??? how do i return the blue balls to show the system as being active.
See http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=3542;start=0
Probably, a uninstall/boot/reinstall of avast/boot will do the job! 
Do you have any other antivirus installed in your system?
Did you install anyone in the past? Two antivirus at the same system could bring this RPC problems…
richard,
You can also try a “repair” of Avast is you use Win ME or XP.
Go to Control Panel/AddRemove/Avast. Clicking on Avast and remove will give you an option to repair. This might also work.
If not, follow the advice of Technical.
Good luck,
techie101
i had the same problem and all i did was uninstall and i searched the registry for eny signs of my old antivirus and deleted them and reinstalled avast and every thing is ok ;D ;D