Every time the pc starts Avast starts scanning.
How do you change this option please?
I’ve looked in the settings and can’t seem to find any option for stopping the scanner running when the pc is turned on.
avast is an on-access/resident scanner and that is the whole point of a resident anti-virus.
avast scans files that are opened/run and that includes files run on boot (after the point avast starts), this is an essential time for an AV to scan as it will hopefully stop a virus starting and getting established.
You don’t mention anything about your system or the number of scanned files (Standard Shield, Detailed view Scanned total: check this after boot completes). ?
Or is this scan happening before windows starts, which would be very strange as this is a one shot deal, after the initial installation or if you schedule it (boot-time scan), so we need to know exactly what it is that is going on.
OS XP SP2
I understand how antivirus works. I am specifically askinging why it is running a scan on each restart.
I’m actually trying to help a friend through email so I am not at the PC. They just installed avast. Here is what was said.
Do you mean that avast start scanning every time you start the computer?
yes Avast start scanning everytime I start the pc during booting up- before the desktop launches
I haven’t got a clue what scan it is that you are talking about it could be the regular on-access scan or the boot-time scan (which shouldn’t run on every boot).
Which is why I have asked the question about the scanned total as that indicates how many file it scanned during boot.
I somehow doubt that a boot-time scan is happening or your friend would no doubt have said that it takes a very long time, almost as long as an on-demand scan, depending on his system specification, data on the hdd (no mention) so from 20 - 60 minutes.
If your friend has just installed avast the boot-time scan would be done to try and give a clean start state, but that scan ‘shouldn’t’ happen every time, so we need to know which type of scan it is.
Trying to help via a third party is painfully slow.
Trying to help via a third party is painfully slow.
Agreed! That’s what I get for recommending avast! 
Oh well, it’s worth it.
I see what you are getting at in the different scans now.
Sending a new message now and will post back with new answer.
Is this avast Home or avast Pro?
avast Home.
It was determined that they had selected the option to do a boot scan after restart when installing the software. Everything is OK now as far as I know.
Thanks guys!! 8)
You’re welcome.
I suspected it might be the first boot after installation, having elected to run a boot-time scan without really knowing what it would be.