Windows 8.1 Avast Shields Not Working and Can't Update Avast

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
21

This worked for me

  1. Download uninstall utility from Avast website here http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility
  2. Download whichever Avast program you are going to use.
  3. Run the uninstall utility
  4. When it asks whether you want to go to Safe mode SAY YES!
  5. Once in safe mode follow instructions but DO NOT RESTART!
  6. Run you Avast program (mine said that scan utility would run but I didn’t see it)
  7. Reboot into normal mode
  8. VOILA Avast will be working.
22

The procedure posted by DSouter worked for me on clean install of Win 8.0 freshly updated to 8.1. Clearly the Avast installer and/or post-install setup steps are not working correctly except in Safe Mode. After final reboot (step 8 in the procedure) Avast seems to be running OK but some functions like installing a new language don’t work.

23

The easiest way to solve this problem:

  • just start the computer in safe mode
  • find the Avast install folder
  • you can see a folder with name “1038”
  • make a new folder “1033”
  • copy the content of the 1038 into 1033
  • restart in normal mode

that’s all.