Avast v2021 & Win XP hanging at shutdown

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I run Win XP Pro SP3 & subscribe to Avast Internet Security.
Avast v2018 worked fine.
After updating to v2021 my computer shuts down correctly but takes about 10 minutes.
With v2018 it shuts down in a matter of seconds.
I raised a support ticket and did as they asked by uninstalling in ‘Safe Mode’ and then reinstalling v2021 but it made no difference. (I do know what I’m doing.)
I have now gone back to v2018 and everything is fine.

The Support Team are now ignoring my messages.
To me, Avast is now ‘NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE’.

2
  • Other security related software installed…??
  • Which AV(s) did you use before avast!..??
3

I run SpywareGuard & SpywareBlaster and there has never been any conflict with Avast.
I have only ever used Avast on this computer.
I used ‘Free’ until earlier this year when I then subscribed to ‘Internet Security’

4

First, drop them both…!!

Then:

  1. Download avast! Internet Security: http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_internet_security_setup.exe
  2. Follow instructions: http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed avast! versions…!!)
  3. Reinstall avast! with the downloaded installer from point 1.
  4. Reboot.
5

What is your reasoning for me to “drop them both”.
If this is just guesswork then it could be any number of programs that are running that could be conflicting.
As v2018 works fine then it’s Avast v2021 that has introduced a conflict.
I would like to know more detail as to what the differences are between v2018 & v2021, then maybe something could be sorted.

6
  1. You won’t need them with AIS and there might be conflicts. (I’d go with MBAM, in case you need a second opinion.)
  2. Feel free to ignore my advice.
7

Thanks for trying to help. I do appreciate it.
When you say ‘You won’t need them with AIS’ I’m sorry but I disagree.
Both of those programs are protection against specific types of security risk. For example when was the last time that Avast warned you that a site was trying to install a BHO? It doesn’t.

I have a suspicion that it may be conflicting with my nVidia software. I might be wrong though.

Another possible clue is that when I ‘shutdown’ some icons in the system tray disappear but everything else remains active including the desktop and I can move the cursor about and actually select items but they won’t activate, a window comes up with an error message. Then after about 10 minutes the ‘Saving personal settings’ little window comes up and the machine promptly shuts down.

So it would seem that Avast is not allowing a program to close.

8
  1. You’re welcome.
  2. No such problems here, so it most probably is related to your config.
9

I use SpywareBlaster. It immunizes certain things, and doesn’t run resident. There have been no conflicts with any security software.

10

Comparing the shutdown sequence of v2018 with v2021.
One of the first things that 2018 does is disconnect from my router.
Whereas 2021 it does not but instead it would appear to be sending & receiving from the net.
Is 2021 syncing or checking something before closing?

Any ideas?

11

As it doesn’t happen here, sorry but no.

12

@Sigma2
Hi!

I never used AIS for I have too many machines. I updated about 6 XP-computers from ‘9.0.2016’ or ‘9.0.2018’ to ‘9.0.2021’ Free and had no such problems.
So I think it’s not normal, that ‘avast!’ (?) is the reason of your problems.
Anywhere seems to be a mistake, that causes this problem.

HDW38

13

I’ll comment only because I run, and have run both programs (SWG and SWB) on xpSP3 and Avast Premier with no shut down, boot up or reboot issues at all.
So again, I agree about system configuration specific with something not meshing when shutting down, but originating with Avast I can’t confirm as no issue here.