Followed the instruction to download latest free version of avast as got message saying current licence would expire. Installed OK and selected re-boot option. On re-boot appeared to be starting OK. Got to Windows screen, but then things started to go wrong. Could open the Avast control panel but that was it - everything froze from there - could move mouse but nothing else. Task Manager would not work nor would anything else - had to poer off and back on. This did not stop the problem - so ended up booting into safe mode and removing Avast! This sorted the issue out. Have currently re-installed an old version of Avast and am working again. Anyone else had this issue?
I suggest an installation of version 5 from scratch:
- Download the latest version of avast! Uninstall Utility and save it.
- Download the latest avast! version and save 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.
- Check and post the results.
I have followed these steps and still get the same problem 
I used the uninstall utility to remove the current version, then after the re-boot I installed the downloaded V5 (free version). I managed to get this registered as it did not ask me to re-boot. I then re-booted and on startup it froze again as before - had to use system re-set then safe mode to enable me to remove V5 and then re-install v4.7 (which was the latest downloaded version I could find).
hi I was about to post a closely related V5 effect so will now followup here. The system boots (always) and XP sp starts up and all icons appear. However double clicking any icon does Not start the associated program! The PC is effectively frozen in that no programs can be started. The mouse icon is still active and tracks on the screen. An hourglass icon appears on attempted program start - but as I say the hourglass stays there and the program never starts. If I turn off avast - the above behavior never happens. A reboot is the only fix.
I would estimate this happens on about 50% of the PC restarts.
I may be way off here, but the bios seems affected in some way because if I use the bios option “restore all defaults” then the PC boots ok. As I say though, if I turn off avast, not of the above happens.
NB Have also had a few bsod down to aswsp.sys and am off to post a minidump as asked for in a thread nearby,
Which other security related software is running on your system…??
asyn
Problem symptoms very similar to alpha9
System is Dell Inspiron 1510 running WinXP SP3 with all updates applied.
Also running ZoneAlarm firewall free version.
Have been running avast! free since Feb 08, upgraded as prompted to 4.8.1367.
Followed upgrade banner to avast 5. Including Google Chrome install. No obvious problems in installation - although no database update message following installation.
Following reboot, double click on application icons caused wait cursor change for a few seconds, then no further action. Task manager ran once. After clicking a couple more icons, nothing worked - not even start menu. Could not restart Task manager. Only way to shut down was hard power switch.
Repeated.
Booted to safe mode and returned to pre-installation restore point. Avast 4.8 reported as not working. Three avast services present in Service Manager, but all failed manual start. No Avast entry in Add/Restore programs menu, so uninstalled as in Tech’s post above (uninstalling V5). Windows start bar reporting no antivirus installed.
Reinstalled V5. Install worked fine, followed by confirmation of database update. No direction to reboot. Applications appear to work OK - several starting up as expected and internet access OK.
Reboot computer and application freeze comes back - run Windows explorer (just about) but nothing else - Management Console does not run. Task Manager does run, showing no new processes when attempting to start new applications. Start menu works this time, but no control panel applications or shutdown process.
Rebooted into safe mode and uninstalled Avast (this time present on Control Panel).
Now running AVG free.
Dropping ZA would have done the trick…! 
asyn
I am also running ZoneAlarm. Do not wish to turn this off if this is what is causing the problem.
As you wish…!
But there are many other free firewalls available, that run well with avast… (pc tools, comodo, etc…)
asyn
@ retep and gn,
When you did your uninstall of Avast, you also needed to uninstall versions 4.0 and 5.0 do to a clean install with the Avast Uninstall Tool.
Please follow these instructions:
- Save a copy of newest version of Avast.
- Save the http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility on your hard drive.
- Disconnect from the Internet at this time.
- Uninstall Avast through “Add/Remove Programs”.
- Boot into Safe Mode and run the Avast Uninstall Tool and remove both versions 4.0 and 5.0 antivirus.
- Reboot twice.
- Clean your computer up.
- Install the newest version of Avast (5.0.545) and reboot twice.
- Get Internet access and update Avast definitions.
- Register your copy or add the license key for Free Pro or AIS.
- Reset your settings, if needed.
Please let us know if you have any further questions or problems after completing the above.
You can also try the latest PR build.
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=61045.0
asyn
Thanks, SafeSurf, for the suggestion - will try again following those instructions. Have not been around for a couple of days and will not get to attempt until tomorrow at the earliest now.
Also, Asyn, as far as ZoneAlarm is concerned - why should I change from using something that I have been using quite happily for many years? Surely if Avast and ZoneAlarm have issues working together then that should be resolved - and as it was the latest version of Avast that caused the problem then that is where I would expect the problem to be resolved! However, until I have tried the instructions to the letter, it may not be the case.
My personal experience is a very bad response from Zone Labs.
It’s disappointing: no acknowledge, no improvement, no dialog.
avast team had tried in the past. Seems they don’t want to dialog.
OK - so I have gone throught the instructions step by step. Followed steps of removal and then installed V5. Took the re-boot after this… but this re-boot had the same issues as before - windows dekstop froze again.
The tried the same again with the beta version of 5.0.590 - same result.
Have once more gone back to v4.7. What a waste of time this is becoming.
As I still don’t know much about your system, I ask again…
Which other security related software is running…??
asyn
Maybe Soluto could help you troubleshoot your boot times.
I think, like Asyn, that something is conflicting with avast.
Perhaps you might also be dealing with some malware causing a problem. If you don’t already have an on-demand scanner that checked for malware, please install the FREE version of MBAM http://www.malwarebytes.org/ and run a scan to see if you have malware. If so, please post.