Hi,
When i try and start avast! it does not work. Whether i right click the tray icon or through the start menu. AshAvast.exe remains in the process list (multiple instances if i attempt it repeatedly). Nothing appears (no splash screen). I’ve tried a reinstall using the removal utility.
Any ideas?
James
Hi and welcome jimbo ,
you should have 5 processes all connected to avast ,see this thread http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=17568.msg149407#msg149407
Jimbo, which is your operational system, firewall, any other security program…
Did you install any other antivirus before avast?
Hi,
I have the 5 processes running (ashdisp, ashmaisv, ashserv, ashwebsv, ashupdsv).
I’m running XP SP2, using the SP2 Firewall. Security Center reports Avast and the Firewall are running.
The only other things i have are antispyware programs - Spybot S&D, Adaware, MS Antispyware and Spyware Blaster.
Before Avast i’ve used Norton and AVG, i’ve been using Avast a long time since without this problem.
It sounds like your installation has become corrupted somehow.
Can I suggest you perform a repair while online by going to add/remove programs and choosing the repair option , this would eliminate that as a possibility.
there is an external control that you could download http://freeweb.siol.net/razor256/downloads/avast_external_control.zip
but this problem should not be tolerated.
Jimbo,
can you please check and let us know what is the version of avast you are using?
Repair made no difference.
Using version 4.6.731 (VPS 0547-5)
Jimbo,
While my friends, the key contributors to this forum, may not approve of a backward step; I wonder if it is possible for you to uninstall 731 and re-install 691 and see if that alleviates the problem you are experiencing.
Before doing what alanrf said, try at least start (run):
C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\ashSimp2.exe
please, post what you get…
ashsimp2.exe does the same thing as ashavast.exe. It appears to load for a second or 2 (the egg timer pointer appears), but it doesn’t load and leaves the process running but inactive.
I was trying to avoid this… but seems that NAV was not completelly removed.
See: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=12169.0
See How important is it to completely remove Norton topic.
I think i’ve completely got rid of Norton. I did all this cleanup a long time ago (Isn’t Norton great ;D), i ran the norton cleanup utility, manually deleted any symantec and norton folders, ran several reg cleaners, etc.
I had another go just now but couldn’t find anything i might have missed. Like i said i’ve had Avast a long time without any problems.
Have you got a link to the old Avast version download? If you want me to try it.
Ok. NAV uninstall problem forgotten… and solved.
Unfortunatelly, no mirrors provide the old version. You should have it for install in your own computer.
But let Alwil try to solve this. It’s good to keep complaining.
Something should be wrong in 731 version update as for some users, no solution at all… 
Jimbo51, do you use any skinning apps? Something like Window Blinds, Icon Packager, … ?
Igor, I’ve tried Window Blinds and Icon Packager (the second is a buggy application) and they’re not incompatible with avast.
Using WindowBlinds themes without problems with both avast Simple User Interface and Advanced Interface.
I’m using WindowBlinds and IconPackager. WindowFX too
Well, maybe they’re not incompatible, but we’ve seen quite a few conflicts in the past - and the symptoms were exactly the same (avast! splash staying in the list of tasks and the real scanner not opening).
So, I would suggest to disable those skinning tools first (and possibly also update to the latest versions of them, if possible) to see if it helps.
I agree. They’re not fully incompatible but ‘could’ bring problems each other.
Well, you were spot on. I got rid of WindowsBlinds and IconPackager and now everything works.
Any more info on this conflict?
Thanks a lot for your help.
You can configure just avast to not use WindowBlinds. Maybe the theme (skin) you’re using is not compatible.
Open WindowBlinds > Settings per application > Add per application setting > add avast executables (ashSimpl.exe) > configure to not use WindowBlinds.