On prolonged computer running time (including standby and sleep mode), it may happen that when you open the Avira user interface, the message "Invalid picture" will appear with a reference to the Windows file "COMCTL32.dll".

The Avira interface does not open anymore and updates cannot be performed.

Update:
This issue should be resolved by now in most cases with one of our recent updates (Update07). Therefore, we recommend to perform a product update before you consider the steps below.

1. Solution

First, deactivate the Advanced process protection:

1. Open the Avira Control Center
2. Click on Extras → Configuration
   
   
    
3. Activate the Expert mode
   
   
    
4. Go to General → Security and deactivate Advanced process protection
   
   
    
5. Click OK to save your changes

2. Solution

In case, the description above didn't help, please follow these steps:

1. Open the Avira Control Center
2. Click on Extras → Configuration
   
   
    
3. Activate the Expert mode
   
   
    
4. Go to General → Security and disable all Product protection options
   
   
    
5. Save your changes with OK
6. Close the Avira Control Center
7. Change the setting for “hidden files and folders”. Right click on Start → Windows Explorer → go to Organize → Folder and search options → View → “Advanced settings:” → Hidden files and folders → activate “Show hidden files, folders or drives” and save the change by clicking OK.
   
   
    
8. Add to the local user full access for the Avira folder. Therefore navigate in Windows Explorer to C:\ ProgramData\Avira. Right click on the folder "Avira" and then open Properties.
   
   
   
    
9. Go to the grid, "Security" and then click Edit.... In the new window, click Add... to choose a new user.
   
   
   
   
    
10. Afterwards click Advanced... → Check Now, select the user of the Windows system and confirm the last two opened windows by clicking OK.
    
    
    
    
     
11. To the assigned user must be added the “Full control” permission, and then confirm the change by clicking OK.
    
    
     
12. Open the "Avira Control Center" → Extras → Configuration → activate Expert mode → General → Security and activate all "product protection" options. Save the configuration and do a reboot so that the feature can be activated.
    
    
     

If the problem persists, it indicates that there is another problem in interaction with the Microsoft Visual C + + Redistributable 2010 SP1.
To solve this problem, you should reinstall the redistributable package.