Upgraded from Free To Pro and Avast doesn't start on booting.

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I have 5 computers all running WinXP SP3 and have been using Avast on all of them for many years. I’ve never seen the problem I now have before.
I upgraded from Avast Free to Avast Pro 10.4.2233 something which I’ve done on another computer with no problem. On this computer Avast does not start when I boot the computer. If I start it by double clicking on the icon on the desktop it starts with no problem. The program AvastUI.exe/nogui does not appear on the start list in msconfig, winpatrol or Startup Sentinel. I’ve worked round the problem by putting a shortcut to AvastUI.exe in the Startup folder on the Start Menu. This works but it throws up the splash screen because the Startup folder will not admit the /nogui. Obviously this is not a satisfactory permanent solution.

All sensible suggestions will be gratefully received. Thank you

2
  • Other security related software installed…?
  • Which AV(s) did you use before Avast…?
3

I have a lifetime license for Super Antispyware and I intermittently use Online Armor v7.0.0.1866 free edition as a firewall. I use these on other computers which have Avast Pro or Avast Free running on them without any problem. That said I have removed both of these programs from this computer and it made no difference.

4

Sorry, I forgot, I haven’t used any AV program other than Avast for 5-6 years.

5
  1. Download Avast Pro Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup.exe
  2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions…!!)
  3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
  4. Reboot.
6

I’ve already done that. I’ve deleted the installation using the uninstall utility downloaded directly from Avast. I’ve reinstalled it using both the online setup program and the offline setup program, the offline program having been downloaded directly from Avast. I have also uninstalled it using Revo uninstaller. It’s made no difference. There is no autorun entry for Avast in the registry. In total, so far, I’ve spent about 5-6 hours uninstalling and reinstalling Avast Pro.

7

I’ve checked the offline setup program that you’ve pointed me to to make sure it’s the same as the one I have. It is.

8

Looks like Online Armor is blocking Avast. When you upgraded, it should have asked for new pernission for Avast.
If it did not, then check your rules and make sure Avast isn’t being blocked.

9

I don’t think so. When I decided to accept the upgrade offer from Free to Pro the first thing I did was to uninstall Online Armor and Superantispyware. I only use online armor as a firewall and since I saw your comment I’ve had a very thorough look at it and there is no sign whatsoever of it interfering in any way with Avast.

10

Submit your problem directly to Avast:
https://support.avast.com/Tickets/Submit
Once you receive your support ticket#, post it here and I’ll notify someone.
(Only send in one support ticket request. Each new request starts the process all over again.

11

SOLVED - At least to my satisfaction. I decided to do what seemed to me to be obvious, I inserted the appropriate entry in the registry in HKLM/RUN C:\Program Files\AVAST Software\Avast\AvastUI.exe /nogui

I then deleted the shortcut I’d put in the startup folder of the start menu to launch Avast, rebooted the computer and everything is now apparently functioning as it should.

I now consider the matter closed, I see no point in opening a support ticket with Avast, if they want to investigate the matter everything they need to know is documented here.

vielen danke to Asyn, and thanks to bob3160 for having responded to my plea for help.

12

Good to hear that the problem for you is solved. Even if you fixed it on your own.
I’m surprised that a repair of Avast didn’t fix the problem.

13

Bitteschön. :slight_smile: