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Other => General Topics => Topic started by: adam007 on December 18, 2008, 07:19:31 PM

Title: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: adam007 on December 18, 2008, 07:19:31 PM
Is there a way to shutdown AVAST entirely?
When I stop all of the avast services it still leaves ashDisp.exe running.
This can't be killed in task manager and having it running is causeing me problems installing some applications.

I can ofcourse uninstall avast. Do what I need to. Then re-install avast
But it would be nice if someone could tell me where the off button is...

Thanks in advance,
Adam
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Lisandro on December 18, 2008, 07:37:56 PM
avast is intended to be run in background.
It shouldn't mess the installation of ANY program (except, of course, other antivirus with whom it will conflict).
Which is this other application?
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: DavidR on December 18, 2008, 08:23:49 PM
You need the avast icon it is the interface to the GUI and without it you couldn't restart avast without a reboot.

The services are running but there is no overhead as they aren't scanning anything as you can right click the avast icon and select Stop On-Access Protection, and reverse that Start On-Access Protection when you are done.

However, the more important question would have to be why do you want/need to do this.

What are the applications you mention and the problems ?
I can't recall the last time I disabled avast for anything, especially installing an application, which is precisely the time you want an AV running.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: adam007 on December 18, 2008, 10:24:11 PM
Paperport http://www.nuance.com/products (http://www.nuance.com/products), from nuance software.

I uninstalled avast, installed paperport, then re-installed avast.
I just thought I should be able to have avast unload itself entirely from memory, without uninstalling it.

Adam
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: DavidR on December 18, 2008, 10:36:46 PM
Doing what I suggested (stop on-access protection) would be overkill (if it were needed at all and for that it shouldn't) Pausing the Standard Shield should be more than enough as that is the element that would be scanning installed/newly created files.

I would be interested to know exactly what the problems were that you spoke of as avast doesn't block, but scans and alerts to infection ?

So I would have to wonder what it is doing that it would require an AV to be totally disabled.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Lisandro on December 19, 2008, 01:15:16 AM
Hmmm... why should you disable and even uninstall avast to install it remains a mystery?
What was the error message when you try to install with avast still installed?
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: veepee78 on May 26, 2009, 05:33:50 PM
Hmmm... why should you disable and even uninstall avast to install it remains a mystery?
What was the error message when you try to install with avast still installed?

Probably because it messes up installation of another program? Can't you guys read? What's so wrong killing avast for a few seconds? I have same problem and then I hit this thread where so called evangelists say it's almost a crime to shutdown antivirus. HAH.

Maybe someone not-so-avast-geek can tell how to kill avast without uninstall??

Paperport installation says Avast and few other prosesses use files that need to be updated by setup. Uninstall & install sounds stupid. Maybe I change to something that does not mess installations.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: cinchez on May 26, 2009, 06:08:58 PM
U could just STOP THE ON ACCESS SCANNER^^

(Right click the avast! icon in the task bar and hit stop on access-protection^^)

Hope this helps...

-AnimeLover^^
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: onlysomeone on May 26, 2009, 06:22:05 PM
Hmmm... why should you disable and even uninstall avast to install it remains a mystery?
What was the error message when you try to install with avast still installed?

Probably because it messes up installation of another program? Can't you guys read? What's so wrong killing avast for a few seconds? I have same problem and then I hit this thread where so called evangelists say it's almost a crime to shutdown antivirus. HAH.


I'm sorry but I don't think that there exists any program which needs avast! to be switched off when installing... ::)
Avast! doesn't do anything else than scan files for viruses - it doesn't change them and it doesn't block anything (only if there is a virus found, but this is an other thing (and this is what it is supposed to do)).

So I see absolutely no need and never saw any need before to switch off avast. ;)

If there is a program which produces problems with avast! please tell us which one it is so that we can try to solve this. :)

yours
onlysomeone
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: DavidR on May 26, 2009, 07:30:59 PM
Hmmm... why should you disable and even uninstall avast to install it remains a mystery?
What was the error message when you try to install with avast still installed?

Probably because it messes up installation of another program? Can't you guys read? What's so wrong killing avast for a few seconds? I have same problem and then I hit this thread where so called evangelists say it's almost a crime to shutdown antivirus. HAH.
<snip>

Had you followed your own advice (Can't you guys read? ) you will see in my first reply.

