Avast (Home) stopped working after update

Last night i got the green popup that told me that there was an Avast program update available. So i told it to update, however it got to the point where it said "downloading servers.def.vpu" (or something along those lines). At this point it just stopped working and crashed.

I closed the process, rebooted and attempted to update it again, same thing. So I uninstalled, cleaner any left over registry entries using CCleaner and manually deleted any left over files in "program files -> Alwil Software" and then downloaded the latest version off the interweb.

I installed the new version, and it all appears fine until i try and receive my mail on Thunderbird or browse the net of Firefox. Thunderbird simply said "cannot connect to POP3 account" and Firefox just loaded blank pages. After looking around Avast i found that the following settings were causing the problems:

This is what the settings looked like after installation (although the net or mail wouldn't work)

Web Scanner:

Email Scanner:


The only way i can get the Internet or mail to work on my system is to either disable the component or remove the ports in those boxes.

Avast says it also cannot update:


The strange thing is that my other computer running the same version of Avast updated fine and the Internet and mail runs fine with those ports in the settings, seems it's just this computer....

My firewall (zonealarm) is set to allow any Avast program complete access to the Internet, and i don't believe my router is at fault as the computer updates and operates fine.

Any ideas, i'm now desperate...

 

Found the answer. Could a mod delete this please.

 

We don't delete posts here unless there's a very good reason. We would much rather you share the resolution to your problem so that others might benefit from it.

 

Hi, alex98uk.

Please post details about your fix so others with the same/similar problem who later read this thread might benefit.

IMHO, this is a much better option than deleting the thread.


EDIT: Darn it, Dave. You keep beating me! I gotta learn how to type with more than 4 fingers.

 

Do like me ......... use 2 fingers.

 

Well, okay then.

Basically Zonealarm was at fault. It showed in its settings that Avast was being let through, however, in actual fact it was being blocked, and thus it could not update or do anything really.
So i then installed Zonealarm, and taught it which programs to let through, and everything worked!

However, obviously (sods law i know), another problem has occurred, this time with what looks like the Windows Shell. Expect a new post if i can't fix it by tonight.

 

Thanks for the update, Alex!

I've run into that same problem with ZA on a few occasions too. If it happens again, with any application, open ZA to the Program Control>Programs tab and remove the application from the list, then start the application again. It should automatically prompt for access at which time you can 'teach' ZA again.

 

I tried that the first time. I removed all Avast programs and restarted ZA, but it still didn't work.

Any, i fixed my other problem by using the following commands.
Can you tell me what they do please?

******************************************************
1. Click Start, click Accessories, the right click on Command Prompt and choose "run as administrator ", then type regsvr32 jscript.dll, and then hit enter.

2. Type regsvr32 vbscript.dll then hit enter.

 

Those commands re-register the named dlls with Windows. The registry needs to have specific information in regards to a dll to use it for the function it was intended to be used for. Sometimes something may corrupt that information leaving Windows unable to use the file when needed. Re-registering fixes that information trail.

 

Wow, i didn't realise such simple commands could fix such large chunks of Windows

 

Yes .... only the tip of the iceberg too.