"unknown error message", "Application cannot load skin. Function usiGetSkin Fail

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I just installed version 4.8 on my computer. When I get this error message I go to the fix at http://www.avast.com/eng/i_have_installed_ava.html and copy the code for windows XP and run it, but it still doesn’t fix the problem.

What should I do?

Thanks for any help you can give.

2

Are you using Vista?
Alwil team should update that support page…

If you have Windows XP/Vista:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\REGSVR32.EXE ACTSKIN4.OCX

If you have Windows XP/Vista x64:
C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\REGSVR32.EXE ACTSKIN4.OCX

For some reason, ActiveSkin (the 3rd party library avast uses for skinning) does not seem to be working on your system. As a workaround, we may disable skinning in avast - that should solve the problem.

To do that, open the file \data\avast4.ini, look up the [UserInterface] section, and add the following entry:
StartWithSkin=0

Can run ashSimp2.exe without problems?

3

I’m using Windows XP

Your replied:
To do that, open the file \data\avast4.ini, look up the [UserInterface] section, and add the following entry:
StartWithSkin=0

Please tell me step by step how to do the above.

You asked if I can run ashSimp2.exe without problems. When I copy that file into run, it says Windows can’t find it.

Thanks!

4

Don’t copy it into run, just double click it, to run it.

I assume you were able to find it in the avast4 folder ?

  1. When you find the avast4.ini file, “C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA\avast4.ini” if installed in the default location, open it with notepad.
  2. Find the section starting with [UserInterface].
  3. Is there a line that starts with StartWithSkin= in that section (before the next section name [ section name ]), if so change the value to 0.
  4. If there is no line beginning with StartWithSkin= create a new line and type the following StartWithSkin=0 (ensure it is between the section names .
  5. File Save, the avast self-defence with ask if this is OK answer Yes.

That should be you done.

5

Looks like it is all fixed. Thanks!

6

What fixed it there were three options I believe ?

  1. The run command, C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\REGSVR32.EXE ACTSKIN4.OCX
  2. Run the ashSimp2.exe directly
  3. Edit the avast4.ini to use the skinless option all the time.