How do I “turn off” avast free antivirus to run a defragment?
Why?
The defragmentation occurs at low level and avast! does not interfere (or scan the files because of it).
:o ??? As Tech says WHY?
You have never needed to turn off any antivirus system to defrag, where did this idea come from ?
The Windows XP manual that I have says to exit all programs, disable your antivirus software, and empty the Recyle Bin before you run Disk Defragmentation. Windows XP includes Microsoft Security Essentials, which I assume must be disabled. And I have the free avast antivirus software, which is why I’m asking how to temporarily disable it.
You can safely ignore your manual…!!! 
I have never disabled my antivirus to run a defrag in all of the years that I have had XP and it has never been an issue. Whilst it would be beneficial to clear the Recycle Bin (if you don’t do so regularly), you would also benefit from clearing your temp files.
XP doesn’t include Microsoft Security Essentials, that is something that you have to install. On that subject you shouldn’t have two resident AVs installed on the same system at the same time.
Okay, so I guess the Windows XP manual instructions are overly zealous as to disabling antivirus software when defragging.
The Microsoft Security Essentials was on the pc when I got it via a company give away of this used pc. I had avast put on it since I trust avast as being superior, but the Microsoft Security Essentials has a firewall, which the free avast does not (correct?). So that is why I am fearful of not having it.
What does it do to the pc to have two antivirus programs?
- Right.
- No, but Windows has one.
- All kind of problems, like lagging, FPs, BSODs, etc…
Resident anti-virus applications intercept files before they are run/created/modified, etc. to be able to do this (hooking files) they have to load low level drivers and it is these which can conflict. At best it causes duplication of scanning and resource use, at worst it can lock the system (possibly leaving it without the protection of either AV).
Should this lockup occur at boot time it may lock you out of your system. This would require booting into safe mode to uninstall on of the two AVs. So it is best not to have two resident AVs installed in the first place.
Could you please explain each of these: lagging, FPs, BSODs, etc… ?
So the firewall I see is via the Windows XP operating system and not Microsoft Security Essentials?
So I should delete (how) the Microsoft Security Essentials and leave the avast antivirus program???
I do notice that the CPU frequently revs up for long periods at a time, slowing things down. And about a week or so ago, when I restarted I got the message: Windows did not start successfully, and saying to choose the Last known good configuration or to Start Windows normally, etc. Choosing either did not help. I had to restart twice before the system came up okay. Is this linked to the two antivirus programs, do you think?
Well FP is false positives, because one antivirus could detect the other signatures and temporary files.
BSODs are blue screen of death which is a huge conflict between programs or drivers.
MSE does not have a firewall.
Yes. When you uninstall it, Windows will restore Windows Defender (which can be used side by side with avast).
Thank you. Might you also respond to this question as well:
I do notice that the CPU frequently revs up for long periods at a time, slowing things down. And about a week or so ago, when I restarted I got the message: Windows did not start successfully, and saying to choose the Last known good configuration or to Start Windows normally, etc. Choosing either did not help. I had to restart twice before the system came up okay. Is this linked to the two antivirus programs, do you think?
Also I forgot to ask:
Could I copy/DL the Microsoft Securities Essentials program to a CD or Flashdrive to keep it just in case, before I uninstall it?
OR, could I just turn off the Real-time protection for MSE and then just use it to scan manually once a week (as an extra layer of protection)??? And if so, Real-time scanning wouldn’t need to be turned back on for a manual scan would it??
Actually, a little while ago, I turned off MSE Real-time—then I panicked and tried to turn it back on. It hung/froze. I finally had to do a hard turn off (don’t know if that’s the right terminology). When I restarted, the protection was back on, . . .
Advice/opinion???
You don’t need to keep the MSE program since it is easily downloaded from Microsoft at any time. I’m not sure if turning off the real time protection is sufficient to prevent conflicts. I would play it safe and completely uninstall MSE.
The firewall you see is part of Windows XP. It’s called the Windows Firewall and is completely seperate from any AV program, even MSE.
I also have never turned off my AV to defrag. Well, I take that back, I did once to see if it would go any faster and it didn’t seem to so I leave it on. I also leave it on while gaming and it never causes any problem.
Most likely.
No, you have to completely uninstall MSE.
You guys are giving me wonderful help and information. I keep thinking of additional details to ask about. Hope that’s ok.
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Would it make any difference that I have Windows XP Pro as opposed to the home version–as far as disabling MSE or any other AV when I defrag? (Sorry–not trying to beat the dead horse, just trying to cover all the bases.)
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To uninstall MSE: do I just go to Add/Remove Programs and uninstall it there? Because I saw information on the windows.microsoft. com site with instructions to uninstall this way (though it was really talking about uninstalling other AVs so as to download MSE):
It instructed to Start / Run / type “appwiz.cpl” / Enter.
Then in the list of installed programs, uninstall any other Internet security programs.
Then restart the pc.
It then cautioned that some security apps don’t uninstall completely. That you may need to DL and run a cleanup utility to completely remove them.
Do you think that would be necessary, either way of doing the uninstall??? I don’t want to have to get into stuff like that–don’t have the time or expertise, etc.
Doesn’t matter what operating system you have, you shouldn’t have two AV’s on the same system and defraging is not affected by different operating systems.
Yes uninstall MSE via add remove programs then run the MSE removal tool http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9748340 to clean up leftovers
- Someone mentioned Windows Defender–that it would replace MSE after that was uninstalled, but that WD would run alongside avast without any problem.
Do you recommend installing that?
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Or is avast good to cover all AV issues? I also have Malware Bytes and Spybot installed, in addition to avast free antivirus.
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Is it necessary to turn off the ScreenSaver to defrag?
- Windows Defender isn’t needed if you already have antivirus and antispyware like Avast.
- Avast Free is good already. If you need another ‘safety net’, Malwarebytes is a good choice for you.
Sometimes too much security software just give you more unnecessary trouble rather than securing you. - It’s not necessary to do so.