The stub cannot run installer/updater executable (code 0x3)

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi !

I have the same problem than here : https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=168198.0

Impossible to uninstall avast, I disabled safe protection, tried a classic uninstall, then tried with avastclean tool, I get the 0x3 error… So I followed the steps from the topic I linked above.

Here are the txt files generated with Farbar on the computer with the problem (not the one I’m sending this message from), could you help me please ?

English isn’t my language, please forgive me if it’s hard to understand…

2

This must be run from safe mode

CAUTION : This fix is only valid for this specific machine, using it on another may break your computer

Open notepad and copy/paste the text in the quotebox below into it:

HKLM\...\Run: [AvastUI.exe] => C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastUI.exe [6109776 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) ShellIconOverlayIdentifiers: [00avast] -> {472083B0-C522-11CF-8763-00608CC02F24} => C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\ashShell.dll [2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) BHO: avast! Online Security -> {8E5E2654-AD2D-48bf-AC2D-D17F00898D06} -> C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\aswWebRepIE.dll [2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) FF Extension: Avast Online Security - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\WebRep\FF [2015-08-20] CHR HKLM\...\Chrome\Extension: [gomekmidlodglbbmalcneegieacbdmki] - C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\WebRep\Chrome\aswWebRepChrome.crx [2015-08-20] R2 avast! Antivirus; C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastSvc.exe [146600 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) R3 AvastVBoxSvc; C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\ng\vbox\AvastVBoxSVC.exe [3218624 2015-08-20] (Avast Software) S2 McNASvc; "c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe" [X] R2 aswHwid; C:\Windows\system32\drivers\aswHwid.sys [24016 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) R2 aswMonFlt; C:\Windows\system32\drivers\aswMonFlt.sys [76000 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) R1 aswRdr; C:\Windows\system32\drivers\aswRdr.sys [55200 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) R0 aswRvrt; C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswRvrt.sys [49776 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) R1 aswSnx; C:\Windows\system32\drivers\aswSnx.sys [788784 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) R1 aswSP; C:\Windows\system32\drivers\aswSP.sys [433264 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) S3 aswStmXP; C:\Windows\system32\drivers\aswStmXP.sys [161472 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) S3 aswTdi; C:\Windows\system32\drivers\aswTdi.sys [57888 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) R0 aswVmm; C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswVmm.sys [208664 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) R0 ngvss; C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\ngvss.sys [95112 2015-08-20] (AVAST Software) R2 VBoxAswDrv; C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\ng\vbox\VBoxAswDrv.sys [220752 2015-08-20] (Avast Software) 2015-08-20 19:22 - 2015-08-20 19:23 - 00000000 ____D C:\Windows\system32\vbox 2015-08-20 19:22 - 2015-08-20 19:22 - 00000000 ____D C:\Users\Mariejo\AppData\Roaming\AVAST Software 2015-08-20 19:21 - 2015-08-20 19:21 - 00001833 _____ C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Avast Free Antivirus.lnk 2015-08-20 19:21 - 2015-08-20 19:21 - 00000000 ____D C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\AVAST Software 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00788784 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswSnx.sys 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00433264 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswSP.sys 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00313472 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\aswBoot.exe 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00208664 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswVmm.sys 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00161472 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswStmXP.sys 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00095112 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\ngvss.sys 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00076000 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswMonFlt.sys 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00057888 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswTdi.sys 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00055200 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswRdr.sys 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00049776 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswRvrt.sys 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00043112 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\avastSS.scr 2015-08-20 19:20 - 2015-08-20 19:20 - 00024016 _____ (AVAST Software) C:\Windows\system32\Drivers\aswHwid.sys 2015-08-20 19:14 - 2015-08-20 19:14 - 00000000 ____D C:\Program Files\AVAST Software 2015-08-20 19:12 - 2015-08-20 19:12 - 00000000 ____D C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software AV: avast! Antivirus (Disabled - Up to date) {17AD7D40-BA12-9C46-7131-94903A54AD8B} AS: avast! Antivirus (Disabled - Up to date) {ACCC9CA4-9C28-93C8-4B81-AFE241D3E736} Task: {61E109A0-E273-4168-BA5F-2A02FFE401EF} - System32\Tasks\{BB165813-B2B6-47D0-B366-2E69B0D170C5} => pcalua.exe -a "C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\Setup\Instup.exe" -c /control_panel /instop:uninstall RemoveProxy: EmptyTemp: CMD: bitsadmin /reset /allusers

Save this as fixlist.txt, in the same location as FRST.exe

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/73555776/FRSTfix.JPG

Run FRST and press Fix
On completion a log will be generated please post that

3

Thanks for such a quick help !

Made everything as told, seemed to work, but when restarting windows, got a quick bluescreen then it reboots… Had to make a windows repair, and as it was impossible for windows to repair itself, it made me a restore.

Now the PC boots, but as it boots, avast crashes… I launched msconfig to prevent avast from launching on start, then rebooted. Avast doesn’t load, but still impossible to uninstall it, both classic method and with avastclear. I guess my computer is back to the state it was before using FRST.

Here is the log file :

4

That is intriguing as there were no services/drivers from Avast left after the fix was run and the log indicated successful removal … I will have a think about this

5

Thanks !

I think everything was removed, but the restore point must have put back some parts, now it’s even worse than before lol !
Maybe reinstalling windows would be easier ?

PS : I found a tool from McAffee to clean everything left from it (it was pre-installed in my computer), I’ll try to see if it does something…
PPS : The tool told me that stuff was cleared, but nothing changes after a reboot, still the same errors when trying to uninstall avast, and I can’t launch it anymore… And it seems I can’t install others antivirus either :confused:

6

Never install more than ONE resident Antivirus program on your computer doing so can lead to all sorts of problems.
essexboy is located in Great Briton so there may be a delay before his next reply.

7

In fact, Mc Affee was uninstalled, but it seems it’s not a “clean” uninstall if you don’t use their tool… So yes, there must have been a conflict between the 2 AV.

I’m in France, so Essexboy and me should have the same hour :wink:

Thanks both of you for your answers !

8

You can use the link in my signature to do a Clean install of Avast including the removal of leftovers from your previous AV.

9

Hi !

I tried your solution, in fact I already did, but it didn’t worked, McAffee seems to be uninstalled, but not avast, still the same error. I’m formatting and reinstalling Windows right now, I think it’s the best solution…

Thanks guys for helping !

10

OK if you wish I could try and force remove again

11

Thank you so much Essexboy, but I already formated and installed a clean Windows, everything is fine !

As I had to do a restore point, I prefered to reinstall Windows, because one time, a restore made a complete mess on my computer and I lost much data, since then, I avoid restore system as much as possible.

Thanks again for al the help you provide, for me and for the others, sorry to have waisted your time for nothing…

12

The time was not wasted :slight_smile: