Today when I faced this issue myself, then I thought of posting this feedback. There are many many forums out there complaining about Avast.
I appreciate Avast for giving the free antivirus and I recommend to many people. But it gets tough for all Avast fans/supporters to justify when recommended friends, colleagues, family members, etc. face issues like the ones mentioned below.
If you guys can think I can be of help for testing, etc. To make the product better, Please let me know I will be happy to contribute.
The simple answer to this problem has nothing to do with Avast.
Simply boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode. Then reboot into regular mode and the problem will be history.
If you need help with booting Windows 10 into safe mode, take a look at the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb5n6kTqQ1A
I too have had this same problem. After quite a bit of hunting around I found a post that says you should remove your anti-virus software to fix the problem and a few sites seem to be pointing the finger at AVAST saying that their software seems to be causing the most problems. Although this might not be caused by AVAST lots of people are pointing the finger at them!
I found that after removing AVAST my computer immediately performed some Windows updates. We’re these being blocked by AVAST and so inadvertently causing the problem? My computer is now working well again but has no anti-virus installed. Not a good situation! Is it safe to re-install some AV (ideally AVAST again) or will the problem come back immediately or the next time there are Windows updates to be installed? If you have any experience of trying to do this what did you find?
It’s a Windows 10 Problem as already pointed out in the post before yours.
Simply follow those directions and you’ll be good to go. Since the fix requires that you boot into Safe Mode and, since a clean install of Avast also involves going into Safe Mode,
someone made the wrong assumption. We all know that one should never ass u me.
I think its related to their firewall or firewalls in general because I upgraded to paid version which includes firewall and started having problems then I uninstalled it and went back to free version and so far so good. Have not seen a good answer yet as to why one version of avast works and another doesn’t. I guess if anyone is out there using the free version and having these problems then its only a matter of time before I start having errors again.
When I called Avast tech the only solution they had was: “Why did you upgrade to Windows 10? Go back to windows 7!” Sorry, I was on windows 8 professional, but since he made the statement without hearing me out, it was apparent he didn’t want to listen.
Yeah, the reboot into safe mode and restart works ONE TIME for me.
I have uninstalled then reinstalled Avast 5 times now and believe I am about done with this.
I have solved the issue, remove Avast and don’t reinstall it.
I went for 2 months without the problem. Figured I would see if Avast fixed it yet … NOPE!
Don’t cover over the failure. You can’t fix a mistake until you own up to it. It’s your error, embrace it and fix it.
Am I angry about the problem? No.
Am I angry when people lie to me? YES!!!
The problem is with Avast. 3 computers with windows 10, and this problem. One computer with windows 8, no problem.
For the 2 months I was without Avast, I used Windows Defender … no problem, but prefer having the option of a boot time scan, unavailable anywhere else.
I’ve been looking at Vipre if this problem isn’t addressed and fixed. Haven’t read anything about their having problems with Windows 10.
What I do not understand is why, when I have AIS and windows 10 build 10576, have never experienced this problem in any shape or form, and I have been running 10 since the first preview… If it was Avast related then I would experience it which would suggest that you need to be running the right (wrong ) combination of programmes to trigger the error. But, the question is what is the programme combination ? I run no other security or privacy software. My start up just has Avast, a theme changer and Flux
You didn’t speak to Avast but to a “tech” at a third party support group that didn’t know anything except what’s written in his cheat book.
The problem happens on computers that have never had Avast installed on their systems. It’s a Windows 10 Problem.
I’ve not had the problem again in the current Preview Builds. (I’m currently using 10576)
Using the Avast removal tool (aswclear) reboots your system into Safe Mode (with networking) and therefore utilizes the recommended Microsoft
fix for the Start Menu and Cortana problem.
I’m also on Windows 10 and no issues with Avast 2015 or even Avast 2016 Beta. But, indeed, I have an issue on first upgrade to Windows 10 if I remember correctly. I’m uninstalled Avast and installed again… Not that much pain as we can backup/restore Avast settings…
Going off of your post, I just upgraded to the same build yesterday, and the issue has been persistent since a few versions back. If I can give any insight into this problem, I’m thinking it may be relative to how your system has upgraded to newer builds over time.
With this particular computer, a bad build upgrade forced me to start over fresh with Windows 10 on a post-main release insider build. Since around that time, I’ve had this issue with Avast. Prior to reinstalling, Avast worked just fine.
Going further into this, I’ve noticed similar situations presented by Windows 10 itself in relation to upgrades and clean installs. Using older builds way back when, I continued to upgrade to newer insider builds as they were released. In doing so, I noticed small bugs arising that should not have existed, such as the Settings and Power buttons being missing from the Start Menu, like in older builds, when they should have reappeared. Reinstalling the same build fresh resolved it. I also remember Microsoft recommending Insiders to use released ISO’s to reinstall their insider build systems clean every so often to avoid any upgrade bugs.
Knowing what I know now, it is leading me to believe that somewhere in Windows 10, in some sort of specific scenario like this, Avast is triggering an existing Windows 10 bug, (whether it be Avast’s fault or Microsoft’s is yet to be seen). That being said, I think a better permanent solution should be sought out rather than everyone arguing over who is at fault. Either Microsoft or Avast is going to need a fix or workaround for this, and with them both pointing blame elsewhere, it isn’t going to happen. I say we, as a community, attempt to research the issue in our own scenarios, and try to find a common ground that leads to a solution, as we have done in the past. Clearly something is wrong on someone’s end. It doesn’t really matter who made the mistake or created the issue so long as it gets resolved quickly and efficiently.
