Service Will NOT Start

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

My current free version said to update to the new version today.
So I did.
Yikes!
It failed.

I have tried to install three times. Yes I reboot as directed.
Downloaded the free version twice in the process just in case I had a bad download.
So that is three times downloaded.
I can get the user interface but the service will not start.
The new tray icon has a X.
In the user interface it shows Failed to Update.
Nothing works: FIX NOW does not work. START PROGRAM does not work.
What is going on?

I see only the Avast in the Start Menu. There is NO uninstall there! Not good.
Now what?
No virus protection.
Windows XP with all the latest patches installed.

2

Any other security program that could interfere? Antivirus?

I suggest an installation from the 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.
  7. Check and post the results.