Hi guys, my PC was really slow to start. Everytime I would start it, it would start normally until I see my desktop’s image with nothing else. About 2 minutes later, the icons would appear and the start would complete. I did many scans, tuned up my computer and analysed my disks and finally I found something.
In fact, I found 2 ways to turn a 3 minutes start into a 45 seconds start.
One way is to disactivate Avast so that it doesn’t automatically start with the computer.
The other way, letting avast to start automatically is to disactivate my wireless internet connection prior to restart the computer.
So, the problem only happens when the internet connection and avast are both activated when I start the computer.
Anyone would know why and how to resolve it? Thanks!
Try this. On the avast! Program Settings (right click avast icon), Troubleshooting page - Check the option “Delay loading of avast! services after other system services” - does it help?
At the start Avast! wants to make automatic update and this can interfere with you internet adapter loading. So may be some playing with Update(Connection) settings can be useful. The main task is to force Avast! updating after Internet connection ready.
It shouldn’t interfere with the internet adapter loading as it can’t do anything ‘until’ a connection is established.
However, if your connection is established early then avast will detect that and try to check for updates, that may but an extra load on the cpu and possibly slow boot.
I would also suggest you check what applications you allow to load on boot and restrict them to essential applications only, basically security applications and absolutely essential. Media programs are very likely to want to run on boot, when you only need then to load when you run a media file.
Well David, the option you talked about is already checked and only essential things are automatically opening when the computer starts…
For your information, I also tried to put both types of updates on manual and I also desactivated the ‘avast! iAVS4 control service’ in my services but nothing helps.
Well if effectively disabling auto updates and starting avast services after system services, there has to be some other infulence.
What other security applications do you have that might be active ?
I had problems with my firewall anti-spyware module causing avast to scan files that it was opening (hundreds of them). When your boot has stabilised, check the Standard Shield detailed view and tell me what the Scanned count: filed is ?
Wine is on average 130 ish with the delay avast services option checked.
I did the test and I timed it. At about 45 seconds, my desktop appears with nothing on it. Then, at about 2 minutes and 45 seconds, icons begin to appear and I hear the hard drive working. Then, at 3 minutes and 15 seconds, the start is complete and I go check the Standard Shield. It says about 195 items scanned in the last 30 seconds. So, the scan only begins when my icons are beginning to appear so I don’t think that it is what’s making my start up go slow.
I doubt the windows firewall has no anti-spyware/virus elements so shouldn’t be open large numbers of files, which avast would scan. 195 items scanned seems high compared to my 130 so there seems to be a lot loading on boot. Unless you have changed any of the default settings in avast other than, the delay loading of avast services and disabling auto updates, like increasing the sensitivity of the standard shield or changing any settings within the standard shield ?
Have (or did) you another AV installed in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?
Other than this I’m at a bit of a loss as to what the problem is.
Like I said, the 195 items scanned are not important because they are scanned in the last 30 seconds on the start so that’s not the cause of the 2 minutes delay. I looked at my settings and everything seems normal… Also, Avast is the only antivirus on my computer since the last format.
One strange thing is that the problem started when I removed the password from my windows xp account. In fact, if I put back a password, I wait until the password screen appears…then I wait for about 30 seconds…I type my password, and the total start takes about 1:30. It’s like if letting the computer ‘relax’ for a few seconds would help him to do ‘something’. That’s bad I can’t see what he’s doing. I guess I’ll just try changing my antivirus if nothing helps…
I use the password screen and whilst that is there, windows is still loading elements that are common to all users, avast is also likely to be loading services in the background also. So some scanning might well be going on before the last 30 seconds of the boot.
You could try a clean reinstall and see if that makes a difference.
It would probably be best to first Download the latest version of avast http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again. Use that when you reinstall.
Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, find it here and save it to your HDD.
Now uninstall, reboot, run the uninstall utility, reboot install the latest version, reboot.