I’ve got Avast 4.7. Recently, after what I suspect are the latest batch of windows updates Ashserv.exe (Avast - obviously) is hitting high CPU usage.
This is causing a temporary PC lockup for about 1-4 seconds and as you might imagine it’s very frustrating.
Normally I would uninstall the problem program but Avast is far and away the best AV available.
Has any of the Avast peoples encountered this problem?
On my system I wouldn’t notice a 1-4 second lock-up but it can be that avast is waiting for an essential service to load, commonly something is locking/hanging the RPC service.
During this time do you see a red circle with a bar (like a no entry sign) over the avast icon in the system tray ?
If so the current beta version of avast has a fast start (or faster) function that might help see http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=27439.0 if you aren’t averse to using a beta trial. Read the topic and see what snags or issues there are (they are very few) and might they effect your system.
Or you could simply revert to the Uninstall, reboot and install, this has on occasion cleared the high CPU issue. It would probably be best to download the latest version of avast and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again. Use that when you reinstall.
If so the current beta version of avast has a fast start (or faster) function that might help see http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=27439.0 if you aren't averse to using a beta trial. Read the topic and see what snags or issues there are (they are very few) and might they effect your system.
Or you could simply revert to the Uninstall, reboot and install, this has on occasion cleared the high CPU issue. It would probably be best to download the latest version of avast and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again. Use that when you reinstall.
That’s sound advice. I’ll start there and reply with results, thanks
To create the dump, download and run http://public.avast.com/~vlk/hangrep.exe . In the list of processes select ashserv.exe and use the Save button. This generates a file which you can either send to his email address vlk (at) avast.com (if it’s smaller than e.g. 1 MB, ZIPed), or upload to ftp://ftp.avast.com/incoming
But you have to be quick (during that 1-4 seconds).
The command-line version http://public.avast.com/~vlk/userdump.exe . The syntax is userdump.exe ashServ.exe c:\ashServ.dmp
(producing dump file in the root of C:\ drive) but, again, you have to be quick (during that 1-4 seconds).
Also, check the folder \data\log
Are there any files called unpXXXX there (where XXXX is a random number)?
If so, send them to vlk (at) avast.com
They may contain more information about the problem (maybe a link to this thread).
No need for airs and graces here, I’m just an avast user like yourself, so we can dispense with the sir ;D unless you know something I don’t, I’m just about to be Knighted ;D
Don’t just visit the forums if you have a problem, it could be a long time (fingers crossed), stick around and browse the forums, especially the sticky topics at the top of each of the forums, not to mention the avast help file. They provide a wealth of information to help you get the best from avast.