Avast 6 causes PC slow start-up

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

After switching on, my Windows XP home PC takes a long time to start up and prevents other programs from running whilst Avast (Version 6.0.1289 Free) is checking for automatic updates.
Is there anyway I can edit the Avast settings to remedy this, for instance, delaying the Avast update ?
Thanks in advance.

2

To delay the update of avast into a permanent internet connection (DSL), just change (or add) AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds value into the [InetWD] section of avast5.ini file.
You could set the number of seconds to wait before attempting to update. The default is 30 but it may not be enough in some DSL systems. In this case, you can try increasing this e.g. to 60 (1 minute). That should be enough.

3

Thanks but I’ve searched the Avast folder in Program Files but can find no reference to the .ini file you mentioned above.
The only .ini files I’ve found using the search facility are :

aswdefs
Components
setup
def

Can you suggest what I can try or look for next ?
Thanks

4

It isn’t in the avast program folder, but the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Avast Software\Avast\avast5.ini (XP), this may be a hidden folder in XP, so you may have to change the folder settings to view it.

You have to use Notepad to edit it or the avast self-defence module will block you and the file would also be read only with another text editor.

5

I wonder if simply delaying Avast service wouldn’t be enough to delay the update also enough so the problems would disappear anyway.

That would be Avast main GUI → settings → troubleshooting → “load Avast services only after other system services”.

It has a “con”: the service is loaded later on, not only the download of updates. The “pro” is it’s easier to configure (directly in the main GUI, instead of editing the ini).

Of course, if the user is able to correctly edit the ini, that is much better, since it performs the exact action needed, and no other unwanted / undesirable collateral consequences are suffered.

6

Delaying the avast service will gain you fractions of a second and the avast.setup doesn’t run that quick, avast has to be running. So essentially you would be pushing the update check back fractions of a second.

The only way it might have an impact is is there is some sort of conflict occurring, which would meant it isn’t update related and that isn’t what the OP is saying.

7

I did as Tech suggested above - actually put in a value of 360 - and all seems better now.

Thanks very much.

8

You’re welcome. Feel free to come back any time you need help or just to change experiences 8)