I temporarily “Paused” my resident Avast programs before installing a new printer. I have since run Avast. But I no longer see the two Avast icons that used to appear in the system tray. How can i reinstall them? And how can I determine (assure myself) that my resident AV protection is really ON? Thanks.
FWIW…I failed to state that my pc uses Xp and that my Avast is the Home Edition 4.
avast! icon missing - As a temporary measure until this is resolved you can create a desktop shortcut for this file C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashDisp.exe (the avast icon and interface to the providers). Right click on the file and select Send To, Desktop (create shortcut). You will need to run this after each boot until the problem is resolved.
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. ?
Check the option in the Appearance tab of Program Settings. Or Make a link to ashdisp.exe in your startup folder.
To check whether it runs
Enter Ctrl+Shift+Esc to run the task manager
If you can find the process ashServ.exe, avast! works well.
To show the tray icon
Startup->all programs
find avast! and run it, check the box “show the tray icon”
then run ashDisp.exe that located in the avast! folder
I am NOT the original poster. I am new. However, I found this topic as I was looking for it. My icon never showed up in my systray. Directions you gave put it in my systray. That’s great. But …
… you also asked the original poster what other security based software they had that might block new startup entries. I have AdAware AdWatch, of the ones you listed. (I don’t use the teatimer in Spybot, but use the program
of Spybot when I launch it.)
Is there a setting I need to attend to in order to make the Avast icon stay in my systray through re-boots? (i.e. without having to keep using the shortcut?)
Thank you.
8)
The list of examples is not exhaustive (e.g. {but the most common}), hence why the question asks what other security software do you have, so do you have any other security based software ?
Under the info about the shortcut as a temp workaround is another more permanent option and you quoted it “Or Make a link to ashdisp.exe in your startup folder.”
Your startup folder should be here, where UserName is your logon user name, C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Start Menu\Programs\Startup, if you open that folder in explorer you can drag the desktop shortcut you created into that folder and that will start it each time.
Or Add the path to ashDisp.exe into a value named avast! in the Windows Registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. This option is a little more complex and you have to be comfortable working in the registry, which is why I don’t post it as a general rule. If it were another security application killing the avast icon then it would most likely remove this registry entry also. That is why it is important to find the cause of the missing icon/s.
So the startup folder shortcut usually doesn’t get removed in the same way.
Yes, I have other security software. Are we going to troubleshoot each one, or do you have a list of all and/or many of, the security programs that actually stop the systray Avast icon from landing in the systray?
You wrote
Are we troubleshooting?
These questions arise because I said I have AdAware Adwatch. Since that was one of the programs you listed, it appeared that you knew how to correct the problem “caused” by that program: AdAware Adwatch and:
Or … is it that no one knows yet, whether or not AdAware Adwatch is the culprit?
Or perhaps it’s suspect, but the answer of putting the shortcut into the startup folder on the start menu works regardless of which security program is suspected? (Therefore leaving a vast array of possible security programs that “could” be responsible?) If so, as a meandering philosophical question: why is it that tech support so often
attacks any “other” security software other than it’s own program first? I’m just mildly curious, as it seems to
be an industry wide knee-jerk reaction to and first answer to glitches reported by users/customers, imho.
So …
Is this problem caused (thus, solved) by other security software?
or
Is this an Avast bug/glitch (thus, not solved by Avast yet)?
or
Does nobody know what causes it, and this is how Avast troubleshoots the issue?
My question was:
??? How do I keep AdAware Adwatch from “killing” the normal icon of Avast sitting in my systray? ???
L 8) 8) king forward to your reply. Thanks.
I though it was a simple question what other security software do you use, then we can identify if they have a registry/startup protection as part of their protection and if so was it responsible for the removal of the avast icon.
Since you have AdWatch we would deal with that first as it has startup protection so you need to check if that is what killed the startup entry for the avast icon and if so try to restore that correction/deletion from within adwatch.
Of course we are trouble shooting as there is no point in trying to create registry entries if they are only going to be deleted again by what ever is identified as the culprit.
It isn’t a bug in avast or you would see many cases of this in the forums, those that you do see the resolution is usually an other anti-spyware killing new startup entries.
The reason the startup folder shortcut works is because this isn’t the same as the entry in MSCONFIG, Startup tab which has a supporting registry startup (Run command).
Okay, I think I understand now. Any program that blocks startup entries is
a program that needs to be looked at. And you don’t have the information
to help me make AdAware AdWatch not block the Avast systray icon.
