Slow startup times with new version

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

As the title says I downloaded the new software update yesterday as soon as it informed it of me. And that is when my troubles started. Basically, instead of the usual quick and easy startup I used to have Avast now takes forever to load. My entire system boots up fine, I get to my desktop and everything works. Than the avast icon appears in the corner and the whole thing just freezes. I can still move my mouse around but I can’t do anything else until such a time that Avast sees fit to finish what ever it is doing. I timed it this morning and it took a whole 7 minutes. Once that is done, my system once again works fine.

I am using Windows XP Service Pack 3, 32 bit.

So is this normal? Or is my download/update bugged up?

2
  • Which Avast…? (Free/Pro/IS/Premier)
  • Other security related software installed…?
  • Which AV(s) did you use before avast!..?
3

Free. If I had money…
Although I am not sure if the demo of the payed version has expired yet.

- Other security related software installed..?
Nothing that's passive. I have CCleaner and stuff like that but those only activate on demand.
- Which AV(s) did you use before avast!..?
I have been using avast for as long as I remember. It must be... years.
4
  1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: http://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe
  2. Follow instructions: http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions…!!)
  3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
  4. Reboot.
5

So basically my installation of it is bugged? The problem won’t reappear as soon as I reinstall?

6

Let’s see. Report back.

7

So it’s not something that’s been reported before as a bug in the new version? That’s reassuring I guess. I don’t have time to do it now but will do so later today when I get home and see if it helped. Will post back than.

8
  1. Nope, it works fine on XP.
  2. OK.
9

I did what you said and nothing changed. Avast still takes exactly 7 minutes to start up. This is as can be imagined incredibly frustrating. If no solution can be found by the end of the week I will just have to change my AV to something else.

10

Hi
Before you change AV’s you could try the 2014 version of Avast.

There are some that have noticed differences/issues with 2015 as opposed to 2014.
I had Clean installed v.2015 and found it heavier on my XP “software configuration” then v.2014.
A lot depends on ones OS configuration as my situation (at this point) appears to be System specific :slight_smile:

It’s true that the less (other software) you have installed on a system, the less likely it is that there will be conflict. That’s not my case.

11

I see. I too have a good experience with the old pre-update version. But is that version safe to use? And if it is where can I get it?
And finally, if I do get it how am I supposed to be sure that the next update or the one after that won’t screw me over again?

12

http://www.oldapps.com/avast_antivirus.php
Once installed, make sure that you DO NOT allow a Program Update.
Just like Microsoft, sooner or later, support for Windows XP will have to be discontinued.

13

Thanks for the link. This said, is it safe to use an old version? I mean, will future database updates and stuff work with it?
Also, can I trust that site to have a genuine copy of the file…

14

Your VPS and streaming updates will work just fine with avast! 2014.
You’ll just be missing some of the new and improved features available in Avast 2015.

15

Speaking of those. Where can I actually find a list of them? The update process neglected to tell me what I was signing up for.
And how do I know I can trust that oldapps site?

16

Changes in Avast 2015

17

Right now I am just sort of worried about installing an AV version that I got off a site that’s not an official download page. :-\

18

http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/screenshots/u/Lh/1414619169906-17898.png

Both Avast and WOT rate it a safe. (Remember, Google is your friend and can answer many questions. ) :slight_smile:

19

I have newer heard of this WOT. And I do not have avast integrated into my browser like that. (I use an old version of firefox before they screwed up the UI)

20

Many times, old versions of programs aren’t safe. Updates happen mainly to fix security breaches.
Using an old OS, also quite often restricts updates because the old OS isn’t capable of handling the new features
designed to keep you safe.
(Your computer, your choice.)