ok, when i run a scan, it takes a very long time. so long that it didnt even finish the first time. i want to run the scan, and leave it on while im away, but what happens when it finds a virus/trojan/etc. the screen pops up and asks you what to do… does it still scan while that screen is up? or do i have to be near my PC so when i comes up i can choose what to do with the item.
thanks
ghost
Without knowing what scan you did (all local drives, thorough, with archives, I suspect), the amount of data to be scanned, your OS, Processor and RAM, I couldn’t really comment.
This, the interactive response is a limitation of the free home version, advanced automated actions are in the Pro version. When you detect the first on the pop-up check the don’t show this again and select No Action, that will allow the scan to complete and at the end you get a list of files that require action.
Archive (zip, etc.) files are by their nature are inert, you need to extract the files and then you have to run them to be a threat. Long before that happens avast’s Standard Shield should have scanned them and before an executable is run that is scanned. Thorough is also by its design very thorough and perhaps a little overkill for routine use, were a Standard scan without archives should be adequate.
I have only ever done a through scan with archives once shortly after installation just to ensure a clean start state, but with XP for example avast will do a boot-time scan after installation if you select it, this I believe will be quicker and reasonably effective. Like everything in life things are a compromise.
im just scanning my HD. so just press dont show again, no action, then at the end of the scan, it will give me choices for everything it finds?
That is the idea, these options are only good for that scan and aren’t carried forward to your next on-demand scan. I have never needed to try these options as I have only ever run one thorough scan with archives as I said.