In previous versions of Avast there was the capability when starting Avast to generate a ‘test of memory and startup files’ prior to fully bringing up the program. Has this been lost in version 5? I particularly liked this feature compared to other a/v programs! It would normally take about a minute to do the mini-scan. With v5, all I see are the Quick Scan and the Full scan. The Quick scan takes about 20 minutes. Haven’t attempted a Full Scan. If this has been lost, it would nice if you would add it back in your stack of wishlist items.
Thanks. Great A/V product!
that was when starting the Simple User Interface (SUI) before doing an on-demand scan, correct ?
Since there is no SUI, but the one UI interface that accesses all areas, the actual scans are more configurable and the Quick scan appears to do what you said. There is also a Create Custom Scan which can be customized to what you want, but it doesn’t appear to have a specific setting ‘test of memory and startup files’ though I think it would scan memory by default.
Unless the release version changed from the final beta version, you can create a custom scan which scans the memory of running processes and throw in autostart programs for either just the user or all autostarts.
A small hack, for those interested 
If you create a custom scan and enter QuickStartupMem as the area to scan - you’ll get the same “area” avast! 4 splash-screen scanned.
If you do that it will also scan all harddisks on less you Exclude a drive or drives in the Exclusions for that scan.
No, it doesn’t… ?
The Select the areas to scan appears to have the All harddisks hard coded (see image) as there is no option not to scan All harddisks, only to (select additional areas). So if this is incorrect then that graphic is misleading. That is why I did the Exclusions bit.
David, you can edit that one, and change it to the one that igor mentioned…
you got every possible option there including memory, rootkit and startup files scans + the fast memory scan that Igor just suggested.
edit: @ Igor: thanks for the hack, worked like a charm
Thanks, folks. I appreciate the input!!!
(And in advance to those who may offer future replies to the original question!)
Dallas3super, the option’s there under Create Custom Scan. It’s hard to see but it’s in the center section, “Scan Areas.” There’s a grayed out drop down menu, when you hover your mouse pointer over it activates.
Thanks, earlier I tried clicking on that text and nothing happened, now when I click it a) there is a Delete button and I can edit that field. I love computers really ;D
Note: it is much faster than the old 4.8 splash screen scan, 1 second, 778 files tested, 288.81MB of data.
Igor, Thanks. 8) What else do you have up your sleeve? ;D
His armies ;D
OK, folks – this is what I ended up doing.
Via the Create Custom Scan option,
- I added Memory, and Startups(all users).
- I deleted All Harddrives.
With/without PUP option runs about 4.5 minutes.
Much better than than default QuickScan (20 min), but not
as fast as the SUI mini-scan in 4.8 (1+ min) – but assume
there is more going on…
Possibly further tweaking can increase the speed.
This is probably the BEST helpful answer(s) I’ve ever gotten to a forum
question - various programs included (non-avast, etc).
Thanks to you all – DavidR, bman412, Igor, spg Scott, Logos
(hope I’m not missing someone)
You’re welcome.
I feel that the Memory scan and startups is not enough for any sort of routine scan, but a one off type of scan if you have suspicion of something in memory or a startup entry, etc. I would say that a periodic scan of a minimum of the Quick scan is recommended. The period is up to you, weekly, fortnightly is up to you but I wouldn’t go beyond that.
The Quick scan over time will get quicker, as it builds a database of files that it has scanned and found to be clean. If those files haven’t changed next time round the scan should be quicker.
What is 20 minutes, nothing really why not set a schedule for it and have it run when you sleep or at a quiet time. Or start it off and go and have you evening meal, etc. time is just planning.
My memory and startups scan took 1 second, as I mentioned in Reply #11, so I don’t know why yours took so long, unless your system is older or less resources.