When using Norton System Works and I scheduled a scan the program opened at the set time and showed the progress of the scan. When doing the same in Avast 4.5 (with Windows XP Pro SP2) I have to open the program manually to see what is happening. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong?
It’s normal. The backgroud scheduled operation is not shown in any window.
The results are stored into ‘Sessions’. Before running the scan you can se avast for manual operation or complete automated when a virus is found.
Thanks, does this mean that I can carry on using my computer for other things during the scan or will I get some warning that a scan is taking place?
Only if a virus is found and you set it to manual (not silent or automatic mode).
Note, the background scheduled operation could take a lot of the computer resources. Be sure to schedule when you have time for it (maybe some hours) or you will experience some resources hog (ashServ.exe will take a lot of CPU resources).
When running from Simple User Interface, you can send the scanning to background and then the minimal resources will be used (but it will take more time). You can schedule with a different priority into Enhanced User Interface (which I will love!) 
I have a dobt that does this schedual scan do auto matic repair,delete and move to chest e.t.c when the virus is present,and how do i set that option exactly to remove the virus automaticaly?
That’s what the page Virus in the task configuration is for - you can set the automatic actions there.
This functionality is only available in the Pro version. The home version only has Silent Mode, with General answer No - moves the virus to the Chest. See avast Help file for more iformation.
How can you change the priority? I find AshServ.exe running at “High” priority and it basically kills the box until you pause the sheduled task. (which takes about 6 minutes because the box is running so slow you have to wait forever for Avast! Pro 4.5 (561) to open)
I would rather run sheduled scans at “BelowNormal” priority but the process is started by LocalSystem and I didn’t want to mess with the service and have it start under my user context. (Unless this is the only way) There doesn’t seem to be a way to change the priority of an existing process started by the LocalSystem account other than from Task Manager (which says “Permission Denied”). I don’t know of a Windows version of the UNIX/Linux “nice” command.
Anyone know how to change the running priority of AshServ.exe?
Thanks
I’m afraid it’s not possible (and I also don’t think it would be a good idea to do so).
@poundonu
Surely the easiest solution to the problem would be to schedule the scan at a time when the system is not heavily tasked, late at night or early morning.