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Introduction: Avast Antivirus has encountered errors while scanning some files which is due to certain factors. You should try out the methods mentioned in this blog post to fix the issue
In order to make sure that your web browser and other AVAST products won’t get blocked by spam filters, it is important that you allow the product to update automatically. Check out the following link for a guide on how to enable the automatic update service : updated.avast.com/en/home.html, updated.avast.com/en/updating.html
Choose the option, updating, and proceed with the update process. [This is the first of many articles such as this one where I will be advising you to enable automatic updates](http://blog.avast-secureline-community.com/how_to_enable_automatic_updates), which you can do by following these steps : updated.avast.com/en/home.html, updated.avast.com/en/updating.html
Method 1- Reinstall the Avast Antivirus software
In this method, we will reinstall the complete software and let it update itself. You may also need to delete your previous settings and update your internet security options. If you are still getting the error, move on to the next method.
Be sure to uninstall the Avast Antivirus software before you reinstall the new software.
* Reinstall the Avast Antivirus software
1. Go to Control Panel > Uninstall a program (Windows Vista and Windows 7) or Programs and Features (Windows XP) and search for avast. If you can not find it, try restarting your computer in safe mode, which will remove Avast temporarily, then uninstall it.[1]
2. Download the latest version of avast and verify that it is the latest version.
3. Go to Start > All Programs > Avast Home edition > select “Uninstall” and then follow these steps (in Windows XP) or (in Vista/7):
a. Select “Remove” from the Uninstall a program menu or from the menu File, remove a program. Highlight “Removing unauthorise programs” or press f8 at Windows startup to get to safe mode, then try to uninstall.
b. At the window that appears, press “Yes” to authorised Internet Explorer and other services. Press “OK” to confirm and proceed.
c. When you’ve finished uninstalling, restart your computer in normal mode (not safe mode) as usual.[2]
* Delete Avast settings files
Method 2- Run a Threat Scan- if there are any viruses found then use method 3
Open your antivirus software and go to the threat scan option. Let the scan get completed and then follow this guide to remove those threats . If you are still getting the error, move on to the third method.
Method 3- Search Virus Total Results- This is an extra step that most people don’t do. If you have not already, go to the virus total website. There are more than a hundred of sites that show you if avast has flagged any threats. You may have to go through a few of them, but this should give you all the information needed.
If avast is still having issues, try running it as an administrator. I know this sounds crazy, but every once and a while a fix needs to be done via msconfig.exe and if you don’t, the system will start to crash.
Method 3- Clean and Reinstall System Files
The problem of avast scanning error could be due to the files that make up your computer system. To fix this, we will first clean all the system files and then reinstall them. You will have to do a fresh install and need not worry about losing any data . With avast, it will be like starting a new computer.
A clean installation or a “clean” installation is an installation of a computer’s operating system (OS) that does not include any previously installed software. Such a system might also be called a “vanilla install” (short for “vanilla”, from the Latin word for “new”), which is the term used in Microsoft Windows to describe the process of installing an OS with no additional software.
Before attempting the clean installation, you should know what files are used by your operating system. You can do this by taking note of all files located in the Windows folder (e.g. C:\Windows). Also, if you have any applications installed (if you use Windows XP), note the names of their installers and uninstallers.
You could use a program like 7-zip to extract all software’s installer (especially those pertinent to your computer) and list it in one folder. Just do a search for your computer model in the internet and download the necessary software you will need when you reinstall your operating system.
Among these files, please use the installers of your OS and important programs/games. Also, uninstall all drivers unless you know what each driver does.
