Computer freezes when first booted up and Avast updates

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Sorry, if this has been covered, but when I first boot up my laptop and Avast runs updates, my computer freezes. I have to manually shut it off. This started about a month ago. I’ve had Avast home edition for a couple of years now. And there isn’t any other anti-virus on my computer. I haven’t installed any new software, so I have no idea what is going on.

Can anyone help me? Please, keep in mind, I am very computer illiterate. So please talk to me in laymen’s terms, okay?

I run Windows XP, use Qwest high speed, and Windows Live Mail. Don’t know if this effects anything or not. Again, I’ve been running Qwest and Windows Live Mail for a few months now.

Thank you.

2

-= Hmm, try repairing your avast installation via Start Menu → Control Panel → Add or Remove Programs → Select Avast Antivirus → Click Change/Remove → Scroll down to see the Repair feature → click Repair → Next… After repairing, please restart your laptop… Hope it helps… :wink:

-= (or) do you have any other antivirus installed before avast like norton, avg or anything else…?

-= In case, it still persists, we’ll try checking for any possible infections…

3

Thank you so much. I’ll give it a try and let you know.

4

P.S. I forgot to answer your questions.

I had Norton Anti-virus before I installed Avast a little over a year ago. But, I had completely cleaned it off of my computer before installing Avast. Also, this only started a little over a month ago. Otherwise, it worked great.

Next time an update is available when I boot up my laptop, I’ll know if what you suggested worked–which I just finished doing.

Thanks again, Fenrir.

5

-= Completely removed…? You mean, with the use of Norton Removal Tool…? If yes, then that would be good to hear… :wink:

-= By the way, is the repair successful…? You may also force update via right click on avast icon in taskbar → Updating → Program Updates…

6

Try this setting.

7

Targ57.

What does setting Avast to “Delay loading of Avast! services after other system services” do? Will my computer still be protected?

Sorry, but I said I was pretty computer illiterate.

Thank you.

8

From the help files:

Delay loading of avast! services after other system services. Normally, avast! antivirus service is started quite early in the boot process. Rarely, this may cause problems with starting other system services - which could manifest e.g. as temporary freezing (for a few seconds or minutes) of the system shortly after its start. This option makes it possible to delay starting of avast! antivirus service - to make it start after the usual system services are fully loaded.

The delay is quite small, but even with this option ticked, Avast will have loaded before the user logs on. It is unlikely that a virus would magically download to your computer in the additional time taken for the antivirus to load.

Worth a try.

Also definitely worth running the Norton removal tool. I"ve seen examples of remains of old AV’s start causing a problem months down the track.

What are your system RAM and CPU?
How many other items start with Windows?
(And do you need help to determine that?)

9

Lets deal with the important bit first, your system will still be protected.

avast loads fairly early in the boot process and it may actually get there before a system service that is required, by delaying avast services until after system services, any required service should be available. The delay is minimal I believe probably measured in micro seconds rather than many seconds.

10
Completely removed..? You mean, with the use of Norton Removal Tool..? If yes, then that would be good to hear..

Fenrir, I don’t remember if I used the Norton Removal Tool. It’s been almost two years since I removed Norton. I probably went to the Control Panel and removed it from there.

Just now, when I ran a Search for Norton, nothing came up, but I ran one for Symantec and it brought up a Symantec folder. I opened it and it was a LiveUpdate folder. I highlighted it and clicked to delete it, but a screen popped up asking me if I was sure I wanted to remove it as some things on my computer might not work if I did. So I didn’t.

So, not sure what to do now.

Also, so far what you suggested worked. I’ll be able to tell for sure after I’ve started my laptop a few more times. It’s only freezes when I boot up and Avast! runs an update upon starting it. If it runs one after the computers been on for awhile, it doesn’t freeze. Very strange, for sure. :slight_smile:

I will keep you informed.

I also forced the update and it said it was updated already.

Thank you so much for your help. I deeply appreciate it.

11

Targ57

Also definitely worth running the Norton removal tool. I"ve seen examples of remains of old AV's start causing a problem months down the track.

What are your system RAM and CPU?
How many other items start with Windows?
(And do you need help to determine that?)

I’m not sure if this is what you’re asking me or not, but when I right click on My Computer, I found this information:CPU 2.20GHz 2.10GHz, 248 MB of RAM

I will most definitely need help in determining what other items start with windows.

Thank you so much for your willingness to help me.

Have a great day… or evening, depending on where you are.

12

Thank you, DavidR.

13

You’re welcome.

14

Where do I find the Norton Removal Tool, please?

I said I was computer illiterate. :frowning: Not completely, mind you, but I definitely need instructions in Laymen’s terms.

I was surprised that to read that it could interfere with Avast! even months later. In this case, it would be nearly two years.

Again, thank you everyone.

15

A link worth looking at, which is a program removal tool that can remove the remnants of a number of different Norton Programs:
Removing your Norton program using SymNRT

16
I'm not sure if this is what you're asking me or not, but when I right click on My Computer, I found this information:CPU 2.20GHz 2.10GHz, 248 MB of RAM
248MB of RAM is not really enough, and is the main contributor to your problem. Just the OS (Windows) will be using a large percentage of that, without additional programs running. RAM is a relatively cheap investment that can provide a new lease of life to an (otherwise healthy) aging computer. It needs to be the right kind of RAM, and I'm not particularly au fait in this area; I just upgraded by purchasing direct from the guy that built my computer, then watching as he installed it.
I will most definitely need help in determining what other items start with windows.
Disabling un-needed items from starting with Windows can make a noticeable difference on an aging system. There are a lot of programs that default to starting with Windows, even though the user might only need them running a small percentage of the time. Things like Adobe acrobat, for example. Any items disabled will load when called upon, it will just take a little longer for them to open. To find a list of what starts with Windows, click "start" then "run", type in [b]msconfig[/b] and click OK or push enter. The screen that opens looks a bit like the first screenshot. Click on the "startup" tab you will get a window that looks like the second screenshot. (You may notice that there aren't many items ticked in my example.) If you can, post a screenshot of this, or a list of all the startup items. Pretty much anything that isn't security related can be disabled. It is best to do this via the individual program concerned rather than through msconfig, where that option is available.
17

DavidR,

I don’t have the product key anymore. And I don’t even know what version it is either. I ran a search and when it showed up, I highlighted it, then clicked on delete. But I got this message:

Cannot delete AluChedulerSvc.exe Access is denied.
Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use.

