My computer shuts down and restarts every time I run a scan.
I had the same problem with both Mcafee and Norton antivirus programs.
Usually an error message appears Thread stuck in device driver.
I have windows xp sp2, 512 mb memory, AMD Sempron processor, version 4.7 Avast, file version 000709-0, vps file virus database1-30-07
comcast webmail. Also I am using a netgear wireless router.
I’d be grateful if anyone could give me some idea of what to do.
First of all we need to be sure that both McAfee and Norton aren’t messing the avast installation.
Mcafee has a uninstall tool that might help: http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/VSCleanupTool.exe
Norton too: SymNRT tool.
I ran both Norton and Mcafee uninstall programs, ran an Avast scan with the same result.(crash) Any other ideas?
Sorry I haven’t much in the way of positive action.
What do you mean by crash, BSOD, freeze/lock-up or black screen ?
As you say this was happening with other AVs, it is most likely that the scan is putting your system under stress, high CPU, RAM usage and possibly heat.
Can you give some more information about your system, Processor (MHz), RAM (number of sticks, 1 or 2) ?
There is a program Everest Home edition that can give you some system info and temperature data, se image. There are other programs that can do this also, there are also memory testers that but the memory under load and see if it fails.
Sorry I took so long to respond. By crash I mean the screen goes black, the computer shuts off and restarts immediately. The computer has 448MB of RAM,
994 MHz, AMDSempron Processor 3400+ (I don’t know what sticks are)
I tried running a scan in safe mode and it worked.
I had the computer checked recently and high temperature was ruled out.
The guy who worked on it found several viruses and got rid of them and installed the Avast.
Thanks for any help.
Since this has happened with two other AVs, I would say the black screen crash is hardware related, the scan will put the system under stress. The fact that it works from safe mode would also point to this as in safe mode many programs that would normally start on boot don’t. This will leave more system resources, RAM etc. for the scan.
You originally said your system has 512MB RAM but now 448MB so I assume you have on-board graphics which shares system RAM. I think RAM is likely to be the problem, though it is notoriously difficult track it down. I suggest a google search for a RAM/Memory test program, this can put the memory under load and see if it fails.
Also you might want to audit the programs you allow to run on boot, there are many programs that automatically run on boot when they aren’t essential, like media programs, they only time you need to run when you click on a media file. Par this down to those that are essential.
When you are going to run an on-demand scan close none essential programs, it will ease the memory used and increase that available to the scan.