Can I delay av def updates when I start computer

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Using Win XP, avast free 6.0.1091
When I start computer in the morning, there is a delay of several minutes (seems like much longer)while avast looks for and downloads new av defs. avast is not doing a scan at start-up and I have the “boot scan” disabled.
Since the computer has been down over night, avast always finds new av defs. During the time avast is accessing the servers and downloading new av defs, the computer is completely unusable.
The only “fixes” I’ve found suggest setting the av def updates to
“ask” or to “manual”. Setting to “ask” still causes some delay as avast checks its servers for new av defs before it “asks”; but it is better.
If I set av updates to “manual” before I turn the computer off at night; it starts normally the next morning (no delays) and then I can change avast av updates to “auto” and all is OK - but this is a PIA.
I’d like to be able the leave av updates set for “auto”; but delay checking for av defs for 10 - 15 minutes after the computer starts.
Has anyone else noticed this and has anyone found a solution?

2

Yes.

I guess you want to know how also ;D

  • In avast6 you need to edit (using notepad) avast5.ini the [InetWD] section of the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Alwil Software\Avast5\avast5.ini (XP file location). (if you did a clean install of avast6 then the folder names will differ…\Avast Software\Avast.…

  • Broadband connections, add this line:
    AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120 and
    AssumeAlwaysConnected=1 if not present (or edit AssumeAlwaysConnected=0 to AssumeAlwaysConnected=1)

[InetWD] AssumeAlwaysConnected=1 AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120
When complete save the changes, avast's self-defence module will ask for confirmation, etc. answer Yes. \avast5.ini

The figure is seconds and the above equates to two minutes, you could try that and adjust upwards if required, 180, 240, etc.

3

In all honesty though,

I think you would rather be asking "How do I speed up my computer and still have the AV definitions update when Windows starts? Several minutes of un-usability is not normal on a computer boot up with Avast. It’s important that the definitions get updated ASAP and delaying this process could compromise your computer’s security.

Do you have any other security programs on the computer besides Avast that may be interfering with the update process? What are they? Any third party-firewall? How did you install Avast? My guess is that there is something else at startup causing a slowdown, and it would be better to solve that problem, rather than to delay your protection of Avast updates.

Jack

4

I would try to set “Settings → Troubleshooting → Load Avast services only after other services”.
Maybe that already does the trick.

5

Yep.
OP should try this.

6

I agree with the above,

Before doing anything else, go to Settings, Troubleshooting:

Check the box to “Launch Avast After Other Start-Up Services” to see if that fixes your issue.

Good call!

Jack

7

Sorry guys, the Load Avast services only after other system services, is a conflict based decision, which would delay avast by fractions of a second. Plus the OP is stating quite clearly it is the actual auto update process that is slowing his system.

During the time avast is accessing the servers and downloading new av defs, the computer is completely unusable. If I set av updates to "manual" before I turn the computer off at night; it starts normally the next morning (no delays)

Since the update check doesn’t happen for 30 seconds (I believe) and that would be after avast had essentially started, I can’t see this as being a solution. There is nothing to stop him trying it, but I rather doubt it would be the resolution.

8

Let him try it, David.
Services interfering each other on load time may have funny effects…

It solved other problems one wouldn’t think to be related.

9
  1. How much RAM do you have?
  2. What is your computer’s processor? You can check here http://www.cpubenchmark.net/ to see how your CPU rates

I agree with loading Avast last

However, what other Programs and Services are loading at startup?

You can use Windows sysinternals (Process Explorer, Autoruns) to identity the Startup Programs and Services and how much RAM they are using.

  1. Load only those programs at startup that are absolutely necessary to be loaded at startup
  2. Disable Services not required and set to Manual those services that don’t need to be loaded at startup

    http://www.blackviper.com/2008/05/19/black-vipers-windows-xp-x86-32-bit-service-pack-3-service-configurations/