Correct?*
So I don’t waste anymore of your time, you needn’t answer this post unless
my conclusion above* is incorrect.
I don’t answer your “simple question” because I make it a practice to NEVER
list all my security programs in an online forum. Seems a risky thing to do
as there are malignant elements to online society, and this is a public forum.
Thanks for hanging in there with me through this. I greatly appreciate it! 
I’m just disappointed that I will have to somehow figure out the software
programming of AdAware Adwatch alone … something I cannot do, in order
to “stop” it from stopping the Avast systray icon.
I’ll just use the shortcut. Seems to be the best answer to all the posts
regarding the loss of the Avast systray icon, imo.
The shortcut in the startup folder as I posted will give you the avast icon on startup.
Your startup folder should be here, where UserName is your logon user name, C:\Documents and Settings\UserName\Start Menu\Programs\Startup, if you open that folder in explorer you can drag the desktop shortcut you created into that folder and that will start it each time.
At some point you have to trust someone when they are trying to help, I don’t know how people knowing what security applications can make you vulnerable. First they have to find your post, then they need to know your IP address and that most likely will be a dynamically assigned one which changes each time you connect.
Then they would have to craft a means of breaking or bypassing your security applications and that is extremely unlikely. You need only look at my signature to find what I use as my main security applications and that has been like that for over three and a half years.
I wrote: “you needn’t answer this post unless my conclusion above* is incorrect.”
You answered, but said nothing about my conclusion being incorrect. Hope you’re
not wasting precious time with this just out of curiosity. You really needn’t.
I already know how to move a shortcut into my startup folder. I said I am using that already.
Why should I give you a list of security programs you can’t give me directions on how to work with them to avoid this problem?
You haven’t even been able to tell me what to do with AdAware AdWatch. shrug
You just curious? ???
David,
perhaps it is the phase of the moon … or global warming … who knows …
It seems that some of the folks who arrive here with questions only want to be helped on their terms. All to often they arrive here believing they know more than the people they are asking to help them. They are also largely ignorant of the fact that they are mostly communicating with other avast users just like themselves.
I think it has become commonplace to abuse help-desk support and I see this creeping into this forum. nobodyz is not half as clever as he thinks he is (yes, I’m pretty sure “he” is correct) … otherwise he would have a far better knowledge of security issues yet feels able to be dismissive of the help offered even if masked by clearly unfelt thanks and followed up with comments plainly intended to stroke his own ego.
However, to get back to the primary issue of avast startup registry entries being prevented or deleted by other security products. I’m sure that the avast team must be looking at or aware of these products and if they cannot advise us of the list of culprits then perhaps collectively in this forum we can start to develop as ccomprehensive as possible list of “known offenders”.
Thank you, Alanrf, for your exquisite insight and wisdom as to my
character.
I am a computer technician, btw. 
Clearly one that I would not employ in my technology organization.
? What are you doing?
I regret posting my previous comment … the direction is becoming too personal and that is not what this forum is for.
My basic point is that if you want help in this forum you need to interact in a positive way with those trying to assist you. If you do not want help then withdraw from the thread - do not be dismissive and try to demonstrate a superiority of knowledge or question the motives of persons providing much support here. It does not make you look good and more importantly nobody is getting helped and an important issue is not being moved forward.
Thanks. I’m happy to drop the direction that was going in. Please don’t do that again. 
Doesn’t
feel very welcoming. I’m new here. Glad to know this isn’t going to be how things go ususally.
And btw, as a computer tech, I know how absolutely insane things begin to feel with repeated
posts about the same thing…it gets redundant. Perhaps a forum for the tech people to vent
would help? (if, of course, you don’t already have that)
I did not intend any kind of “dissmissive” comment in any kind of personal way.
I am still waiting for an answer to a simple question: how do I make AdAware AdWatch not block the
Avast icon in the systray.
This question has been repeatedly avoided, and not answered. I have been trying to clarify as
to whether or not there is any knowledge about how to make different security programs
specifically, programs other than Avast, what you support here stop blocking that icon.
I have not seen any knowledge of how to do it with the one program I mentioned, so I was just
trying to see if it was worth it to even list other security programs.
And…this is very important: I have stated, repeatedly, there is no need to answer me
further, as I am okay with the shortcut in startup solution. If there is a more permanent solution,
then of course, I’d rather use that.
