I have used Avast! for over a year, and been generally pleased with it. I have 3 PC’s - one desktop & 2 laptops - all with Avast 5, SUPERAntispyware, Malwarebytes and Zone Alarm Firewall. All regularly scanned, and seemingly clean. The desktop and one laptop have XP Home, the other laptop XP Pro, all SP3 and fully updated. 2 days ago the desktop suddenly wouldn’t open a MS Works word processor document - it said some files were missing, and suggested re-installing the programme. When I tried to do this I got a further message to say that Windows Installer was also corrupt. I downloaded and ran the latest installer file (v4.5) and this seemed to go through OK, but I still could not install or unistall. I ran the file checker function with the XP disc. This also didn’t make any difference. I then resorted to system restore which finally got MS Works operating again. I still don’t know if I will be able to install/unistall a programme though.
Then yesterday I found exactly the same thing on my laptop. I also noticed that trying to run Windows Update from the Start menu didn’t do anything. However by opening IE I was able to check, although there are none at the moment. I then turned on my other laptop which hasn’t been used for a week and that was fine. Wondering if CCleaner or Defraggler may have removed something important I ran both on that one, and still no problems. System Restore didn’t work on the faulty laptop - it wouldn’t boot properly, and I had to carry out an XP repair, followed by 73 updates… I now realised that the only thing linking the 2 faulty machines was the new version (V5.0.677) of Avast which I had installed (via the update function) this week. Is there any way it could have corrupted Works and the Installer? The database & spreadsheet functions still worked, as did the calender on both PC’s. Reading the problems others had updating from v4.8 to v5, I did full removals and then clean installs of v5 on all the machines, and they have all been working perfectly, until now…
Any advice or comments would be greatfully received.
remove avast via virus removal tools and download latest version of avast and install it
after that follow this
-Go to add/remove programs
-On the listing for Avast select Add/remove
-click on proxy settings
-select Direct connection (no proxy)
-click ok, then cancel, then yes
Unfortunately 10 minutes after my post yesterday both computers suffered the same problem again. There have been no MS updates - I have them set to notify me, but not automatically install - so the only thing I can think of is one of the Avast! definition updates has somehow started this again? As before running the MS Installer v3.1 reports that the current installation is already newer. v4.5 ran through all its stages, and asked for a reboot. But afterwards I still cannot install or uninstall Works, or any other programmes.
Bot XP installations are genuine - one 18 months old the other 14 months. Both validated and passed WGA, and I have not had any messages to indicate non genuine. If they were, why would MS disable one part of one programme and make it impossible to repair it?
I removed Avast v5.0.677 from the laptop using the removal tool, and then rebooted to find the same situation. Even running the Installer update makes no difference. I’ve reinstalled v5.0.594 for now.
It looks as if I will have to do 2 complete clean installs of XP, but I’m only going to do one machine to start with, and put v5.0.594 on it to see what happens. I’ve noted your suggestion about proxy settings - I can change that from the Settings menu. Fortunately I have all the drives partitioned, so I haven’t got the worry of loosing my data…
Please go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then Forum Profile Information then Please select your country: then Signature: and put information about your systems just like my signature about your systems just like my signature so that the helpers can offer pertinent advice.
Humble apologies everyone… I eventually realised that I had disabled the DCOM service, having read about the latest security threats. But I hadn’t read closely enough about the possibilities of some Windows services not functioning afterwards!
I restored it on both machines, and all is now well. Unfortunately I didn’t find out until after reinstalling the O/S on the laptop, but it’s given me the opportunity to give it a spring clean.
@ YoKenny - Thanks for your link to the DCOMbobulator. I followed the instructions and rebooted. I now realise that I had shut down the DCOM Server Process Launcher, rather than just DCOM. That is presumably why I had all the other problems? I had also stopped the Task Scheduler although the various updaters seem to be still working, but I’ve now re-enabled it.
The port 135 test was a success whether I allowed the attempt in Zone Alarm, or denied it. I then shut it down completely, and it still showed “Stealth”, which presumably means the Belkin router is doing its job?
I’ve just tested both machines and Works is working, and I can launch Windows Update from the Start menu, so presumably the Windows Installer will work too. After the last 24 hours I’m in no mood to try it!! Hopefully all will be well tomorrow.
