Runtime Error when attempting to generate VRDB

system · 2008-01-11T23:41:00.000Z

After using Avast since 2005, I suddenly have a problem. I run a 2.40 GHz P4 whitebox with Windows XP Home Edition SP2, using Avast version 4.7.1098. I had the VRDB set to generate when the screensaver is running; up till today I had no problem with this. Today I got this message when my screensaver started up:
Runtime Error
Alwil Software/Avast4/ashServe.exe
abnormal program termination

and then the On-Access Scanner shut down. Had to reboot to get it to restart.

I tried switching to “generate VRDB when computer is idle”, with the same results. For now I have it set to disable generation of the VRDB, but of course I’d rather not keep it that way.

Any info on what might be wrong, or suggestions for a fix?

Mouse

Lisandro · 2008-01-11T23:48:31.000Z

Can you try to repair your installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair).
If this does not help, can you uninstall / boot / install / boot again?

Wow… avast since 2005 and only now you’ve got a problem…

system · 2008-01-12T06:13:35.000Z

Tried the Repair function and that just made things worse – the system locked up and I had to hit the off switch to get it to shut down. Turned it back on and booted into Safe Mode, turned off System Restore, uninstalled Avast & ran CCleaner to fix any registry issues. Booted back up and everything else loaded normally, so I did a new install of Avast and rebooted again, updated the VPS & turned System Restore back on. So far, everything seems to work; set the VRDB Generator to work when the computer is idle, then sat back and did nothing for a bit. VRDB Gen ran just fine with no error message. Not sure what exactly caused it in the first place; my brother the Mac addict would be making cracks about Windows right now. : Seems to be good now, though (I’ll be back if it does it again). Thanks mucho for your help!
Mouse

Lisandro · 2008-01-12T10:57:28.000Z

nezumi post:3:

uninstalled Avast & ran CCleaner to fix any registry issues.

CCleaner is innocuous about some uninstalled products. It’s a very weak registry cleaner.
You should use Avast Uninstall for complete uninstallation.

nezumi post:3:

Not sure what exactly caused it in the first place

Neither do I… but we hate mysteries…

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