How am I not "interact[ing] in a positive way with those trying to assist you. If you do not want help then withdraw from the thread - do not be dismissive and try to demonstrate a superiority of knowledge or question the motives of persons providing much support here. " ?
And I did not realize there was any kind of “superiority of knowledge” going on in my posts. The only thing
I can think of is when I said “I already know how to move a shortcut into my startup folder. I said I am using that already.” How is that superior? I used the knowledge imparted by the people here to do that neat little trick
to temporarily solve the problem. Just wanted to be sure the guy helping me knew I got that already.
Please point out to me where I’m coming off to you as “superior” … it is not intended.
The tenor of my posts have been to clarify and to get a specific answer. Which was never addressed.
That’s frustrating to a poster, but I’m not becoming personal about it. At least as far as I can tell, I’m not.
Please point out to me where I am, in your opinion, so I can look at them and edit if necessary.
By the by, do you know anything about the settings on AdAware AdWatch, and if so, do you know how to
make that particular program stop blocking the Avast Icon? (I have already made the corrections to
Windows Defender so it isn’t blocking it anymore, as per instructions to someone else in another thread.)
Just let me know, please, if you aren’t aware of the specific settings. I don’t expect people who
support Avast to know every security program out there. I’d just like a direct answer: yes or no.
And please, never say that my thanks are “clearly unfelt thanks”. That’s really not fair.
Thank you, alanrf, for your attention to this.
And, I want to add that with the way you have posted here (when others are trying to help with a question you asked), I think it might be difficult for you.
You should to remember that we get people asking questions who are somewhat less skilled in the operation of a computer not to mention anything about computer security. When you began posting, we have no idea who you are nor what you know/don’t know. So, most of the time … especially with posters whom are new to us … we start off with simple questions requiring simple answers so that we can begin to understand the posters and their problems. We ask about all their security programs because some of them do not work well together and because we have no idea what any poster has on their computers.
You, a “computer technician” and knowledgable user, first degrade the help offered before telling us something that let’s us know approximately how much you might know. Had David known your profession, I am sure he would not have mentioned moving the shortcut to a start up folder.
What is the real reason you are here? Do you have any type of connection with Lavasoft?
C’mon now … I have already said that I regret posting a personal comment earlier. I will let your defensive comments stand unchallenged by me. Let’s try to concentrate on the technical issues.
I wrote this before the latest post by CharleyO. I ask CharleyO and all of us in the forum to take a deep breath … relax and reduce the stress level in this thread and try work together on the main technical issue raised here.
The problem of undefined products either preventing the registry startup entries of avast (or removing them … since I think they get there but then the product offers to undo that) had been going on for somewhat more than a year now as I recall.
To be fair to the avast team (something for which I am not entirely well known) I am not sure how they can defend themselves from the depredations of other products. How do you in Windows prevent another product removing your startup entries? The whole process relies on an understanding by the user of the system that is, all to frequently, not well placed.
We live in an era of fear, almost everyone is now trained to fear their own shadows. If a piece of software on your system asks you if you should allow a change to the registry for startup programs how is the average user (and I do not mean you - you are a technically able) supposed to respond? I bet most average users now says “no”. Please notice that I said when asked … what about those products that do not ask but work on some supposed overall user setting that means “do not allow new startup entries”?
You may recall that I suggested earlier in this thread to DavidR, one of the outstanding supporters of and help sources in this forum, that it would be worthwhile to develop a list of “known offenders” which prevent/remove avast startup entries and that can be provided for checking in cases like yours.
So, no I do not have the precise technical answer for your concern, nor does DavidR. That notwithstanding, informed discussion with valuable input from knowledgeable users such as you are - willing to share information about their experience - is the best way we will identify root causes and help the avast team and the wider community of avast users.
Awesome! Thank you alanrf! I agree a list of “known offenders” would be helpful.
To add to this discussion (apologies for repeating myself)
- I have already gone into Windows Defender and changed the settings as instructed by another
post on this topic. - Since we don’t yet have a definitive answer (thanks to alanrf’s direct answer) for the AdAware AdWatch program, I have done nothing with that.
- You made a point about how most programs ASK first if you want to block a startup item: that
made me think. I can change my settings in AdWatch by un-ticking “Automatic”, restart my computer
without the ashDisp.exe shortcut in my startup folder, and troubleshoot to see if there is a specific
startup that AdAware AdWatch wants to block that has to do with Avast!
Will post results if there is anything noteworthy.