Today my free home version of Avast updated to ver. 4.8.1195. After restarting my computer, a window came up asking to allow ashDisp.exe to run. I allowed it but nothing happened. There is no blue ball icon in the Notification Area, even though the option to have it displayed is checked. The FAQs suggest to run it manually from the Avast directory - again nothing happens. Help files are also blank (navigation to this webpage was cancelled).
I uninstalled ver. 4.8, and installed ver. 4.7 and the exact same thing happens.
I am running Windows Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1.
Check your firewall (or see other software list below) as that is what could challenge the updated ashDisp.exe file after the program update.
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. ?
Can you find the file ashDisp.exe in the avast4 folder ?
If not try a repair of avast. Add Remove programs, select ‘avast! Anti-Virus,’ click the Change/Remove button and scroll down to Repair, click next and follow.