Avast gobbling up all computer resources

system · 2015-09-10T00:39:54.000Z

I’m using Avast Free on Windows 8, and it keeps going into these cycles, prompted by nothing I can identify, when Avast is suddenly using all the computer’s resources. I’ve started keeping the Task Manager open at all times specifically to track this: it begins with 100% of Disk space being used, whereas it normally runs at 10% or less, then Memory usage swells to about 95% and bounces around in that area, with CPU usage spiking briefly but repeatedly to close to 90%. Avast is the program at the top of all of these lists when it happens. This goes on for at least half an hour; there will be periods of about ten minutes at a time when the whole computer is basically locked up because Avast is gumming up absolutely everything. It happens every hour or so.

The only way I can stop this is to shut Avast down from the task manager, which I don’t like doing because it leaves me unprotected. This has only started happening in the last few months, and only gotten really bad recently. I haven’t changed anything with Avast or my system in that time. I’ve used Avast for years previously and never had a complaint with it.

I’ve looked for other threads on this issue and found a few, but all more than a year old, and none of the solutions offered have helped. Anyone have any ideas? This is making my computer all but unusable; it’s worse than a virus.

Pondus · 2015-09-10T05:46:24.000Z

could it be windows 10 downloading in the background activity? … avast will of course monitor all activity in your computer

REFT · 2015-09-10T11:12:12.000Z

I am having the same issue. My computer became unusable even after re-booting. I couldn’t do anything as the CPU was being used by avast. Disabling shields had no affect on the cpu usage. I’ve had to uninstall Avast. I’m also concerned because I tried to do a chkdsk and Windows won’t do that due to ‘recently installed software’ stopping autochk working on a re-boot. I think the only software that I’ve recently had installed was an Avast update. I’m using Win7 and I’ve told it I don’t want to update to Win10 having had nothing but problems on my other machines with the upgrade failing all the time.

system · 2015-09-10T13:49:21.000Z

It’s definitely not downloading an update; I continue to decline that every time it offers to. I have satellite internet through Hughes and have a strict data limit. There’s no way I could download something as hefty as a new OS.

REFT · 2015-09-10T18:37:15.000Z

Having uninstalled Avast, on reboot the chkdsk ran okay. Previously I had tried rebooting a number of times without any luck.

system · 2015-09-11T18:45:49.000Z

This is still going on. Does no one have any ideas? Surely somebody has seen and resolved this problem before.

system · 2015-09-14T16:55:08.000Z

Still no response to this, but fine, there’s been a change anyway.

Now, Avast is no longer messing with my disk or memory, and also isn’t going in cycles. Instead it’s constantly using 100% of the CPU.

If nobody has any insight into this problem, can somebody recommend another reputable free antivirus program? If I wanted to keep using something that caused me as much trouble as an actual virus I wouldn’t have uninstalled McAfee.

bob3160 · 2015-09-14T19:04:53.000Z

publiusrex2000 post:7:

Still no response to this, but fine, there’s been a change anyway.

Now, Avast is no longer messing with my disk or memory, and also isn’t going in cycles. Instead it’s constantly using 100% of the CPU.

If nobody has any insight into this problem, can somebody recommend another reputable free antivirus program? If I wanted to keep using something that caused me as much trouble as an actual virus I wouldn’t have uninstalled McAfee.

What setting changes have you made to Avast ??? What AV did you use before Avast and how was it removed ???
What other security programs are you running ??? What firewall program are you using ???
How much Ram ???

mchain · 2015-09-14T19:09:49.000Z

publiusrex2000 post:7:

Still no response to this, but fine, there’s been a change anyway.

Now, Avast is no longer messing with my disk or memory, and also isn’t going in cycles. Instead it’s constantly using 100% of the CPU.

If nobody has any insight into this problem, can somebody recommend another reputable free antivirus program? If I wanted to keep using something that caused me as much trouble as an actual virus I wouldn’t have uninstalled McAfee.

hi publiusrex2000,

Currently you are running what a/v program? It appears to be avast, but you mention McAfee. https://www.avast.com/faq.php?article=AVKB11#artTitle OR:
https://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/ Please answer bob3160’s questions.

system · 2015-09-15T10:37:18.000Z

I haven’t made any settings changes to Avast.

McAfee came loaded on my computer; it was a hassle removing it but that was done years ago.

No other security programs at this time.

Just the Windows firewall that comes with Win8.

I’m not sure how much RAM the machine has exactly; I’ve been following the resource values via the task manager. Current problem is Avast’s massive CPU usage, never dipping below 90% and frequently at 100%.

system · 2015-09-15T11:53:04.000Z

I’ve fund that the Avast “Smart Scan” that tend to run randomly, and at the most disruptive times possible, is a poorly designed resource hog without parallel.

The service is unkillable, and I haven’t found out where to disable it until such time that Avast fixes their broken code, or I leave, which ever comes first.

The problem is that it will use all the CPU it can get away with, and it appears to be running all its processing on the DPC queue, leading to massive DPC latency spikes. That in turn stops all essential system services, such as mouse, media and storage access from working.

In other words, by being that poorly designed, it is essentially shooting itself in the foot, and causing the system to become even more unresponsive.

bob3160 · 2015-09-15T12:53:01.000Z

Feynor post:11:

I’ve fund that the Avast “Smart Scan” that tend to run randomly, and at the most disruptive times possible, is a poorly designed resource hog without parallel.

The service is unkillable, and I haven’t found out where to disable it until such time that Avast fixes their broken code, or I leave, which ever comes first.

The problem is that it will use all the CPU it can get away with, and it appears to be running all its processing on the DPC queue, leading to massive DPC latency spikes. That in turn stops all essential system services, such as mouse, media and storage access from working.

In other words, by being that poorly designed, it is essentially shooting itself in the foot, and causing the system to become even more unresponsive.

I have no problems and no delays but I’m also not using old technology as you label your system in your other post.
You unfortunately also don’t give us enough information to look into it further since you’ve already made up your mind that it must be Avast.

essexboy · 2015-09-15T16:43:39.000Z

Smart scan is user activated unless you have scheduled it

system · 2015-09-30T00:13:25.000Z

Still happening. Avast just froze my computer so completely even the mouse wouldn’t move; I had to reboot it manually.

What could this software POSSIBLY be doing that uses every scrap of memory and processing power on the machine? I run video games, 3D modeling programs, music software, and other resource-intensive stuff, and I frequently have to disable Avast to do it, but nothing else locks up the computer like that.

bob3160 · 2015-09-30T10:14:34.000Z

What changes have you made to the default settings of Avast ???
When you installed Avast did you use the default or custom installation method ???
If custom what was installed and what was omitted ???

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