Programs won't install after installing Avast Home

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Dear Avast Forum,
I had to restore my system a month ago, and I was really happy to get rid of my other antivirus software and to install Avast Home.
However, after downloading all the critical updates which is the second thing I have done after installing Avast, I realised that I couldn’t install some of my programs:

When I double-click on the .exe
file, nothing happens for a while and then I get this error message:

[…\setup.exe]
…\setup.exe
incorrect parameter

When installing from autorun CD, everything, well, just stops.

The next time I click nothing happens at all. (on the screen at least).
When closing Windows, I have to quit manually wowexec. error message:

[system error]
the command to close the selected 16 bit task has expired. The Win 16
subsystem may be unstable. (click ok or cancel)

After some research I found these in the running processes:

wowexec.exe
setup.exe
ntvdm.exe

I have tried to replace autoexec.nt and config .nt from the Windows System
32 by the ones you find in Windows repair, as it is suggested on another
website.
No difference.
Also some of my apps won’t be able to call other ones. Impossible to launch my PDF printer from Office, impossible to launch browser when programs ask for on-line registration.

I would like to add that these programs are not old, (Adobe CS1 for example)!
I have found on a website that Avast would add a line in the config.nt file.

I have restored my computer three times already, and the only common parameter between these configurations is that I have installed Avast BEFORE installing my programs and downloading updates.
Also when I restored the system which was saved on a bootable CD with Avast on it, I had to reinstall it as it was installed but not working (no icons in the system tray, for example, even finding it in the start menu wouldn’t launch it).

Well, this is an emergency now, as I cannot really take the risk to install it again when I will restore my system for the fourth time, if there is no procedure to solve the problem!

I would really appreciate your help, and I thank you in advance!

Gen

IBM Thinkpad T42p
Win SP2

2

This sounds more like an imcomplete uninstallation of the previous antivirus to me. Which one was it?

3

Hello Igor!
Thank you for your interest!
I have a preinstalled Norton 2004 which comes back with the system recovery. I have uninstalled it using NoNav tool, which was recommended by the Lenovo guys.
(You can add a suggestion for the next Avast! release to have a “kill norton” button when you first download it.)

What would be the connection between Norton (presumed dead) and the launching of ntvdm and wowexec? and my pdf printer? none of these programs I am trying to install are running with this 16 bit environment, right?

Well, hope you have ideas in your magic hat!

Gen

4

:slight_smile: Hi Monday-Friday :

As expected, after reading the info on the "NoNav", it appears the computer makers ( Lenovo )
gave you incorrect info; it does NOT appear to apply to your Norton 2004 . More appropiate
would be the "Norton Removal Tool" located at :
www.majorgeeks.com/Norton_Removal_Tool_SymNRT_d4749.html .

After using "it", I recommend you use your computer's "Search > All files and folders", using the
Search "term" "Symantec" and later "Norton" and "Delete" all it finds. If any "refuse" to be

“deleted”, even AFTER a reboot, let us know & we will suggest another program for this “problem”

5

Hi Spiritsongs,
Don’t tell me about the people at Lenovo Support…
I have this info included in NoNav pdf instructions from Symantec:

Functionality
NoNav is a batch file that will stop all associated services and removes all associated registry entries and associated file system entries for Symantec AntiVirus products.
NoNav will uninstall the following applications:
• Norton AntiVirus 4.0
• Norton AntiVirus 5.0
• Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition 7.x series
• Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition 8.x series
• Symantec System Center
• Alert Management System (AMS)

So basically it looks appropriate. Anyway. I have downloaded the “new and improved” removal tool (2007.2.2.14) and ran it just in case, well it is not improving my situation.
But I will run it next time when I reinstall everything. Should I use add-remove programs first or can I run it directly?

In which way is it related to ntvdm and wowexec? (sorry to insist but it is looking at me right now from the task manager window on the right side of my screen).

Thank you, I think at least with you I am progressing!
Keep in touch!

Genevieve

6

Dear Avast! Forum, dear Evangelists.

IT IS NOT AVAST! which prevents the setup.exe files from running!

What a relief.
I have restored my laptop to factory settings, and installed my programs one after another, testing in between if it worked.
I got lucky, after 10 minutes the problem reappeared. It is Mozilla Firefox!!! I uninstalled it, tried again, and it works perfectly normally now.
So I am running to their support website right now, after installing Avast! again of course!
I still need some help, as Avast! won’t work after a system recovery. But I will open a new thread in the forum.

THANKS AGAIN!

Best regards,
Gen

7

:slight_smile: Hi Gen :

 From a brief Google "search", Norton Antivirus 4.0 is NOT Norton Antivirus 2004; all references
 I found "link" the "4.0" to a Mac, Win 95, or Win 98 Operating System(s) . You do NOT have
 one of these Operating Systems ? Also saw a reference to "Windows NT Servers " . My "original" Norton Removal Tool" recommendation
 seems appropiate .