Houston - we have failure to launch

[RogerR]

Everything was fine until ... AVG antivirus requested a restart.
On reboot, at the Starting Windows screen the computer pauses ... then reboots.

• Tried an MBR restore using Partition Wizard

• Tried repair options from the installed OS

• "Successfully" restored the backup image from a couple of days ago via the repair option from my install disk.

On restart - I get exact the same issue!

 

[gregrocker]

You don't say if the restart requested by AVG was due to infection being cleaned up, AVG install, or other. So we need to approach it as being either possible AVG malfunction or serious infection. AVG is no longer much favored here, instead free MSE and Avast 5 for lean lightweight AV's that work invisibly with the Win7 firewall.

Can you boot into Safe Mode to uninstall AVG then install MSE or Avast?

If not, Boot the DVD Repair Console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair allowing it to SysRestore if requested, then if it starts immediately uninstall AVG and install MSE. If this fails, directly try SysRestore from DVD/CD. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S

If neither work, try reimaging from your backup again, immediately uninstall AVG or reboot into Safe Mode to do so. If this fails, before reimaging I would mount the image in another machine's Disk Mgmt to delete AVG from Program files after taking ownership: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/566-virtual-hard-disk-create-attach-vhd.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html

Others should have additional suggestions, but if it cannot start then I would copy out my files using DVD/Repair CD, then wipe the HD of possible infection and clean reinstall:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

 

[profdlp]

Have you seen this?

AVG virus scanner removes critical Windows file | Security and the Net

When was your image file made?

 

[RogerR]

You don't say if the restart requested by AVG was due to infection being cleaned up, AVG install, or other.

No infections, just a definitions update. Rest assured, I'll be dumping it when I get back in!

The backup restore I did, went back to before the VG update.

 

[RogerR]

Have you seen this?

AVG virus scanner removes critical Windows file | Security and the Net

When was your image file made?

Obviously, I'm running 7x64 in English, not XP ... though the symptom is the same. Also, I was not prompted to delete any files. I run Avast on the other computers here ...

 

[aeroloverz]

have you read this?

PSA: Botched AVG 2011 update might be why your PC won't start today -- Engadget

 

[RogerR]

have you read this?

PSA: Botched AVG 2011 update might be why your PC won't start today -- Engadget

Thanks. I have no doubt that this is in fact my issue, and the links provided WOULD have been helpful IF THEY ACTUALLY WORKED.

Pardon my French, but what a lousy stinking two-bit operation AVG has revealed themselves to be.

After wasting another hour of my (unproductive) life loading their 147MB (!) 'fix' onto a USB drive and trying to revive my now useless computer, I am just where I was three days ago. The 'fix' ran through a few screens, terminated with a bunch of error codes, said it was unable to process 52 files, and automatically rebooted, to more or less repeat the scenario. What a bunch of bull$hit!

 

[profdlp]

Following gregrocker's general idea, I'd try a repair install. You could also try and extract the user32.dll file from the Windows DVD, though in my opinion the repair install is often simpler in the long run.

 

[RogerR]

Thanks. I have tried that but, for whatever reason, a rollback to the period before the AVG update did not solve the issue. It read elsewhere that this worked for some but not others.

Seems like if the AVG files are renamed (deleted) then normal boot should be restored, so I'm giving that a try before I resort to drastic measures. This what the fix is supposed to do.

 

[profdlp]

A repair install is not the same as a rollback or an image restore. It copies the file(s) needed right from the Windows disc, eliminating any middle-man mischief.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

 

[RogerR]

For anyone who finds this thread; the best solution to this mess is;

• here
• then uninstall AVG
• never look back

What a bunch of idiots.

Thanks to all who offered help. It was all good advice. Once I followed the procedures in step one, to prevent AVG from operating, my system booted right up into the rollback restore point.

Sadly, here it is 2 days later than the noted post, ON the AVG website and AVG still doesn't get it.

 

[gregrocker]

Glad you got it sorted. This thread will be useful for many others who will find your solution. Nice work.

MSE and the Win7 Firewall are the favorites right now around here.