webshield not running. Service stopped?

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I am running Avast Free on Windows XP SP3. Webshield is not running and I am getting the message that the service is stopped but when I check my services, the Avast service is started. I have uninstalled and reinstalled Avast in safe mode and it has not helped.

Can anyone help to get the webshield up again? Are there any other services that I might have disabled that Avast needs to have running?

2

It is not good to install avast in safe mode.
Which was your previous antivirus before avast and how did you uninstall it?
I suggest an installation from scratch:

  1. Download the latest version of avast! Uninstall Utility and save it.
  2. Download the latest avast! version and save it.
  3. (Optional) If you want, save your avast! settings for later restoration (Settings > Maintenance > Back up).
  4. Uninstall avast from Control Panel (if possible) and reboot.
  5. Run the avast! Uninstall Utility saved on 1 in and follow the instructions. Reboot in Normal mode after that.
  6. Install avast! using the setup saved on 2. Boot.
  7. Register your free copy or add the license key for Pro. Or even upgrade your key from old versions.
  8. Check and post the results.

Please, be patient, boot when it’s said to boot…

3

I had already done that but just for good measure, I tried it again. Last time I didn’t uninstall it from the control panel first, and this time I did. Now NONE of the shields are on and my system is completely unsecured. :o I am probably being attacked by viruses as I type this. The buttons on the summary screen are unresponsive. In the screen for each individual shield, if I click on “start” then I get the error message “Unable to start (whatever) shield. Shield unreachable.” The traffic screen reads “Module not running.”

Now what?

4

Which was your previous antivirus before avast?
GUI irresponsibleness are generally conflicting software present.

5

This PC has always been running Avast. I reformatted the hard drive when the computer was quite new (due to other issues) and reinstalled everything I needed from disks, so any OEM anti-virus didn’t get re-installed. It’s an old system and I’ve been using Avast all along with no problems.

I was doing a bit of tinkering with the services, making sure that I wasn’t running any that I didn’t need or that I hadn’t turned off any that I might need in attempts to stay lean. The Avast service is still running but I am wondering if there are any other services that it needs that I might have disabled.

In the security permissions, I had changed ownership of the C drive from the administrator to my account but I have changed that back in case it had any impact.

I recently downloaded and installed the latest Windows updates. If they caused the issue, I think it would be widespread.

I just can’t think of any other changes that might have caused this issue to begin. I have been through all of the basic troubleshooting. This is starting to suck up a lot of time and I am just about ready to chuck this whole PC and get a new one but it seems like a real shame. Maybe I should try some other AV program? Are there any suggestions for what I should do now or how I could get Avast back up again?