Windows XP forum: Favorites drop off, Message boxes are blank, Icons change

"C drive with Avast antivirus"
"I have run a Windows Essentials security scan"
"I scanned the Registry it was squeeky clean"

These are quotes from above. Quoted the above to help troubleshoot your system.

Avast! just recently updated their a/v from version 7.0.1426 to 7.0.1451. Some users at avast forum are reporting memory leaks with symptoms similar to yours, text missing, etc. This memory leak is affecting only some Win 2000 and XP users. Other operating systems are not affected. I am running XP Pro SP3, and it is not affected by this bug.

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=100359.0

Are you also running Microsoft Windows Essentials antivirus at the same time? Are you using a registry cleaner?

I am not running Windows Essential real time, I run it manually. I have multiple registry cleaners, the registry seems to be clean. I am running XP sp3, I can disbale Avast and see if things improve. Thanks for the feedback.

Thanks for the Link to Avast as well. Some of the symptoms I'm getting are very similar to the descritpions on the link. Those folks at Avast have been hitting the bong way too much, they need to refocus on their software.

This is Microsoft Security Essentials a/v? Not Windows Essentials or Microsoft Windows Essentials (my typo)?

Should you run two antiviruses?

Here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-security/two-anti-virus-or-just-one-on-a-pc/e37c46e3-5ff8-48d1-8737-e73c115d3562

Not really able to fully disable Avast! as it has protective drivers that will run all the time.

Uninstall the a/v you want to remove here: http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/

Uninstall Avast! by going to add/remove, then use the aswclear.exe file, in safe mode only, to completely remove all traces of avast! from your system.

Make sure aswclearexe is downloaded only to your desktop. Otherwise, there could be problems.

aswclear.exe here: http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility Follow instructions on that page.

Avast! version 7.0.1426 appears to work without causing the problems you are experiencing.

Here: http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/11817/

Important: Use the "FileHippo Mirror" link to download the correct version! File should be 71.30 MB in size if correct. Do not use the "Download this version" link as it gives the newest version, not 7.0.1426 version.

Do all work offline, when not connect to the internet or network.

I do not use registry cleaners. I have found they can damage my os, and a clean install is the only fix.

of the operating system is the only fix. All bets are off if these are used and the system shows signs of damage.

Some of this damage can be so deep that a clean install is the only fix here.

Just so no misunderstanding happens here.

Thanks for the great advice. I understood your comments regarding the OS. I have the drive imaged so no sweat doing a recovery. Thanks for the tips on Avast and the link to filehippo, I'll make sure I re-install using your recommended version. Thanks again.

Come back here if you continue to have problems. Or if not, let us know.

New update for avast! version 7.0.1456 is here.

No rush to update. Wait a few days to see if other users are still reporting problems with this new version.

Here: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=100608.0

Funny, I checked the version as soon as I got home from work, I was on 7.0.1451. I got an update notice to 7.0.1456 at the same time. Thanks.

The funny thing is, I haven't changed a thing. I'll try the memory next, the Instruction Memory Violation may be a clue.

I've lost count of how many cans of air I've used to fix an issue like this one.