Althought my copy of AVASTI internet security is fully installed, the installation program INSTUP.EXE has started. It is hogging almost all my CPU (up to 100%) and either greatly inhibits or prevents me browsing the INTERNET. It has been running for an hour at least at the time of this posting. It cannot be terminated.
Is this a known problem and if so what is the solution please. Thank you.
Welcome to the forum.
Try a repair (Control Panel > Program and Features (Add Remove Programs) > select avast! > scroll down select repair.
Wait for the repair to finish and then reboot your system. Let us know if that solves your problem.
The instup.exe isn’t just the installation of the program function, it also handles the virus definition updates, shortly after you boot your system there will be a check for updates. Now depending on what other programs you have allowed to start on boot or they have set themselves to boot can mean there is rather a lot going on.
What is your operating system ?
What is your CPU and how much RAM do you have installed ?
I don’t know how the avast 9.0 auto updates work in comparison to avast 8 or earlier, but there used to be a resource limitation (I think 30%) so that it didn’t bog down the system. I would have though that wise limitation would/should have continued, but I don’t know if it did and I believe some Operating Systems didn’t support this resource limitation.
If the Repair suggested doesn’t work there are other things that can be considered, pruning those applications allowed to run on boot to essential and system only and possible delay the avast auto update check.
I am having the similar problems. Instup.exe keeps running and really slowing my system down, particularly when I am trying to do things on the net. It gets so bad that everything locks up and I have to shut down the computer with a hard reset just to be able to break the cycle.
I am using a Dell Latitude D610 Laptop
WinXP SP3
1Gb RAM
128Mb Integrated Graphics
This has been adequate for my modest needs up until recently, but suddenly Avast! is no longer a small friendly program, but a drain on my resources that is interfering significantly. Is this something I can adjust, or do I have to search for another antivirus to replace Avast!
Welcome to the forum. 
The biggest boost for you would be to update the amount of ram on your system.
Ram is also quite inexpensive. You currently only have 1 Gig and part of that is used for your graphics.
Adding an additional 2 gig of ram would make you think you’ve just inherited a new computer.
You could try the following and see if it makes any difference:
http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1391449719860-6871.png
Reboot your system and see if you notice any difference. (You should still increase the amount of Ram to notice an increase in overall
performance.)
Thanks for the advice, will try changing the settings, but not surre how much difference it will make as instup.exe often runs after the computer has been switched on for some time and regardless of what I am doing at the time. It is especially annoying when I am online with others in games or networked, as it then monopolises system resources and ‘freezes’ whatever program I am using until it is finished. The other day I was networked with my father-in-law who is undergoing cancer treatments in America when instup.exe started running and locked up the network at my end. I couldn’t use the webcam, type and send messages or anything. I also notice that everything loads much more slowly now, startup, opening browsers, loading programs, etc. I am begining to wonder if Avast! is becoming more of a hindrance than a help sometimes?
Unfortunately it seems to be difficult to get hold of RAM upgrades suitable for this older model of laptop, if it is even possible anymore. Nor did I need anymore RAM for anything I have used until now as everything I use are under my current specs. And it is only because of changes to Avast! that it is a problem even now. I would prefer to not have to buy a new laptop as I can’t find anything new that is anywhere near as suitable for my arthritic hands which need larger keys, that doesn’t involve add-ons and defeat the purpose of using laptop.
Hi, I’m also having an issue with instup.exe, running more or less continually at 25% CPU.
http://i.imgur.com/sj8oZMe.gif
This has only started happening since the last upgrade at the weekend. I’m on Windows XP.
Did you try what Bob suggested?
Thanks for the reply. I decided to do a clean install which seems to have resolved this issue.
Good to know. Thanks