RPC server unavailable

[system]

I was using the free avast home edition program in safe mode. A trojan virus message popped up. The action advised was to move the virus to the chest. I clicked on that button and this message popped up, “Program cannot use Chest client: (null) —>Description: The RPC server is unavailable.” So I clicked the okay button.

I clicked the “move to chest” button again and the above message popped up again. Then I clicked the delete button instead and the scanning continued.

Two questions: What is the RPC message about? Was the virus deleted?

I rescanned and no virus message popped up so I assume the trojan virus was taked cared of (deleted).

Thanks for the help, Megaman

[Lisandro]

@megaman04 post:1

What is the RPC message about?

It’s a Windows service… Remote Procedure Call…
Can you try to repair your avast installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair). You must be connected to the internet while repairing.
If this does not help, can you uninstall / boot / install / boot again?

Do you have any other antivirus installed in your computer?
Did you have in the past? Which one?
Do you use a firewall? Which one?

Also, take a look into Administrative Tools > Services
and see how the four avast services are set to start (automatically or manual).

@megaman04 post:1

Was the virus deleted?
I rescanned and no virus message popped up so I assume the trojan virus was taked cared of (deleted).

I won’t be so self confident… most probably the virus could be there.
Can you schedule a boot-time scanning?
Start avast! > Right click the skin > Schedule a boot-time scanning. Select for scanning archives. Boot.

[DavidR]

Moving to the chest isn’t deleting it, just putting it in a place where it can do no harm (quarantine).

Sorry I have no idea what the RPC error was about, perhaps just a hiccup as the RPC function is a part of the OS. Try the repair as Tech suggested.

Check the avast virus chest, Infected Files section and see if it is indeed there.

[system]

@Tech post:2

@megaman04 post:1

What is the RPC message about?

It’s a Windows service… Remote Procedure Call…
Can you try to repair your avast installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair). You must be connected to the internet while repairing.
If this does not help, can you uninstall / boot / install / boot again?

Do you have any other antivirus installed in your computer?
Did you have in the past? Which one?
Do you use a firewall? Which one?

If I select remove, will avast be removed? Do I have to install avast again if it gets removed? There’s no other antivirus program installed - this is my friend’s computer. In the past a McAfee program was on her computer - it was a free-trial situation. To my knowledge the computer doesn’t have a firewall.

Also, take a look into Administrative Tools > Services
and see how the four avast services are set to start (automatically or manual).

Where are the Administrative Tools located? I can’t find them.

Can you schedule a boot-time scanning?
Start avast! > Right click the skin > Schedule a boot-time scanning. Select for scanning archives. Boot.

I right-clicked the skin, but there is no “boot-time feature” on the menu. I am using the free home edition.

[Lisandro]

@megaman04 post:4

I right-clicked the skin, but there is no “boot-time feature” on the menu. I am using the free home edition.

Just run:
C:\Program Files\ALWIL Software\Avast4\sched.exe /A:*

[system]

Just run:
C:\Program Files\ALWIL Software\Avast4\sched.exe /A:*

I’m not able to get the boot-time schedule highlighted so I’m unable to access this. Thanks

[DavidR]

What is your OS, the schedule boot-time scan isn’t available with win9x, winME ?

[system]

@DavidR post:7

What is your OS, the schedule boot-time scan isn’t available with win9x, winME ?

WinME…so it’s not accessible. What about the Admin Tools you mentioned earlier? How do I check if avast is automatic or manual? Which one should it be on? Thanks, Mega

[system]

Hi megaman :

Have you told your friend that Microsoft will no longer issue
Updates for her Win ME machine and it's about time to

“Upgrade” !?
Sometimes the FREE “DCOMbobulator” program from :
www.grc.com/dcom will “correct” “RPC” errors !?

[DavidR]

Tech mentioned Administrative Tools, Services, not I, but I think that is an XP only function.

I’ve never used winME so I don’t know how to check for running services/processes but ashServ.exe and aswUpdSv.exe should be automatic other providers that you use like the ashMaiSv.exe (email scanner) and ashWebSv.exe (web shield) are manual. However I don’t know how this works within winME.

[system]

@DavidR post:10

Tech mentioned Administrative Tools, Services, not I, but I think that is an XP only function.

Oops, you’re right, Tech mentioned the Admin Tools.

I’ve never used winME so I don’t know how to check for running services/processes but ashServ.exe and aswUpdSv.exe should be automatic other providers that you use like the ashMaiSv.exe (email scanner) and ashWebSv.exe (web shield) are manual. However I don’t know how this works within winME.

My friend’s computer has the ashMaiSv.exe and ashWebSv.exe things. Thanks for your input, Mega

[system]

@Spiritsongs post:9

Hi megaman :

Have you told your friend that Microsoft will no longer issue
Updates for her Win ME machine and it's about time to

“Upgrade” !?

No I haven’t told my friend about Microsoft not having anymore updates for Win ME. I myself wasn’t aware of that. Thanks.

 Sometimes the FREE "DCOMbobulator" program from :
 www.grc.com/dcom will "correct" "RPC" errors !?

I’m reading the information from the website you gave. I hope it works. Thanks for your input, Mega