Avast Firewall causes long time lag and system unresponsive in windows 8.1

Just DIY new machine last week, with fresh Windows 8.1 64bits installed. Already updated to latest bios and driver version and OS is updated too. There is no problem, it runs smoothly so far. I bought Avast Internet Security licence for my last computer, it still has year left. So decided to install avast2014 Internet Security. Then problem appears after avast installation and first time reboot my computer since then.

Right now
-Everytime when I restart computer and login my OS account, it shows desktop screen first(I set it as start sreen instead of App screen), then it stucked there, with red cross mark on Wi-fi icon on the right bottom corner .

-System refuse to do anything like open application, or windows explore folder. Searching function is still working, but whatever I searched can not be opened. Feel like the whole system is frozen.

-This problem will take about 10-15 min and suddenly everthing back to normal. System runs smoothly and Avast works fine.

The problem drive me nuts, because it happens everytime when I turn on my computer.
Once I uninstall Avast, everthing back to normal again. Problem disappear.
What a funny I bought Avast and using Windows defender at same time.

I suggest you try a clean install using the online installer…

There isn’t issues with Win 8.1 (major) as far as I’m aware…

There is currently a BETA out which is stable and [could] solve your issue but at this moment I’d suggest a clean install to see if it’s a bad install or not.

On another note, Windows Defender is useless and should be disabled as it conflicts with avast! It has low level drivers which could cause problems. A good option instead with be MalwareBytes.

  1. Download Avastclear, Rejzors uninstall tool and the appropriate Avast program edition

Note: You need to be ONLINE during this install (online installer works in all cases whereas offline sometimes doesn’t)

http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_pro_antivirus_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup_online.exe
http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_premier_antivirus_setup_online.exe

Avastclear : http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avastclear.exe
Rejzors Uninstall tool: http://rejzor.wordpress.com/avast-cleanup-tool/

  1. Uninstall Avast by control panel [If you don’t have Avast in control Panel go to #4]
  2. Uninstall in safe mode using Avastclear.
  3. Run Rejzors Uninstall Utility in Normal Mode (removes traces avastclear doesn’t) - reboot.
    Check : Once uninstalled check in device manager>view>show hidden devices if there is anything related to avast with a yellow triangle… if so, uninstall it and reboot.
  4. Install the version you downloaded.
  5. Reboot.

Hello Alikhan,
Last night, I did clean online installation by following your instruction. Seems not working, it didn’t solve my problem…

Clearly you have something wrong with your set up, maybe the bios. Are you using the Windows fast/safe boot?

I run Win8.1Pro 64Bit with avast 2014, there are no boot/loading issues.

You wrote that Defender is running? Turn that off and try again.

Hi AdrianH,
Motherboard is Asus Z87-expert with default Bios setting at moment. (well, XMP was changed to 1600Mhz other parameters are default setting)
Windows Defender was disabled before I install Avast since first time. I said running Windows Defender, because Avast is not usable at moment.
About Boot setting, I didn’t touch it so far, so I am not sure it is fast /safe boot. Depends on what OS and Bios default setting.

By the way,
I have Asus AI suite III installed, don’t know if Avast has compatibility issue with this software.

Having read a few pages selected from a Google search, I would say there is a big chance that this is your problem.

People have had many problems with it and bios/safe boot has been mentioned.

I tried to disable all non Microsoft services from System Configuration and disable all Startup application and then reboot, problem still appears.

Later I figure it out, it was Avast Firewall causes those problem. Once it was disabled. Both OS and Avast run smoothly after logging in OS. It seems I am not only person who has to face firewall issues.http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=141407.0
What I understood, Avast has fixed it in the later release. wondering if Avast still left something behind.

At moment I have to use Avast+ZoneAlarm to protect my machine.

I’m facing same problem…
Do you have VMWare Workstation (or maybe Player) installed?

That’s the problem.

ZoneAlarm and avast! have problems working together since v9.

Remove it and avast! will work.

Avast is first application installed on my machine after windows 8.1 installation, and problem appears since then…

I might not make clear enough, I don’t want to use this combination (ZA+Avast) at beginning. Avast firewall causes problem on my OS. I have to turn it off so I can use other Avast functions. At same time I need firewall to build my first defence line, so i chose ZA to play this role. At least no compatibility issue appears so far.

They are other firewall which work well too…

Such as COMODO, Private Firewall etc

As far as my understanding goes, there are issues with ZA and avast

That being said, v9.0.2013 fixed some issues so maybe the firewall is fixed in the latest version?

You never know until you try.