I’m almost 100% certain that this is a problem with Avast. I never had this issue before I updated it a week ago. Now, sometimes when I start the computer it gives me the “An unauthorized change was made to your license” error. If I reboot, the problem goes away and the system starts normally. I also get the popup window when I simply leave the computer on doing absolutely NOTHING. What’s going on? Is anyone else having this issue? The computer doesn’t do it all the time. But I don’t want it to get any worse!
I run windows Vista. And I haven’t uninstalled it yet, but I was thinking about trying that next. Is there any way to find out what it might be interfering with? Some sort of scan I can do?
It’s definitely a windows error, not avast. My suspicion that it stems from avast is mostly based on the fact that it never, ever did this before I updated the program last week.
Before I had avast I had norton, which was just so awful I deleted it and never looked back. Is it possible there is some lingering files that are messing with avast?
Just wanted to say I had the same problem on Vista x64. The latest Avast update seemed to change some security file in windows, giving me the “unauthorized change to windows” message which prompts you to re-validate windows. Unfortunately the windows validation website is broken and just continually redirects to a bing search page. No other windows functions except default web browser are available until after validation.
In safe mode I tried rolling back to an earlier restore point, and this initially worked, but after restarting a second time, the error comes back. Seems that Avast might be re-updating itself or something?
Uninstalling Avast got rid of the error. Think I might wait till the next Avast update before I try installing again…
Did full system scan (8 hours!!) with Microsoft Security Essentials afterwards and no malware or anything found.
Cheers,
Richard.
P.S. Had Avast installed for over a year before this with no probs, but this latest update just borked it.
Uninstall avast from Control Panel (if possible). If, for any reason, you can’t run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after that.
Run the avast! Uninstall Utility saved on 1. If, for any reason, you can’t run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after you’ve run it.
Install avast! using the setup saved on 2. Boot.
Register your free copy or add the license key for Pro. Or even upgrade your key from old versions.
Check and post the results. If, for any reason, you did not solve, try doing the step 3 in Safe Mode anyway.
Had the same problem. Did a restore to a previous restore point so the Avast program was set back to 5.1 and I have stayed with that until a newer version of 6.0 comes out.
I have used Avast free from day one on this computer for more than 2 years, first time the update has caused this problem.
I’m getting this same thing. I never had Norton, only the free version of Avast. In the past week,whenever I boot up my PC, right after the Vista welcome screen, the screen goes dark showing a box that says “An unauthorized change has been made to Windows” and I can’t access my desktop or any files. Restarting my PC will stop it, but it keeps recurring. No new software or changes have been made to my PC other than Avast’s updates, so I’m starting to suspect it could be something to do with Avast.
Last night I (properly) unistalled Avira, re-booted and finally installed Avast free. This morning I can’t access Windows: after writing my password at startup, I get the “Unauthorized Windows Change” message and I’m redirected to a Microsoft web page that fails to load.
System info: Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit; Avast 6.0.1091 (virus defs 110502-0); virus free.
Here is a screen shot of the message that now displays now and then:
Going to the links it gives doesn’t really take me anywhere and I ran a Genuine Windows diagnostic and it shows my version is genuine (came with my Dell Inspiron 530). I wonder if there’s a bug in one of the recent Avast updates that could be causing this problem.
OK, I was having this same problem after the last Avast update – suddenly, Vista got validation errors. This is a Vista copy without Support pack 2 installed.
Microsoft said this was definitely Avast’s problem, and to uninstall Avast:
I did so, and the validation errors ended. Something in Avast’s update triggers the messages.
The Microsoft post says that Avast is “in denial” on this issue and “does not appear to be doing anything about it.” I hope that by sharing my experience, Avast can get this issue resolved.
Another one. Vista x64 Ultimate. Avast upgraded itself from 5.1.889. If I do I system restore to before the upgrade everything is OK. Once it upgrades itself problem is back. Nothing else was changed on the PC. BTW, those of you saying you stayed on an older version, how did you do that ? My update settings are “ask first”, but Avast does the upgrade without asking, and THEN tells me. Did you switch to manual ?
I have the default installations of the free versions of Anti-Malware and Superantyspyware, and no, I am not uninstalling them.
Anyway, I switched to another product (for now), no time for playing games.
While I am not a big proponent of MS, and have been a user of Avast for a long time, I have to agree with MS on this. All I see here is ;we don’t know what is happening, but we know for sure it is not us. It is everybody else. “Uninstall all other programs, reboot your PC, reinstall Avast, jiggle your cables, and wiggle your ears”.
How about Avast doing something about it ?
Isn’t it time for Avast to take this seriously, instead of loosing the trust of users earned over the years ?
(he has uninstalled Avast for now)