence.
Yes there are problems if you can select options but the underlying protection is still there as your check Task Manager shows, everything that I have you have with exception of ashDisp.exe.
What about the question on other security programs ?
I use Zone Alarm for a firewall.
I had been running Ad-watch but I have uninstalled it (after my Avast install) since it seemed to take a long time at startup. I run Adaware and spybot periodically to check for spyware.
It looks like the Avast programs are running in the Task Manager so I assume that the AV protection is OK.
Luigi
Most probably, Ad-watch removed the avast entry on Windows Registry.
Maybe you can:
Whist the protection might be running the absence of the avast icon has ramifications, no access to the on-access scanner settings, program settings, simple user interface for on-demand scans, and issues of no choices should you detect a virus. So although it doesn’t effect the general protection it is I feel an essential part without it there is no GUI.
AdWatch could well have blocked the start-up entry for ashDisp.exe. You could enable AdWatch again and see if you can restore the ashDisp.exe entry and then disable adwatch and reboot and see if that restores the avast icon.
If not and the file still exists you can either add a shortcut to the startup folder or create a registry entry as above.
One other solutuon would be to totally remove avast! … reboot … re-install avast!
Yes Bob another option, easier if you aren’t comfortable with editing the registry or don’t know how to add a shortcut in the startup folder. Provided of course AdWatch isn’t enabled.