pc slowed down by avast??

General Topics
1

I have tried disabling avast,and deleting it from the start menu,but when I boot up, my pc is as slow as molasses,and sometimes totally unusable,until the update notice pops up. This happens even if I disable updates. Instead I get a pop up that says new updates are available,but didn’t download. How do I stop this from happening. I can be stalled for as long as 15 or 20 minutes. Please help!! Thanx PG

2

Which avast…??
Which version…??
OS…??

3

Have (or did) you another Anti-Virus installed in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?

What other security based software do you have installed that also runs on boot (e.g. firewall, anti-spyware) ?

With that kind of delay there is most certainly something else going on with your system, some of the above or low powered system.
What are your system specs, e.g. OS, CPU and RAM ?

You could try delaying the Auto Update check:

  • In avast6 you need to edit (using notepad) avast5.ini the [InetWD] section of the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Alwil Software\Avast5\avast5.ini (XP file location). Location for Vista, win7, C:\ProgramData\Alwil Software\Avast5\avast5.ini.
    If you did a clean install of avast6 the folder names are slightly different, \Avast Software\Avast\ instead of \Alwil Software\Avast5\ other than that it is the same procedure.

  • Broadband connections, add this line:
    AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120 and
    AssumeAlwaysConnected=1 if not present (or edit AssumeAlwaysConnected=0 to AssumeAlwaysConnected=1)

[InetWD] AssumeAlwaysConnected=1 AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120
When complete save the changes, avast's self-defence module will ask for confirmation, etc. answer Yes.

The figure is seconds and the above equates to two minutes, you could try that and adjust upwards if required, 180, 240, etc.

4

I have the free version which is updated every day. I have a 3.6 cpu and one gig of ram. I don’t know how to do any of that advanced stuff. I did have McAfee but that was over a year ago. I only have the windows firewall. It seems to be the update that hangs me up. Can I make it manual in any way so it does not auto load?? Thanx PG

5

If you go o here http://thewebatom.net/uninstallers/security-software/ and run the tool to delet any leftovers of your previous AV (22a in the list), there are tools there for any other AV’s you may of had in the past as well,
Reboot after running the tool and then try a repair of avast via remove programs.
You can also set avast to start after other system services by going to settings\troubleshooting.

6

I ran the removal tool and ended up with a note: Some or all files have not been removed successfully. See logs for more details. I did it 3 times with the same results. What next? PG

7

I tried deleting avast now its all normal. Any suggestions other than changing av programs? Any other good FREE av programs?? Thanx pg

8

Seeing you don’t know a lot about computers or your OS.
I would suggest downloading Eusing free registry cleaner.
If you do download Eusing open it click skip --click scan let it run till finished, click repair,
Then scan once more.
You will also see in Eusing Restore Registry if ever needed.

Also you could do a search-- all files & folders for any left over crap you may have.

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/eusingregistry.html

Install Avast & see what happens.

9
Seeing you don’t know a lot about computers or your OS. I would suggest downloading Eusing free registry cleaner.
The last thing to recommend to someone who doesn't know anything about his OS or computers is a registry cleaner. IMHO
10

What do you think Registry cleaners for?

For someone who can not manually clean the Registry for lake of knowledge LMFAO

11

Agree with Bob. Unless you know what you’re doing, registry cleaners are dangerous.

12

Agree with most of you.

Mr.Agent

13

Agree with Bob. Unless you know what you’re doing, registry cleaners are dangerous

No one said anything about registry cleaners, but one Eusing I have tested this program over 7 years & had no issues, unlike Avast LMFAO with the BSOD & so on.

The guy’s got issues in the Registry & will not be able to fix it, maybe Mcafee is still lurking about.

So what do you need to know about Eusing? Should you not know about every piece of software you install? & the issues you might have like with Avast etc
You have now probably stopped the guy fixing the issues he had, he will download even more Antivirus programs test them, discard them, more junk for the Computer.
Read the reviews on that site it speaks for it’s self.

Some reg cleaners are bad just like some antivirus programs & so on, should we not download any software.

So explain what do we need to know other then click to scan click to repair click to put back —back up if needed.

14

I deleted all remnants of past AV programs, to now avail. I finally deleted Avast and PC works perfectly! SO, any suggestios for a good free AV that wont screw up my PC?? I have given up on Avast. thanx PG

15

Believe me, you have not deleted all remnants of passed software, Macafee & Norton are or were the biggest players to leave crap on your pc.

If you want to play safe I suggest this http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/security_essentials/default.aspx

Some will recommend this http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus FREE

Or this http://free.avg.com/us-en/free-antivirus-download FREE

Try staying away from testing too many Antivirus programs, unless you learn to clean up afterwards.

I personally would look at a stronger firewall too.

You can download Malwarebytes free & use for scanning for added protection, but it’s not real time.

16

I removed the old virus programs with the software somebody suggested. My pc works great without avast. I use the MS firewall. Thanx pG

17

I downloaded MS Essentials and PC works perfectly! Thanx for the tip PG

18

My PC has begun to be horribly slow also. This continues until I finally get the Update notification. Avast! gets really upset if you push any radio button except the “automatic update” for databases. I tried editing the INI files, but that didn’t seem to help. Running Vista Home Premium on a fairly new Compaq Presario. Avast version 6.0.1289.

19

I suppose you could try a repair add remove programs click avast change/uninstall scroll down to repair.

Or a fresh install of Avast.

20

I suggest an installation from scratch:

  1. Download the latest version of avast! Uninstall Utility and save it.
  2. Download the latest avast! version and save it.
  3. Uninstall avast from Control Panel (if possible). If, for any reason, you can’t run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after that.
  4. Run the avast! Uninstall Utility saved on 1. If, for any reason, you can’t run it, try booting in Safe Mode and doing it from there. Anyway, boot after you’ve run it.
  5. Install avast! using the setup saved on 2. Boot.
  6. Register your free copy or add the license key for Pro. Or even upgrade your key from old versions.
  7. Check and post the results. If, for any reason, you did not solve, try doing the step 3 in Safe Mode anyway.