avast slowing PC to a crawl after boot

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Avast is slowing my PC to crawl right after boot. I have to wait about 2 minutes after everything loads before I can do anything. If I shutdown avast, I can start working right away. I tried delaying the update check for 3 minutes after booting and although the delay works, the slowdown is still present.

I boot my PC and wait till the avast and kerio firewall system tray icons load. These are the only things I run at start-up. Then if I try to open a word document, it takes about 2 minutes to open and then my PC will return to normal. If I shut down avast services during this period, word opens immediately and my PC returns to normal.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

2

Uncheck the option to scan dynamic libraries on load and test… Since avast! version 4.7.807 the Standard Shield has a feature called do not scan system libraries (by default on) that dramatically decrease the number of files scanned during computer boot.

Use Startup Delayer.
to control the windows startup (Windows 98\Me\2k\XP) that does not follow a strict order.

3

In mine, the feature is called SCAN DYNAMICS LIBRARIES ON LOAD. I unchecked this and rebooted. It didn’t help at all. The PC is still crawling after boot for a couple minutes…unless I terminate Standard Shield.

The Startup Delay program wouldn’t help here as I only have avast and kerio starting up and I wait until those are loaded before I even try to open Word.

4

What is the “Scan count” for Standard Shield after the computer boots and is ready to be used?
Normally, the number shouldn’t exceed couple of hundred.

5

“do not scan system libraries”

Where do I find this option and how do i get to it?

Iwish to make sure it is disabled,

Thank you,
robert

6

Right click the ‘a’ blue icon.
Click ‘Details’ (to show them).
Click on Standard Shield at left and Customize button at right.

7

Gotcha!

Thanks,

Unchecked that option,

“scan system libraries”

Robert

8

And what the results under booting?

9

The “do not scan system libraries” check box is actually on the 2nd tab (Scanner [Advanced]). It should be TURNED ON by default (i.e. system libraries are NOT scanned by default - making things a bit faster).

10

Good catch,

My bad, I found the proper option and the 'do not scan… ’

I also rechecked to allow the scanning of dynamic libraries,

the ‘do not scan system libraries’, in the scanner advanced options is checked hopefully to save cpu when I start up from boot.

Thanks,
robert

11

The scan count after booting is 54. The “do not scan system libraries” check box on the 2nd tab (Scanner [Advanced]) is already checked.

12

54? That’s not too much, actually!
In this case, it’s hardly the Standard Shield that’s making things slow.
You could try disabling Standard Shield altogether and see if the boot time improves.

Alternatively, I’d also recommend trying this “fix”: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=26870.msg219232#msg219232

Cheers
Vlk

13

I’d like to know more… what does this registry keys exactly do?

14

yea…it’s the standard shield. When I try to open a word document and everything seems halted, I disable standard shield and the document open right up. I just downloaded the reg fix you recommended. What does it do exactly?

15

The reg fix causes the avast service to start EARLIER than normal.

16

Oh I see, the service dependencies I suppose.
Ok. Can the other users just make a test if this trick speed up the boot or, on contrary, it will help just the ones with known problems (logged into avast, for instance)?

17

If we try this reg fix, how can we revert back to normal if it doesn’t help or makes things worse?

18

If this is correct (and I don’t doubt your word), is there not a case for having it as the default in future program updates ?

19

Thanks David. You’ve put in better words what I’m trying to ask with my poor English.

20

Your welcome, my thinking why have a few test it if it works it really should be the default unless there is some other possible impact/effect elsewhere.

I will try the fast-start.reg and see if there is any difference, possibly not as I’m not having any issues. I have exported my avast! antivirus key pre-fast-start so it it will be easy to revert or use my disk image back-up I took today.