About one week ago the a problem showed up in one of my desktop computer. Details below:
(1) The first time I launch any application (Word, Excel, Firefox etc), it will take very long for it to start. That happens only in the first launch after I boot the computer. There goes an example: I boot the computer. Then, I launched Excel. It takes very long for it to start. Then, I close Excel. Few hours I open Excel again, it is going start normally (no slowness this time.)
(2) Just to make sure, the problem started about one week ago.
(3) I have already pinned down the problem to Avast. Reason: if I put the application in the exclusion list, then the problem disappears.
I am using Windows 7 (SP1, 64 bit) and Avast Free 17.5.2303 (build 17.5.3585.192).
Does anyone have a solution or even a clue/hint? Any help will be welcomed.
As you probably guessed, the slowness is likely due to Avast analyzing the file. The second time you launch the application Avast “remembers” it, so no analysis. Using the exclusion list is the easiest solution I can think of.
As to why Avast is so slow at analyzing the file, it might be related to either hard drive access or memory usage on your computer, but very hard to diagnose. If you don’t like maintaining the exclusion list, you could try re-installing Avast and see if speed improves.
It could also be that the file is new and needs to be uploaded to the cloud, analyzed and once that’s done, if found safe, you’re allowed to use the file.
Thanks for all the answers. Somehow the problem went away by itself. I have no idea how that happened. Another point: the problem was not specific to Avast. Few days ago I tried another antivirus and the same problem happened. I went back to Avast and the problem persisted. Today I observe that is not there anymore. I guess it is time to carry out a fresh Windows install.