I would like to also point out that, for the sake of research, that I have also read CCleaner as being at fault for this. I also have this application, and I had it before and after every upgrade mentioned in the previous half of this post, (which was installed alongside Avast, but was only run manually). Given the number of people reporting this issue with Avast, I’m doubting all of them have CCleaner, but to say that Microsoft is entirely at fault may not be fair. Obviously the OS has a bug in it, but the trigger is still unknown. It could be multiple different kinds of software out there, Avast and CCleaner included, that cause it to arise. If Avast finds a solution, it could eventually be shared with the other applications causing the issue. (Now that seems like even more reason for us to figure this out, if you ask me).
For what it is worth, this issue also only affects me personally after running the computer for an extended period of time. I often also hibernate it now, and sometimes come back to it being turned on by itself for unknown reasons. I’m doubting that this relates to the issue, but maybe it can provide some common information to diagnosing the problem.
@SugarD-x,I’ve experience this problem with a new clean install of Windows and with upgrades from both Windows 7 and 8.
I’ve had the problem when Avast was installed and on a system that didn’t have Avast.
The Windows insider help forum is full of posts where this happens to people who have never run Avast but are using
a different AV and also to those that only use Defender. It is a Windows 10 problem but, I haven’t experienced it in the later Insider preview builds.
This is not meant to be an end-all way to know everything there is about an AV app of course, but one thing you can look at is the percentage of one-star ratings reviews (keep in mind that “total number” is generally meaningless unless the sampling is virtually same which is why “percentage” must be used. This is because 100 one-star reviews out of 1000 reviews which by percent is 10% is by far better than the smaller 25 one-star reviews out of 100 because this equals a much higher 25% of one-star reviews reported).
With that said we find on CNET Download the following reviews:
Vipre = 43% one-star ratings, clearly not good at all LINK
Avast = 6% one-star ratings, very good indeed LINK
And for context take a look at the WD reviews, since you’ve mentioned:
Windows Defender = 25% one-star ratings LINK
Then of course CNET has review ratings for the current versions for each as well. The problem with this of course is that very often the sampling for current versions will be far too small to be very meaningful. Nevertheless Vipre does not fair well so far for the current version either tabulating 100% one-star reviews to date (only two reviews however).
In conclusion: The percentage of one-star Avast ratings is over 7X’s better than the one-star ratings for Vipre, for what its worth. All AV apps are going to have their share of complaints which comes with the territory, that said, Avast does actually fair very well in this regard (however admittedly the current Avast version suffers more than it has in the past so far).
I have my complaints with Avast of course, but with that I still stick with what I feel is a good thing regardless.
Wow, I’m at a loss as to why you continue to express so much rancor towards me. That said, as to you’re “off topic” characterization, you might go back to my post and notice (if you read more carefully) that I was responding specifically to ONLY this extracted part of Dijenga’s post.
So Bob, you do see the context, right? You’ll notice the references to these two other AV competitors. So how is my post “OFF TOPIC”? I see no problem offering an opinion that might be helpful regarding what was posted, DO YOU?. And I would add that pointing out how well Avast is rated by comparison should be something you of all people would appreciate.
With that out of the way, I try to be as understanding as the next guy, but you are habitually referring to the term “novel” regarding my posts, yet just in this topic alone you have replied to a post by SugarD-x that had 565 words as opposed to my post with 301 words. You might also notice that there were two other posts with 189 and 220 words that you’ve replied to as well. Let me be clear these longer posts do not bother me at all, however it appears that for some reason mine certainly do uniquely bother you. Btw, who made you the word-count monitor anyway? (just a bit of humor Bob)
Bob, do you think maybe we could have a little more comity between us if possible as opposed to the apparent animus you frequently express towards me?
I want you to know that I always do appreciate very much your helpful comments and I would like to say that it would be nice if we could keep it that way and perhaps you could please refrain from the repeated inexplicable expressions of hostility towards me if at all possible, what do you think Bob?
I was bit with the “Critical Error: Start Menu and Cortana failed to start” this morning. Uninstalling Avast got me back in operation. I’ll be running Windows Defender as much as I dislike it until this is sorted out. I’ve seen where Avast apparently believes the issue is on the the Windows 10 side, but around 90% of the posts I read when troubleshooting the issue mentioned Avast by name so it appears to be some conflict between the two. It would be nice for Avast to have a 90% market share, but I know that is not the case.
Just as background, I have used Avast for years and have recommended it to friends and family. I have carried three licenses to Avast Internet Security with licenses on auto-renewal (I have over two years to run on the current licenses) and have Avast Mobile (great app) loaded on our Android devices. I’m pulling for Avast to work with Microsoft to get this sorted out, but for now regrettably, I’ll drop back to something else until the issue is corrected.
The computer currently affected is a Windows 10 recently upgraded from Windows 7 Home Premium. It ran flawlessly until this morning. I’m running and I7 processor and am 64bit.
The computer currently affected is a Windows 10 recently upgraded from Windows 7 Home Premium. It ran flawlessly until this morning. I'm running and I7 processor and am 64bit.
I initially tried the usual method from the Windows 10 icon on the lower left hand side of the screen ignoring Windows 10’s offer to retry (for about the 5th time). That did not work (assuming that is tied to the Start menu error). I have RevoUninstaller loaded on my computer as well. Opening RevoUninstaller and the clicking the Avast! icon got me to the Avast! Uninstall/Repair menu. I don’t know what I would have done after that other than maybe make this my 3rd Linux computer. Seriously, I would have been back for more research.
