Hello,
On a PC running Windows 8.1 the task manager shows the disk activity at 100% during a very long time (almost one hour).
According to the Task Manager the culprit is Avast (last free version 2014.9.0.2011) which more than 66 Mbps disk activity !
Of course during this time the computer is almost unusable: any simple program is just unaccessible. When I start a program, it even does not open any window and its activity is close to zero…
A few programs are running in the PC with very few or no activity : Avast of course, Outlook, Firefox (no activity), Free Commander (no activity), uTorrent (no download or upload active), Winword (just typing a few characters in a document), and the Microsft Task Manager.
After around one hour, suddenly the disk activity comes down to zero. I have done nothing and the activity in the computer has not chaged as far as I know.
Do you have any idea what could explain this behavior ? Any suggestion is welcome.
Try the new beta: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=144768.0
Problem solved…??
Thanks for the idea. Makes no difference…
- Other security related software installed…??
- Which AV(s) did you use before avast!..??
Did you use the avastclear tool to perform a clean install ? it’s available via Asyn’s link.
I have been using the free Avast since 2000. It’s the only AV running in the computer.
I have always been using the standard install of Avast and never noticed any problem. I have noticed this problem only since the PC is running Windows 8 or 8.1. Same problem every day during 30-60 minutes. Then disk consumption falls down close to zero…
Could Windows be the culprit ?
Please refer to my previous question, If you haven’t used the avastclear tool then please do so and re-install the beta.
There were some windows updates that came out last week that fixed several issues on windows systems, some of those updates on win8.1 were also optional ( unchecked ) so check that they have been installed including the 1 important that was also unchecked.
Is the beta newer than version 2014.9.0.2011 ?
Why could avastclear fix the problem ? When I installed the latest version I ensured the folder containg the previous version was empty. And according to the description on the avast site it’s only a matter of uninstalling the product. So I wonder if it really is useful…
Sure. Just follow the link. 
So obviously you haven’t tried the beta as you said you did in reply 2 ??? if you had you would notice the version is 2014.9.0.2012
We recommend running the avastclear tool because it is able to remove some of the remnants of the previous installation before re-installing, this helps for a more trouble free experience
I want to do what has been suggested but can’t:
I have deactivated the autoprotection of Avast.
When I execute avastclear it suggests to run in safe mode. As it only is a suggestion I refuse in order to go more quickly. But then I receive a message stating that the autoprotect module of Avast is activated. Which is false according to Avast…
I wonder then what to do… Doe this procedure require in fact to be in safe mode ?
Has this been tested with the latest official (non-beta) Avast version and Windows 8.1 ?
I talked to a friend who told me that the safe mode does not work properly with Windows 8.1: one of his computer did not start after having made the required changes to put the PC in safe mode and finally had to be fully re-installed.
In such conditions then I won’t put this PC ion safe mode.
So if it is required to be in safe mode I am afraid I won’t try to run avastclear…
To start with don’t turn off the avast protection, then go to Programs and Features and uninstall avast normally first then reboot and run the avastclear tool which will automatically reboot your system into safe mode ( accept this ).
Once that has finished it will reboot back to normal mode and then you can install the beta version.
Safe mode works perfectly fine on win 8.1,if you check my signature it’s what I also use.
I have uninstalled Avast.
I have restarted the PC.
I have run avastclear.exe.
I have restarted the PC. The PC never went into safe mode. At least I have not seen this…
I have installed the beta Avast.
I have reactivated the real time protection of Avast.
I have uninstalled Google Chrome that I don’t use.
I have restarted the PC.
The disk activity is still at 100%.
So problem is not fixed !
Could it be that a scan is automatically started from Avast when the computer starts ? Where should I go to check this ?
Could you please download OTL from here http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.msg451454 following the instructions and attach the created logs back here for investigation using the Attachments and other option link found below where you write your posts.