I use the Home edition. If the set my virus database update is set to automatic and I turn on my connection, some other programs (firefox, winamp, maybe more) don’t run until i think the update is finished.
I can’t even start the taskmanager.
After ~30 seconds it all starts and I see in the taskmanager, that avast.setup uses some cpu-resources, after a few seconds, the process is gone (so I reason that the update causes the block of the programs).
Is there any other idea instead of turning the update to manually?
By the way, the problem occurs since about 3 weeks.
I have a connection of about 10Mbit/s.
As the taskmanager starts, i see a cpu use of less than 10%.
After i connect to the internet, for about 30 seconds some programs don’t start, taskmanager included. After that time, programs start and i see in the taskmanager the avast.setup process for some seconds, then it’s gone.
I have no other security software installed and I’m using the win xp firewall.
And if I recall right, the problem didn’t occur when i set the vps update to manual.
Is windows automatic updates are on?
If it is on, turn it off.
If windows automatic updates are on, windows will find updates once you’re connected to the net. That really will make your system hang for a few minutes while windows checks for updates.
I had this experience before; and as I observed, it has nothing to do with Avast.
If windows automatic updates are off, you can still update windows via MS update or turn on windows update and let it check for updates and then download the updates you need.
@ brueggz
Well setting it to manual is effectively disabling it, so if there was any conflict, removing one element of it would resolve the issue but it doesn’t determine the true culprit.
The windows XP firewall shouldn’t get in the way as it provides zero outbound checking/protection.
Does this happen shortly after boot ?
As with an always on, broadband connection it would be established very soon after boot and avast would detect that and check for updates. However this is still a relatively bust time for the system, so I don’t know if this is a contributory factor.
Both our systems are similar I’m using XP but my CPU whilst only core 2 duo at 2.8Ghz and RAM of only 2GB are close enough for comparison. My being on dial-up should actually make things slower but I just don’t see it. I also have a resident anti-spyware and my firewall does provide outbound checking, so in theory that should further slow things, but again no appreciable change.
I did make a change to my update check, not because of any problem but to be able to quickly jump on-line and collect email, etc. without the auto update check being initiated. I don’t know if that might help you but it depends if the problem just happens on the first auto update check after boot. If you remain connected then avast would check for updates again after 4 hours, if this happens do you notice any slowing at that point ?
As RZPogi mentions (something I forgot) Windows Update can really put a spoke in the wheel close to Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday and that was last Tuesday. Me on dial-up I’m noticing it as after 7 days WU still hasn’t finished downloading and installing my 8 security updates, 6 done 2 to go.
While David’s computer is a little “faster” than mine (see my signature below), I am also on dial-up with a normal 52k connection. Avast is always set for automatic updates as is Windows also. Still, I see no problems such as brueggz is experiencing. Everything loads as it is suppose to load. I browse the internet while avast automatically updates, Windows updates, etc. all without even noticing any slow down of the computer.
SO, there is something else going on with brueggz’ s computer. I suggest the same as Eddy.
To Brueggz -
Please download HijackThis from the link below. Do not download HJT to the desktop but instead download it into it’s own folder on the hard drive.
Run the program but do not make any fixes and then post the log results using the “copy & paste” method. It will probably take more than one post to be able to get the complete log posted.
OR, you can post it as an attachment to your post by clicking on “Additional Options…” below left of the posting box. Someone will review your log and then offer help.
Winupdate is deactivated.
I have no automatic connection, so it starts after i connect manually. Well I forgot to say, that it doesn’t slow down every time after connecting. Thatswhy its likely that the slowdown only happens, if an update is found.
I just started taskmanager first, (update on automatic), connected and avast.setup startet, but all programs worked and the process was gone pretty fast (so no update available). And there was no report.
So last time I had tested it with setting to manual maybe there was no update available (so it might slow down after pressing update).
Here’s my highjacklog
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 22:19:22, on 20.04.2009
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP3 (6.00.2900.5512)
Boot mode: Normal
It just happened again and the strange thing is, that avast.setup started with first no cpu usage, but I couldn’t start firefox. No other cpu usage was there unless a moment, where svchost.exe had 25%.
As firefox opened about 10-15 seconds later after i wanted to start it, the cpu usage of avast.setup went to ~7% for ~40 seconds.
After a while a got the report of an update:
Information über aktuelles Update:
Gesamt-Zeit: 53 s
