Question for Vista users

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I’ve been a long time Avast user - for many years. However, when I switched my OS to Vista, I experience a significant lag with the startup. After removing Avast, my startup went back to its perky self. It’s been about 6 months or so since removing Avast and I would like to install it again if these issues have been resolved.

I’m aware of the fixes in the 4.7.1089 beta release, but I would like to hear from Vista users. Does the current build have any startup issues, slow browsing, slow performance, etc.?

I’ve been running without any antivirus protection over this period and haven’t run into any virus or malware problems at all, but then I don’t want to push my luck any further. :o Despite the earlier issues with Avast, it was still the best antivirus program for Vista that I could find. Every other program I tried had horrible performance issues, above and beyond what I had experienced with Avast.

Thanks!

2

It’s difficult to compare your system with mine. I have an HP Compaq nx6320 Intel Centrino Duo processor with 3Gb of RAM. The boot is not comfortable on Vista after you install applications and security programs. But I can throw the problem over avast.

I use Vista firewall. Normal browsing.
With ZoneAlarm, I have delays. I have nightmares to install other firewalls on my Vista laptop.

3

I have a Thinkpad T60 with a Core Duo processor and 2Gb of RAM. I’m using “Vista FireWall Control” and it works great - no demonstrable slowdowns at all. I boot up to the desktop within 45 to 55 seconds.

I know I should be running an antivirus program, but in the 6 months without one, I haven’t picked up anything. I periodically check my system with online scanners - bitdefender, etc. and I’m always clean. The same with malware. I realize that’s risky but having a system bogged down by security software (resident or otherwise) seems to defeat the purpose entirely.

4

I use Avast with Vista. I have a Dell Inspiron 531 with and AMD Athlon 64 X2, Dual_Core 4400+, with 2 GB DDR2 , SDRAM and I don’t notice any lag on bootup. I must admit that I have DSL and usually leave the computer o;n 24/7, but on the infrequent occasions that I do re-boot, it is very fast.

5

Yes it is risky, but theoretically if you take extra precautions you could well get away with it, but it isn’t something to recommend.

You should also have a fail-safe back-up and recovery strategy or you are in dire straights if anything does get into your system. There are some very nasty pieces of malware out there, virut is particularly virulent.

6

Agreed. I do take extra precautions but the risks remain. Worse case scenario for me is a clean install and reinstalling apps, which takes an afternoon at most. I’ll wait until v.5 comes out and give it try. Anyone have a ballpark figure on when that might be? Are we talking about weeks or months?

7

Months… probably first semester next year.

8

Ouch… I’m assuming 4.7 will be updated before then. What’s the best way to get build 1089? Must I install 1074 first?

9

This current beta should be released soon (probably next week) the update regular version. But since you haven’t got an AV I would get the latest version installed so you have protection and monitor the forums and when notified of the regular release of the version we ate beta testing do a manual program update.

For me the worst case scenario is about 20 minutes to restore my last back up image.

I would suggest you also look disk imaging software. I use Drive Image 7.1, the last version by PowerQuest before it was bought by Symantec and merged into its Norton Ghost disk imaging software, another option id Acronis true Image, there are others, most of them are paid options.

I take an image back-up of my primary hard disk partitions every week as part of my system maintenance. This is saved to my second HDD or it can also be written to a DVD. I also back-up volatile data files, .doc, .xls, etc. along with emails, bookmarks, address book, registration keys, etc. (anything you don’t want to lose) every day sometimes several times a day.

So if I experience a problem like yours (haven’t to date) then I just restore my last back-up disk image (takes about 15 minutes) followed by the last daily data back-up (takes seconds rather than minutes) and I will have lost virtually nothing.

Compare that with your experience (assuming you had to do a clean install) and the money I paid for my disk imaging software would have paid for itself if it had to be used just once if you valued your time at just £5 per hour. I have had to use it several times (not virus related) where it has hauled my a** out of the fire, it is an absolute god send.

10

Thanks DavidR. I’ve never had to clean install because of a virus or malware - always due to my own stupidity. Nevertheless, the imaging software sounds like a much better solution. I do the daily data backup as well - learned that leason one too many times…

11

Your welcome.

It matters not why you have to do it, just that it is a pain in the rear, I to have never had to do it because of virus infection.

12

How about Returnil?

Anyone use it?

13

Sounds intriguing I might have a bash ;D As for Avast and Vista I have experience the sum total of Zero problems (as I now have started to expect ) even with the Beta

14

Very good application. Reliable, freeware. Protects only the system partition (usually C:). Mount a virtual partition (if you have only one) to save data between sessions. Won’t allow you to update antivirus (or any other application) when it is on protected mode (unlike Microsoft tool, does not allow application exception).