Howdy and good evenin/mornin! For some reason, the Avast Icon in the lower right corner has dis-appeared, and i can’t figure out how to get it back. Right clicked on icon in start menu, clicked on properties, clicked on shortcut, it shows the classic blue Avast icon, but i can’t seem to get back in the lower right of the monitor. If i go through file search/program files, it simply takes me to the user interface. My son said i would need to un-install then re-install the program to get it back, but is all that necessary?
avast! icon missing - 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). You will need to run this after each boot until the problem is resolved.
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 or OnGuard), 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.
Whilst you son may be right that might work, but at the same time he might be wrong if the cause of the missing icon is other security software then it would be killed again, back to square one. Finding the true cause is the best option and there are work arounds as mentioned above so you shouldn’t have to reinstall.
Besides David’s questions, we will need more information to be able to help you:
- Which OS are you using? Is it up to date?
- What avast! version and VPS file (virus database) number?
- Which actions have you taken to try solving the problem?
- Do you have any other antivirus installed in your system?
- Any other security programs that could interfere?
- Any useful information into Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Events, specially ‘Errors’.
howdy again! The only way i’m getting this far is through the start menu, click on the icon which shows me the user interface. My operating system is Windows XP Pro SP2, Comodo Firewall Pro(free home version, Spybot S&D, Avast Antivirus 4.7(vps version 000777-3), all are up to date, no other security programs installed (except the windows firewall). I honestly don’t know what you want for “events”, but under “application” there are 2 warnings from 9/28/07 10:47 pm, and 2 “errors”(marked by an X), one on 9/24/07 :Application error: Fault Bucket378788390", another ‘error’ on 9/24: “Application error: Faulting application cpfupdat.exe.version 2.4.0.5 Faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0. Fault address 0x00710007”. These are the only 2 ‘errors’ within the last week. It has only been within the last couple 2-3 days when i noticed the icon “missing”. I may be worrying about nothing, but it seems odd it just disappearing like that. I went to run>msconfig>services, and it shows avast and services are running, so i’m assuming it starts when i boot up, but the icon was the first thing that popped up in the tray. Now, just an icon pops up when the virus database is being updated, then it goes away.
sorry, hit wrong button and posted when i wasn’t ready. Anyway, Comodo and Spybot(atleast to my knowledge) have never interfered with Avast. I noticed the icon “missing” within the last 2-3 days. I ran a complete and thorough scan on the 15th of sept, nothing found. Again, under “event” on the system error records, there are 2 warnings on 9/29/07 (1 at 8:14:48pm) 2nd at 8:28:27 pm which state “TCP/IP has reached the security limit imposed on the number of concurrent TCP connect attempts”. Same 2 warnings on 9/28/07 at 5:17:39 pm and at 10:06:06 pm. Warning on 9/27/07 at 4:55:47 pm stating"Your computer has automatically configured IP address for the Network Card with network address, then gives the IP address being used(if you need these, i’ll e-mail them to you). Source for this last one was “dhcp”. Then on 9/23/07, starting at 10:26:23am and for every 2-3 seconds to 10:30:28 am, there are ‘errors’ stating: “source-disc, The device /device/harddisc0/D, has a bad block”., the same error and statement are also for 9/22/07 from 8:43:05am to 9:17:27(also in 2-3 sec. intervals)., the same on 9/20/07, and 9/15/07 same error and everything else. What have i done to try solving the problem? Generally, i just opened avast, checked for updates, then closed the program thinking icon would re-appear, but nothing. Hope this helps for what you asked for in your response.
Are you running the resident part of S&D, TeaTimer, if so that could block the creation of the avast startup entry for the ashDisp.exe avast icon. If you do use it, check if it did block the startup entry for the avast icon and if so restore it.
Checking for updates won’t resolve the missing icon, that is why we are trying to find the culprit possibly S&D as I mentioned. You could try a repair or even a reinstall but that would be pointless if the culprit killed it off again.
The avast icon is just an interface to the avast program elements and isn’t part of the protection, which starts on boot as you assumed.
If you don’t find anything in S&D that caused the problem then use the work around/s that I mentioned in my previous post.
Do you use any other antivirus in your computer? Had in the past?
Can you try to repair your installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair).
If this does not help, can you uninstall / boot / install / boot again?
Are you running the resident part of S&D, TeaTimer, if so that could block the creation of the avast startup entry for the ashDisp.exe avast icon. If you do use it, check if it did block the startup entry for the avast icon and if so restore it.
This is the last part of your advice. I opened S & D up, went to advanced mode(that’s the only way i could get into settings and tools), and, if i’m in the right part of the resident part, “desktop icon and quick launch icon” ARE NOT marked. To be honest, i have no idea of how to find the “ashDisp.exe”. The only reason i guess i’m confused/worried about the icon, is there have been times where after the virus data base has been updated, i have problems with warnings popping up when booting up about certain services not running, then go into Comodo firewall and check settings. This usually goes away though after re-booting a couple times, which, related to this, i have had the icon disappear before, but, when re-booting, the icon came back, but it hasn’t in this situation.
The icon has re-appeared. Somehow, i missed the advice on remove-repair-reboot. After doing that, the icon re-appeared. Still wonder what happened, but oh well, i have to remember that computers ARE NOT our friends, and at many many times, ARE NOT user friendly. Thanks for all your help and advice.
It should be a file into avast folder and there should be a link into the startup items.
I don’t think this problem is related to the firewall. It’s not an update problem.
Did you try disabling the resident part of Spybot, uninstall avast, boot, install again?
Glad that you find a solution… hope the icon remains there 8)