I’ve been trying to install avast! on my father-in-law’s computer, but I’m not sure it’s working.
I’m used to AVG, but I learned recently that it doesn’t play well with 64-bit (and is starting to lose my favor anyway). I didn’t use a tool to uninstall AVG, but I can always try and run it.
I install avast! and upon restart it asks for my registration. There is no tray icon, and it’s not hidden. So, I double-click the desktop icon which brings up the Simple User Interface, where I can put in a key. I do so, and it accepts it. I’ve checked the settings and it says there’s supposed to be an icon.
Upon a second restart, I get asked for my registration again. There’s also no processes but the Simple User Interface running.
I figure it’s not installed right, and I use the Removal tool to remove it.
I then restart and reinstall, to the same effect.
Nothing other than ashSmpl.exe running.
If I try and run any of the components manually, they don’t do anything except for ashAvast (which opens the Simple Interface), AshBug (error report), AshChest (Virus Chest), AshDisp (just says my Registation key isn’t entered), AshLogV (Log Viewer), AshPopWz (Pop E-mail Wizard), AshQuick (pops up a scan window then quickly disappears), AshSimp2 (another version of Simple Interface?), AshSkPck (Skin Packer), ashUpd (opens a command window for less than a second), aswChLic (another instantly closing command window), VisthLic (asks for my registation number which when I put it in is successful), VisthUpd (another Updater), wdp-ash-updscript (tells me that avast! isn’t installed).
Nothing else seems to do anything.
Also, Windows says that it’s out of date, but avast! says it’s not.
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit
avast! Ver: 4.8.1335
VPS Ver: 090430-0, 30/04
Processor: Intel Quad Core Q6600 2.4GHz
RAM: 4 GB
Internet: Broadband, No Proxy, Windows Firewall
E-mail: Gmail
Previous AV: AVG8
Current Protection Programs: MBAM, SpywareBlaster
Sorry, don’t know if the etiquette on this forum is edit or double post…
Ran AVG Removal, no traces found.
Also thought to add that the program is installed in Program Files (86x) currently, and the original one was Program Files. Which is preferred for this program?
Download the latest version of avast http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again. Use that when you reinstall. Personally I would suggest you use the default location on the reinstall, though you can choose another non-removable drive location.
Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, find it here and save it to your HDD, if you didn’t save it before.
Now uninstall (using add remove programs, if you can’t do that start from the next step), reboot.- 2. run the avast! Uninstall Utility, reboot. If step 1 failed it may be necessary to run this from safe mode, once complete reboot into normal mode.- 3. install the latest version, reboot.
avast has a Demo key which should allow 60 days unrestricted use so it shouldn’t be a rush. I presume you are talking about the Home version, did you register it at avast! 4 Home Registration ?
If so you will receive an email from register @ avast.com (without the spaces) with your registration key, did you receive that ?
I’ve done that once already with no change.
I’ve also tried a repair.
I’ve since added Avast! to my firewall exceptions to see if it made a differences.
I’ve also just run the Norton Removal Tool, since if I recall, that’s what was on it when it shipped, but I’m positive that I removed it with it originally as well.
I’ll try another clean install to see if there’s any change.
Tried a complete uninstall (using Removal Tool) and reinstall. It’s still the same.
Though, it’ll update now.
Restarting brings up the Registration key not entered error, but when I double click the desktop icon, it still shows the key in the splash.
When installing avast it will have a default location in the address location, this you can change. For XP that is C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4. That may be different in 64bit OS, especially if that is Vista (which I don’t use).
If you chose a different location when you installed it, if running the uninstall utility, I guess you would have to point it at the location you used, otherwise I don’t know if it would work as there are likely to be remnants.
Have you ever entered a registration key when asked ?
Are you trying to install this from an account with administrator privileges ?
If you are using Vista spit you may also have to jump through some UAC hoops.
I am on an admin account, and I’ve done everything I can think of to help with the UAC crap.
I entered a key when I started it before, but on a reboot it says there wasn’t one entered. Going to the Simple Interface shows the key still there.
EDIT: after using the VisthLic application to enter the info, rather than the one the SUI, I was able to start AshDisp manually. This gives me both icons, but I recieve an error. “The AAVM Subsystem detected an RPC error. The operation could not be completed.”
Reading the FAQ leads me to my services. I was unable to start a few since a dependancy was missing. A repair fixed this, and it’s now running fine.
Thanks for all your help.
Another option if that doesn’t work, Program Settings, Troubleshooting, enable the ‘Delay avast! services after other system services’ or words to that effect.
As soon as I rebooted again, it gave me the “key not entered” error again…
I made sure to used the 64-bit remover when I did it.
However, there is progress. All the services are started this time.
EDIT: WooHoo! I went through the folder and made sure everything that could was running as Administrator. Once I did so, I made sure it ran. It did, so I rebooted. It loaded properly this time!
So there you go…
Make sure everything can run as admin, and it seems to fix it.
Yup, looks like 64bit and UAC put a few hoops in your way. Though it is strange, as if this happened every time then there would be many more topics like this one, which I just don’t see, weird, I hate mysteries.
Still up and running. I just have a question. I know you don’t use Vista, but maybe someone here can help me.
In order to get Avast! to run properly, I had to give AshDisp administrator privileges. Now, everytime I start Windows, I get a UAC prompt to let avast! start. Is there any way around this?
If I don’t give it admin rights, then it doesn’t seem to recognize that it has a key entered. Starting the simple interface shows a key, but attempting to start ashdisp says key not entered.
The key adding invokes UAC and need admin rights. But, after that, there is no reason to run ashdisp.exe with admin rights (UAC elevation). I suggest an installation from the scratch:
Uninstall avast from Control Panel first.
Boot.
Download the latest version of Avast Uninstall and use it for complete uninstallation.
Ok. I’m not on that computer right now, but I will as soon as I get a chance.
I’m a little wary of messing with it, since it works now, and it took me 3 installs to get it to work in the first place…