Thanks.

18

Targ57,

This is the list of things that are checked under the Startup tab.
GWMDMMSG
SynTLpr
SynTPEnh
GWMDMpi
igfxtray
hkcmd
GWInkMonitor
DirectCD
REGSHAVE
WkUFind
ashDisp
sprtcmd
msmsgs
ctfmom
PowerReg Scheduler

My computer is getting old, but I hate to part with it. I’m a novelist and I use Microsoft Word 2002, and the newer computers have Windows Vista, which I 've tried and I can’t stand. Plus, many of my author buddies have nothing but trouble with Windows Vista and Microsoft Word 2007. That’s why I keep my old computer. :slight_smile:

I’ll have to check into getting more RAM installed on this computer. Now, if I could buy a new laptop with Windows XP, I’d do that.

Thanks again. I appreciate your patience with me.

19

I’m happy to help, and to research this, but I’ll be a while, as I have to leave and do stuff (shopping, work etc) soon.
If you want, Google each of those file names, have a look at some of the results (especially results that are from a forum rather than a sponsored site), do nothing (unless you are feeling confident) but it might give you an idea of what these are.
The first one, anyway, can apparently be idabled without ill-effect. From a Google search

20

In the quote box below I’ve listed all those startup processes, with a link to some information about them, and an advice of whether to disable or not.
To disable them from startup (with the exception of messenger, which can be disabled from within the program settings) run msconfig again, go to the startup tab, and remove the tick from beside each process you are happy to disable, click apply, and restart. Upon restart, the msconfig too will open again, to let you know you have made changes to the way windows starts. You can tick the box that says “do not show this message or run msconfig at start” and then click OK.

[b] Entry 1: GWMDMMSG.See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/GWMDMMSG.exe-1891.html My inclination would be to disable it form starting. Entry 2: SynTLpr. See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/syntplpr.exe-5374.html Best left alone, unless you don't have a need for the touchpad. Entry 3: SynTPEnh See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/syntpenh.exe-5373.html Your choice. Entry 4: GWMDMpi See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/GWMDMpi.exe-1892.html Once again, your choice. I'd be inclined to leave it. And probably the one above. I doubt they'r using much. Entry 5: igfxtray. See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/igfxtray.exe-2147.html I'd be inclined to disable it. Entry 6: hkcmd See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/igfxtray.exe-2147.html. We need more information about this one. It's probably the hot keys enabling process, which if you don't need, can be disabled. But it may be something nasty, so I'm going to get you to do a computer search for that file. More instructions below. Entry 7: GWInkMonitor See http://www.winvistatips.com/gwinkmonitor-process-p4208.php I'd disable it. Entry 8: DirectCD Need more information about this process. It is probably OK, probably not necessary to run, but I want to know what program it is part of. See more below. Entry 9: REGSHAVE. See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/regshave.exe-4477.html I'd disable it. But read the description: Re-enable it before uninstalling the Fuji software. Entry10: WkUFind. See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/WkUFind.exe-6873.html Can be disabled. Entry11: ashdisp. Required by Avast. Leave it. Entry12: sprtcmd See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/WkUFind.exe-6873.html Is eithrer for the Talk Talk service, or for the Dell Support centre. Either way, it can be disabled. Entry13: msmsgs See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/msmsgs.exe-3386.html I'd definitely follow the advice under the description. (But then, I don't have nor use messaging programs. Somewhat baiased, I guess. Even if you want to use it, it doesn't need to start with Windows.) Entry14: ctfmom (Did you mean ctfmon?) More info needed, as it is potentially nasty. Entry15: PowerReg Scheduler See http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/PowerReg_Scheduler.exe-4135.html I'd be inclined to disable it.[/b]

Please click “start” then “search”. Search for all files or folders.Type in hkcmd. We are hoping for one result, located in Windows System32, that is part of the intel chipset drivers. When you find the file, right click on it, and select “properties”. Looking through the different headers should tell you what you need to know.

Please confirm the “ctfmom” you posted should actually be “ctfmon” in which case it is OK, but it generally is not required to run at startup.
Also, could you do a computer search for this file, exactly as before with hkcmd, and by checking the properties, make sure it is a Ms file, and that it is in maybe 3 places: C:\Windows$Service pack uninstall$, C:\Windows\System32, and C:\ ServicePackFiles\i386.

There’s more to do, to get the 'pooter running at its best. Perform a disk cleanup, if you haven’t done this for a while, and a disk defrag immediately afterward.
Both can be found via clicking “start”, then going to “programs>accessories>system tools”. (There are also 3rd party free tools around that can do this, and they sometimes do a better job. I use Ccleaner by Piriform, and JKDefrag or Auslogics disk defrag.)

ANy questions? If not, try that, see how it’s running afterward. 'Preciate if you’d let me know. :wink: