High CPU Usage for avastsvc.exe in 5.1.889 (Free)

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
21

The high CPU usage is back again this morning!
I have tried to create a Dump file from AvastSvc.exe using Process Explorer as suggested but it just says ‘Error writing dump file. Access is denied.’
Any ideas on how to get the dump file to write so we can see what is happening?
I am hoping that the usage will die down again after a couple of hours, but I can’t use the computer in the meantime.
Will keep you posted (literally).

P.S. If I can get the dump file to work I still don’t know where it’s supposed to be drag and dropped to in order to send it to the tech guys.

22

Did you disable the avast self-defence module as suggested ?
You may have to do this temporarily before the problem occurs as you may not have time to disable it when the problem happens and be able to get the dump rep.

23

What I did to get a dump when I had a problem on my XP Pro system:
How to invoke memory dump creation?
http://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=71

It would help if you put that information in your signature as it would help the helpers offer pertinant advice.

24

I’ve done the dump. You can find it here ftp.avast.com/incoming/MEMORY.DMP.FigVam.zip

25

I have now disabled the self defense module within Avast and the Process Explorer does not now come up with the error message but it also does not produce the dump file.
It does create the file header for the dump in the correct directory but then it just locks up and cannot be closed.
It can be moved around the screen and minimized but cannot be shut down even within Task Manager.
After a reboot the dump file has a zero size.
The first time I tried it the whole computer locked up and had to be forced off by holding down the power button for ten seconds.
Today the CPU percentage usage has not gone back to normal on its own as it did yesterday so the laptop is now unusable.
Any more suggestions?

26

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-en/library/ff545499.aspx
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/969028

27

Sorry but I don’t understand why you are posting links to show how to crash my machine manually to create a memory dump.
It would take forever to sort through a gigabyte of dump file to find the information relating to the AvastSvc.exe program.
Surely there must be some way to get Process Explorer or a similar program to create a dump file just for AvastSvc.exe.
Or better still is there an easy way to revert back to an earlier version of the Avast Program which worked OK?
Any sensible suggestions?

28

Hello,

Some news :

  • the level of CPU for AvastSvc.exe is at 25%

    • Without activity: it happens frequently but not always,
    • Under Firefox : always,

  • I can’t create a complete dump from ProcessExplorer 14.01 → my system (XP Home) freezes and I have to reboot: >:(

Bye

29

I’ve got exactly the same problem with 5.1.889. As soon as I upgraded to 889, my CPU usage (Avastsvc.exe)jumped to 50%. Went back to 5.1.864 - problem gone - back to zero. Back to 889 again - problem returns. Back to 864 for second time - problem gone. This has to be a bug, folks. Running Windows 7 Pro on a Dell Vostro 1500.

30

Can anyone let me have a copy of an earlier version of Avast as I have upgraded all my computers and removed all the old download files before discovering the CPU usage problem?

Or is there anywhere on the avast site I can download an earlier version?

Please advise.

31

older versions are available here: http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/

32

I found ditching the Behavior Shield (first disabled, then uninstalled) to help with AvastSvc CPU% problems. It’s worth a shot.

I had problems with the Behavior defense module since the update to 5.1.864/889.

33

Since I open this Topic, I can precise some points:

1 - The CPU Usage (for me=25% because I have a core I5/750)for AvastSvc.exe appears at the startup of my system,

2 - This high activity is present even if no other user task is done (no browser, no other user programs…)

3 - I try the 5.1.889 and the 5.1.864 : same result,

4 - I am under XP Home SP3,

5 - The result is the same when self-defense module is activated or not,

6 - The dll that causes this high CPU usage is ashServ.dll (at adress 0x4e50),

7 - Finally : I have succeeded to create a full dump of AvastSvc.exe

→ I’ll try to put this dump on the avast ftp (89mb :wink: )
→ I think that I am going to downgrade to 5.0.677

Bye

34

For TECH : I put the file AvastSvc_Full Dump_from_Heldon.zip on the incoming queue of the avast ftp.
size=47,489,993 Bytes, MD5=14e8de8b8bb022643451765fb20bf1c6
Bye

35

I tried installing the previous version 5.1.864 but the result was the same.
Am now trying progressively older versions until I find one that works.
Will post any results, good or bad.

36

@Heldon, FigVam:

guys, do you use any Acronis products? Thanks.

37

@PK

Not Acronis softwares for me.

Bye

38

Which Acronis product is conflicting pk?

39

not conflicting, but FigVam kernel-mode dump shows the request was sent to Acronis device whereas Heldon’s user-mode dump sends a request down to kernel to scan boot sector or MBR and I wanted to know if both dumps can hung at the same place…

40

Thanks pk.