The AAVM subsystem detected an RPC error

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I to, am getting this error.

But, in my case, I think it’s a hardware issue and not a software issue. Here’s why:

My computer is a new build - all new parts, and XP Pro 32bit - fully updated. Avast was working fine, then suddenly the RPC issue started. With it, came a number of other issues:

System tray programs loading slowly or not at all (particularly Realtek HD Audio Manager)
User Name column in Task Manager > Processes poplating slowly or not at all.
Despite being logged in as Administrator, I got access denied messages denied access when trying to change the Avast services and the Avast startup registry entries.

Avast was the only AV that had ever been installed, this side of a HDD reformat. Other security software was Spybot S&D, and Comodo Internet Security (Firewall only - AV not installed, and Defence+ disabled)

I thought the Avast issue was a symptom of a Windows issue, so I tried several Windows reinstalls, always installing the latest version of Avast. every time, the Avast issue would return - on the first reboot of the day after installing Windows/Avast. Never the reboots on the same day, always the first reboot of the next day.
After 4 Windows reinstalls in 3 days, I realised that it was the Avast error that was causing the other issues. Removed Avast and put on AVG, the other issues went away too.

Yesterday I put Windows 7 on my 2nd Hard Drive. The only other software installed (and all before I installed Avast) was hardware drivers (motherboard chipset, LAN, Audio, Graphics) and Mozilla Firefox. First bootup today, Avast disabled.

The issue has survived multiple Avast versions, Windows reinstalls, drive reformats, and even Windows versions.
The current install, in Windows 7, is 4.8.1335 (if that’s the latest version)
Latest VPS - 090602-0

I have tried setting the delay Avast startup until after other windows processes setting (or whatever it’s called), didn’t help.

I did try a clean install once or twice (uninstall, reboot, aswclear.exe in safe mode, reboot, install newest version), but didn’t help. I don’t see the point - Only a day or two after a HDD reformat, and no other AV’s have ever been installed

However, my Windows XP install on my main HDD, is showing some unusual (and highly intermittent) errors. So, I’m wondering if it could be a hardware issue?

The other issues:

Windows bootup - highly infrequently (once a week, maybe), Windows will announce that “C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system” is corrupt or unreadable. It recommends to use the recovery console. If I hit enter (reboots), it works fine.

Windows bootup - highly infrequently (once a week, maybe), the computer will randomly reset during Windows boot. Sometimes a BSOD will appear, but the computer still instantly reboots so I don’t have time to read it - it’s gone as soon as its fully written to the screen. On one occasion, it reached the Windows XP login screen (not the welcome screen - classic view), which is wrong because my computer is set to log in as Admin automatically. A popup message saying something about there not being enough storage appears, replaced by a BSOD before I could read more, computer reboots before I can read the BSOD. After the reboot, it’s fine.

AVG - highly infrequently (once a week, maybe), AVG will announce on Windows boot that it cannot verify the license, and recommends a reinstall. If I reboot, it works. I tried AVG Remover and install of latest version, still happens. The first reply to every thread on this issue on the AVG forums is to run CHKDSK - I did that, no errors.

2

If you’re trying to use two antivirus at the same time, it’s not a hardware problem, just an antivirus conflict.
Am I reading right that you’re using avast and AVG at the same time?

3

Or you are infected with a virus that blocks avast! from starting…

You can try to download and run Malwarebytes Antimalware and/or Superantispyware.

yours
onlysomeone

4

Its 1.19am and I’m turning in for the night, but I will check back in the morning.

:\WINDOWS\system32\config\system

If you have a hardware issue that is onboard, then you will usually get a message like the above while you are (re)installing your Windows. Usually Windows will load / set up, then reboot to start mapping out and configuring the system, and then you will get the message. You will usually be offered the choice of locate a (replacement) file or skip. Normally a few times that a file is asked for, but also can be just once it happens. Suffice to say there will be problems later with the running of the system. But still, there will never be the varieties and extents of error messages that you are getting. But still possible, as you have made lots of changes yourself.

Other thing of course is resource conflicts - again would not likely have such variety and extents to behavior generated. Nonetheless, easy to run some checks -

Right-click My Computer, choose Properties, then Device Manager, check that no device problems, which are identified by yellow or red stamp against the offending device (or its driver).

Another check - find System Tools from amongst Programs - there are differences between Vista and XP, so just go to System information in System Tools, second group down is Components (I’m using XP), go to Problem components and check if anything out of place there (listed and highlighted in red).

Still a bit too much variety and extent, even with generation of RPC errors. And configuration is really a software issue. Hardware fault will tend to send out single error message, the first instance error, for example, though might offer option to ignore or skip, until next error (usually next page). But I’m not sure about how you get those periods where all is smooth running.

