Resolved - XP boot loop

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

The latest version of Avast free is making my system boot loop.

There has been a previous posting on this issue but the thread appears to have died (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=78527.0)

My problem started after an automatic Avast software update. When I next restarted my PC, it went into a boot loop.

I booted in safe mode and uninstalled Avast, which fixed the problem. The system could boot normally. To check, I downloaded and installed the latest version of Avast, and the boot loop came back. Uninstalling Avast again restored successful booting.

I am running XP Pro version 2002 Service pack 3; and I have ZoneAlarm installed.

Does any one have a fix? I would like to continue using Avast for virus checking, but if there is no resolution soon I will have to look at the alternatives.

Thanks

Adrian

2

Any other antivirus before avast? Other security program?
I suggest an installation from scratch:

  1. Download the latest version of avast! Uninstall Utility and save it.
  2. Download the latest avast! version and save it.
  3. Uninstall avast from Control Panel (if possible). If, for any reason, you can’t run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after that.
  4. Run the avast! Uninstall Utility saved on 1. If, for any reason, you can’t run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after you’ve run it.
  5. Install avast! using the setup saved on 2. Boot.
  6. Register your free copy or add the license key for Pro. Or even upgrade your key from old versions.
  7. Check and post the results. If, for any reason, you did not solve, try doing the step 3 in Safe Mode anyway.
3

I have uninstalled and reinstall Avast as suggested in safe mode. With Avast installed my system boot loops. When I unistall Avast again (in safe mode) the system boots normally.

Avast is the only virus checker I have used on this system since I last installed XP.

Regards

  Adrian
4

Install this: http://files.avast.com/files/beta/6.0.1273/setup_av_free.exe
Solved…??

5

Unfortunately, installing the beta version of Avast does not solve the problem.
As before, uninstalling it restores normal boot behaviour.

Any more suggestions?

6

What Version of ZoneAlarm do you have?

7

Yep. http://files.avast.com/files/beta/6.0.1279/setup_av_free.exe
If this doesn’t help, uninstall ZA.

8

This is the version of Zone Alarm I have installed:

ZoneAlarm version:9.2.057.000
TrueVector version:9.2.057.000
Driver version:9.2.035.000
ZoneAlarm Browser Security 1.5.227.0
ZoneAlarm ForceField Spyware Scanner 1.5.53.235
ZoneAlarm ForceField Anti-Phishing Database 1.2.104.0
ZoneAlarm ForceField Spyware Sites Database 04.155

Are there any known issues?

9

+1

10

I uninstalled Zone Alarm, and then installed Avast Beta 6.0.1279.
After this the system boots correctly.

I reinstalled the latest version of ZA, but this brought the fault back.

So I can have Avast or ZA, but not both.
As I asked in previous post, are there any known compatability issues?

11

Forget ZA, it was a good product some years ago, but not anymore.

12

Do you have a recommendation for an alternative?

13

There are already many related topics on the forum.

14

I am marking the thread as “resolved” because I do not think I will make any further progress.

However, I’m not sure that the problem has actually been sorted out
I still cannot run free Avast and my chosen firewall under XP.
The fact that some consider that firewall to be out of date is irrelevant.

Unfortunately, it seems that I will have to completely reevaluate my virus/firewall strategy.

15

Adrian Comodo firewall is a great free product, & I really don’t want to here anyone say Comodo talks too much, because those day’s are passed.

You can have Firewall only
Firewall with Optimum Defence
Firewall with maximum Proactive Defence

If you decide to get rid of zone Alarm make sure it’s completely removed/
Try to avoid downloading to many antivirus programs & Firewalls for testing, it can leave to much crap behind after uninstalling.

16

@adrianR

Glad you found the conflict, at least that’s stage 1

I used to use ZA (long time ago) but these days I always look out for mention of it in a users post.
Now I rely on a good router, AV and Windows FW