Avast! Update causes windows to lock up and crash.

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hello everyone,
After pointlessly attempting to battle a possibly non-existant rootkit virus, I realized, that since all of my troubles - windows locking up, started with updating skype and avast (both against my will), my computer started experiencing certain issues.
While attempting to run some scan programs, I noticed that my computer ceeds locking up when avast! realtime shield is stopped. Apparently, the new avast! needs to be configured somehow. Up until now - my computer had an older version of avast - still with the blue system tray icon. I realize it’s quite old, yet it kept on updating properly. Now, as it updated to the most recent version, windows starts locking up - i.e.

Here is an example:
Shockingly enough, I tried the following:
STOP avast real time protection - “Note - Avast is not running, your system is not safe”
I launch Steam - a sandwatch appears next to the crusor, and it opens.
I quit steam
START avast on access real time protection
I launch steam - A sandwatch replaces the cursor and never loads
I am forced to reboot manually - hitting the reset button
Should I simply download an older version of avast! and disable Avast! updates?
Or switch to another anti-virus?

This seems quite similar to another user, who had a similar issue back in 2004, but never answered:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=3748.0

My system specs are:
CPU: Intel Pentium D 945 3.40 Ghz
Mobo: Foxconn 945 7AE Series
Mem: 512mbx2 RAM
Video: ASUS EAH4670
HDD: Seagate 320Gb
OS: Win xp pro SP2

Please dear forum,
help me out - due to this issue, and a number of other problems I have been experiencing - random crashes while in game, lag, etc. I will be upgrading some components, and might reinstall windows after I have secured the neccessary files. Yet I want to stick true to Avast! and keep using it - it is by far the most pleasant and compact of Anti-virus programs that I have used

Thanks in advance,
Martin

2

hello,

1 update to XP SP3
2 uninstall Avast and re-install from scratch
3 you don’t have much RAM… but I suppose that you can’t install more on your motherboard.
4 don’t refer to a 2004 post :wink:

3

Thank you,
I am considering SP3 or Win 7
I am attempting to reinstall avast right now
I will be upgrading my RAM to 2Gb this week
Sorry about the post - was the only one I found relevant

4

Hey,
I uninstalled Avast, and addittionally, removed quite a few unused files, alongisde defragmentation I freed up ~40Gb. Despite the fact that I previously had over 50% free, alongisde a reinstall of Avast! My system is running very well. No crashes, yet at least.
Thanks for the help - you solved my issue in a few minutes, while other forums got to the conclusion that I must do a full wipe of windows ::slight_smile:

Thanks a lot guys,
Martin