High CPU Usage when virus definitions are out of date

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Whenever avast notifies me that a virus definition update is available, the CPU usage spikes making the computer almost unusable. I don’t see visible nag messages after I close the initial pop-up message, but the only solution that I have come up with to resolve this is to update virus definitions/engine and reboot. This has been happening for several versions (not sure which, but I have updated the program at least twice with the same symptoms).

I am currently running Win XP SP2, avast 8.0.1489 (set to notify of available definition/program updates), Comodo Free Firewall (I get the same results with ZoneAlarm Pro). This is a business critical desktop and I will not install SP3. I prefer not to have automatic updates.

Any help in configuring avast or Windows would be much appreciated.

2

Which avast!..?? (Free/Pro/IS/Premier)

3

Free

4

You’re not allowed to use avast! Free then.

5

Well that solves my problem. I’ll un-install this steaming piece of shit and install something that actual works because I’ll be damned if I’ll spend a penny on something this poorly written and supported.