The last FOUR times that windows updates has installed updates, and rebooted, I get to see that avast hast the dreaded red X and will NOT restart itself. So…I have uninstalled (Aswclear) and reinstalled AVAST 5.0.507 FOUR different times. I’m not seeing too much action on these boards regarding this issue. I am pretty unhappy with this new version to say the least. I shouldn’t have to jack with this product every time Windows updates does it’s job, OR come in to find out that my PC has been running all night with no protection form the product that I have paid for. I’d like some pertinent information regarding this issue please.
While I await a response, I’m afraid I’ll be shopping around for another product. My last 3 GREAT years of protection by AVAST is being clipped because of this new version.
Any other security program that could interfere?
Can you try to repair your installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair).
Same problem here. Windows 7 Home 64bit. Avast Internet Security 5.0.507. Twice now after windows updates Avast has shown a red x says it is not started. “Urgent: avast! service stopped. The avast! antivirus program has been stopped, or is in an inconsistent state. Please re-start the program to resume protecting your system.”
Trying to start the service manually gives this error: “The avast! Antivirus service on Local Computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services or programs”. Clicking the “start program” link next to the error message causes something to run for a few seconds, and then nothing.
The way I resolved it last time was completely uninstalling Avast and reinstalling.
No other antivirus, or security programs installed. Repair did not work for me.
Running win7 64 w/ Avast! IS, this happened to me once after a Win update, but the “fix now” button worked, never happened since.
Yapp same here, Windows 7 64-bit, BUT I cant get avast working again until I reinstall, and I have reinstalled avast 3 times now and at some point avast simply puts the x on itself and does not restart (I have used the aswclear5.exe to uninstall every time).
Now ill try installing the avast 5, but not applying the software updates, as avast seemed to work just fine a while ago but not anymore.
Yeah, its Avast 5 free registered home version and I have no other protection installed except the windows’s own firewall and malicius software thingy 
Everything is working just fine now, will have to see how the Avast reacts to the windows updates again next week.
Ok, everything is not working anymore and I didnt even get windows update or anything… avast simply stopped working again in version 5.0.507 during the day, I guess ill just keep the old 5.0.418 version as it works.
Same here. Avast stopped again, wouldn’t restart, and the only way to fix it was to completely uninstall. This is the third time.
OK today is patch Tuesday…again. I have had avast pop the red X two days ago, and was able to repair the issue by selecting Fix Now.
I will let windows update run the patch that is available (malicious software removal tool update) and see what happens.
I’d like to hear that you guys have your code group looking into this issue. Uninstalling/reinstalling is not a valid method for repair.
This bug is definitely an issue with version 5.xx pro because I never had the issue with 4.xx pro. I’ll post up my results in a just a few minutes.
I’m back up after installing windows updates. It installed the Malicious software removal update, and a generic update for X64 windows systems.
To my shock My system still shows fully secured. IE NO red X. I’ll say thank you now, yet I will also be wary for a bit as these updates were not heavy
duty, so I will post up again, if I see this issue resurface.
Btw: TECH, I do not have any other security software running. I know your routine is to ask for software that may be conflicting, but
to my knowledge, there is no software on this box that is an issue. I haven’t seen a list of known software conflicts with Avast so take that for what it;s worth. 
Thanks gang,
The Heretic