Unable to Uninstall Avast

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hello,

I’ve been using Avast for at least a decade on multiple devices, without issues.
Recently, I’ve been noticing my laptop (Lenovo Thinkpad x230, i5 with 4gb RAM) has been acting slow.
Checking Task Manager showed that Avast Service is continuously using 30% or more of the CPU, even during rest.

After searching through the forums, I disabled a number of advanced Avast features, but this had no impact on CPU usage.

I then attempted to uninstall Avast using the native uninstaller, but the program would freeze as soon as I clicked on Uninstall.

After searching the forums some more, I downloaded avastclear.
However, when I run avastclear, the program gets stuck in a particular spot, beyond which it does not progress, “Calling library export: aswRunDll.exe ashBase.dll _basDeinstallCertificatesFromInstup@16”

Restarting in Safe Mode and attempting to run avastclear results in the same situation.

What am I doing wrong and how can I fix it?

Thank you in advance,
-Victor

2

Clean Install of Avast:
https://goo.gl/4Ptzkf

3

@bob3160

I believe I’ve already attempted the method you recommend.
Uninstall using the uninstall utility in safe mode resulted in the same frozen outcome.

4

What Operating System ???

5

Windows 10.

Thank you! This is really stumping me.

6

And what version of Avast was installed ???

7

Remove avast manually.

Delete all folders, files and registry entries belonging to avast.

8

@bob3160

I believe it’s version 17.3.3443.0

After restarting from my last uninstall attempt, I just tried launching Avast but it doesn’t seem to launch the UI client, even though Task Manager shows Avast Service pulling the same ~30% CPU utilization. The taskbar doesn’t show an Avast icon running. After so many aborted uninstall attempts, who knows what the fruit is going on with the application.

I navigated to the program files and hovered the cursor over AvLaunch.exe. Hopefully that’s the file version you’re looking for.

Should I try downloading a clean install and running it?
Hopefully it will install over the old copy and resolve any issues.

Thank you again for your help.

9

How? Is there a guide for this?
I don’t imagine this will be easy for a program which deliberately prevents tampering with and deletion of its files and registry items.

10

A guide ?
It basic knowledge about Windows.
Boot in safe mode and delete all folders/file
Boot in normal mode and delete all registry entries

11

Eddy,
You keep assuming that everyone is a computer geek.

12

It has nothing to do with being a geek.
It is all about if you want to use something learn how to use it first before doing something else.

Learn to walk before trying to run.

13

This isn’t the place for a discussion Eddy but you’re totally wrong and this isn’t helping the user.

14

@Victor,
Do you have a Restore Point created shortly before your failed removal attempt ???
If so can you use System Restore to go back and let’s start the clean install all over again.

15

@bob3160 & eddy

Thank you for your help! I got busy last week, but was able to uninstall today.
I tried one last time to uninstall in safe mode using avastclear, before wiping the files and registry items.
The uninstall froze as usual, and in the same place.

Still in safe mode, I opened the Task Manager and shut down the Avast Installer.
For some reason, instead of shutting down the uninstall process, this allowed avastclear to complete the uninstall.

Anyway, I’ll d/l a fresh avast and start over.

Thank you again for your help.

16

After all that I wonder if a repair of avast would of fixed anything before trying to uninstall avast.