AvastSvc.exe very high CPU slowing everything down

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi,
I have a quite old (6-7 years) HP Compaq dx2250 Microtower AMD Athlon 64 x2 Dual Core 4400+ 2.29GHz 1.87 GB RAM with XP Pro 2002 SP3

It’s Business & home use, business being sign based mainly using FlexiSign Pro 8.1 & rarely Photoshop & Illustrator CS11. Also mainly using Microsoft Office 2003 for accounts etc.

I have avast IS 2015.10.2.2214 all up to date & Malwarebytes Premium 2.0.4.1028 & they both currently seem to be eating my CPU.

I appreciate that the pc may be a bit slow as it’s old & probably overloaded & I really should get a new one but funds don’t allow at the minute so would like to keep it going as long as I can.
It’s gradually, over I suppose the last year particularly, getting slower & slower along with the occasional major crash (as in just switches off instantly!! That can’t be good?) But in the last week or two it’s just got almost unworkable & when I just checked task manager Avast is waving between 50 - 98% CPU & mbamservice 20 - 40% System 0 - 10%

I’ve long been tempted to wipe the drive & do a clean install of everything, but I just really don’t have time & not sure it would solve anything.

Just took about 20 mins just to write this as its constantly pausing!!

Any help much appreciated.

2

try same as here https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=168351.0

you may also scrub it with CCleaner to remove any crap files https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
remeber to uncheck the toolbar install if you dont want it … or use the slim installer found here https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/builds

3

You need to edit the websheild.ini file. More info here: https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=143711.0

4

Thanks Pondus, I’ll try the re install. Forgot to mention I have CCleaner & use it regularly.
Will also edit the websheild.ini suggested by indest when it’s reinstalled & will let you know how I get on.

It seems to be a random issue as it’s perfect again at the minute & when I temporarily disabled all active protection a while back & checked the task manager it had changed to System Idle Process using 90% CPU!! What’s that all about? In fact it’s currently showing SIP at around 50% & Mbam at 40% but it doesn’t seem too hesitant. Could there be another issue here do you think?