Keep in mind that the symptoms you describe can fit with what happens when a computer is infected malware of one sort or the other.

5

Tech - no, I’m not using AVG and Avast at the same time. My computer has Windows XP on one hard drive, and Windows 7 on another. XP has AVG (it used to have Avast, which I removed because of this error so I could have real-time scanning), Windows 7 has Avast.

onlysomeone - I’ve run several full scans with Avast, AVG, and Spybot S&D, but I’ll give those a try too.

mkis - Device Manager, and System Informaiton > Components > Problems shows nothing of note (just a bluetooth device driver issue relating to bluetooth software I installed way after these issues started).

6

And are you receiving AAVM errors in that Windows 7 installation? ???

7

Normal procedure is to run an AV on the primary disk and this AV reaches across to the secondary disk as just part of its normal running. This is safe stable way to run AV. You are offered all the options for 2nd HDD such as scan, bootscan, etc…in your menu (in avast anyway).

First bootup today, Avast disabled.
Because Windows 7 not running, only System Volume Information on second HDD runs, I imagine.
on the first reboot of the day after installing Windows/Avast. Never the reboots on the same day, always the first reboot of the next day.

At beginning before reformat you might have checked your Scheduled Tasks in Control Panel and see if there was any malware entry that has set itself to take command of system files (like msconfig.exe), and make copies of itself in subfolders of Documents and Settings, at the start of every day. I attach copy of my Scheduled tasks. Unfortunatly no example of malware to show. OGA is Windows genuine advantage.

If malware had been present possibly has corrupted your system. But you have reformatted HDD.

May have damaged your HDD. But chkdsk should show a reading though not always. If your hardware is new it is unlikely that malware can break anything unless a targeted kill (unlikely) or exceptionally bad infestation over reasonable time period. Alternative to chkdsk is listen for a light clatter coming from HDD when it is running - if HDD is damaged you will hear the clatter. Or FAT bootdisks - 95, 98SE, ME - have a graphic interface scanner that clearly shows when sectors are bad or corrupted. You just set boot to FDD and run floppy and it asks if you want full surface scan. Bootdisk doesn’t affect your XP at all - just take floppy out at the end.

Also open Folder options in Control Panel and choose to ‘Show hidden folder and files’ from View tab. Look through system to see if anything unusual.

Now what else?
I’m sure you would have said if your computer was a laptop. If a laptop is banged or dropped, you get cracks in the solder on mainboard and frayed electrical signals, which can generate haywire effects to screen on and off, depending on when components connecting or not. Your message errors seem a bit to orderly for this. But you could consider other problems on the mainboard - blown capacitors, etc… or even electro magnetic interference from when components were exposed to handling and to each other during building. Again, not likely, but I’m not there so I cannot say for sure.

Vectorspace, I keep coming back to malware and something you are possible doing to keep this problem arising again and again after reformats, re-installs and reconfigure…I can only say that there is no internal bug within avast that is causing this problem. My gut feeling would say malware is causing problem.

I attach photo of my Scheduled Tasks - can be possible for malware to set itself in Schedule Tasks to take over computer.

8

Tech - sorry, I’ve confused you.

Computer had (past tense) 1 HDD, with XP. Avast showed this error, 1st boot the day after XP and Avast installation. Repeated formats, reinstalls, and experimenting with software installation order failed to fix. So I switched to AVG.

Computer now has (present tense) 2 HDD. I changed the drive boot order in the BIOS, and installed Windows 7 Friday evening. Avast showed this error, 1st boot Saturday morning. Avast, Firefox, and hardware drivers were all I installed.

Drive boot order is back to boot the XP drive for now.

In short - the error did happen under XP when it had Avast, and is happening under Windows 7.

mkis - I don’t think it’s a bug in Avast either, which is why I was thinking Hardware (or maybe drivers, since those and Firefox are all I installed in Windows 7). Scheduled Tasks is empty.
I’m going to run full scans with my AV and the software that you recommended over the next few days, and see what I find.

New occurrence today - Comodo showed an Application Corrupt error that cleared after one reboot, and AVG showed the licence error on two consecutive boots.

9

You understand we pitch these different queries to try and narrow down problem.

Sometimes faults on mainboard can interfere with smooth running of computer.
Devices and drivers - keep an eye on Device Manager.

Check out this list of action plan from Tech -

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=45701.msg384320#msg384320

Good luck. Take care out there.

10

Difficult to say, as AAVM error is generally related to other antivirus present?
Did you install the AV part of Comodo Suite?