Quote from: DavidR
you can right click the avast icon and select Stop On-Access Protection, and reverse that Start On-Access Protection when you are done.

How to stop avast completely for a few seconds.

And in my second reply another means of 'Pausing' just the provider most likely to have any interaction.

Quote from: DavidR
Pausing the Standard Shield should be more than enough as that is the element that would be scanning installed/newly created files.

I don't believe it is a crime to pause the standard shield or even stop on-access protection, my only concern, was why it would be necessary at all as avast doesn't block but scans and alrets to infection.

That is why we were asking questions, to get to the bottom of the problem, nothing more, but we never got any further answers from the original poster, which is why I guess this topic has lain dormant for 5 months.
Title: --SOLVED--
Post by: veepee78 on June 11, 2009, 08:04:30 PM
It's quite obvious that evangelist(s) just doesnt know the gospels...   :-*

Shutdown is quite easy, just turn off self defence from settings -> trouble shooting. Then you can kill the processes.

No it didn't take this long to figure it out, just happened to hit this thread again. Maybe someone finds now answer from here.

cheers,
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: DavidR on June 11, 2009, 08:40:42 PM
We all know how to do this and that isn't the point, why bother installing an anti-virus designed to be resident and then set about killing it.

What you suggest is more long winded, would be restored on the next boot (or you have to manually start the process you stopped), you would also have to re-enable the self-defence module after such action or lose protection allowing malware to shutdown avast.

So what I suggested either pausing the Standard Shield or Stopping On-Access Protection is much quicker and easier to be reversed if what you want is to temporarily stop avast or one of its providers.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: veepee78 on June 11, 2009, 09:49:01 PM
I'm sure you do. Why was it so hard to answer the question. As in original posts, stop scanning and shields didn't do the trick, and I had exactly same problem in first place:

..."When I stop all of the avast services it still leaves ashDisp.exe running.
This can't be killed in task manager and having it running is causeing me problems installing some applications."...

Adam had to do uninstall and install to achieve successful installation of Paperport because lack of answer. Well now there is one. It just pisses me off when people wouldn't believe explanations..

Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: DavidR on June 11, 2009, 10:08:21 PM
For installing another application that shouldn't be necessary to 'completely' kill anything and Stopping the On-access protection will do the job as would pausing the standard shield.

That way you don't have to go on a journey to disable the self-defence module and then end the process and when you have completed whatever it is that you were doing, manually start the avast service you ended and enable the self-defence module.

That and only that is why we didn't suggest ending the process because a) it is long winded and b) not really required when the other options should work and aren't overkill.

Well I gave him an answer in Reply #2 before his post saying he uninstalled avast, installed paperport and reinstalled avast.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: veepee78 on June 11, 2009, 10:16:30 PM
c) it didn't work.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: DavidR on June 11, 2009, 11:45:34 PM
d) he didn't say that, so you make assumptions not based on fact.

So I intend to waste no further time as your understanding of how avast works doesn't support your questions or answers.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: veepee78 on June 12, 2009, 08:22:50 AM
Whaaat?

"Is there a way to shutdown AVAST entirely?
When I stop all of the avast services it still leaves ashDisp.exe running."

that is in the FIRST POST! Doesn't that mean he has tried to stop scanners the way you suggested? Well if it doesn't I did try that and it didn't work, only working option was to be able to KILL ALL AVAST PROSESSES. What is so hard to understand stopping scanners did not help at all for the problem??
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: igor on June 12, 2009, 08:53:32 AM
There is no problem (and none were described) - it's not necessary to stop avast! when installing other software (actually, it's a pretty stupid thing to do).
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: veepee78 on June 12, 2009, 10:04:59 AM
Obviously another wannabe blind.  ???

Which part of following you guys don't understand??

1. Installing paperport with Avast prosesses running wont succeed. Paperports installer informs files are in use by Avast.
2. And stopping on access scanner and all other providers does not help. It wont install after doing that. It wont.
3. Only when all avast services were down, installation succeeded.
4. I agree that it probably shouldn't hassle installations and it does not with anything else so far, only paperport.
5. Don't you agree that it's better to just kill avast services for a while than do the uninstall and install for it?
6. Problem was described by adam and me in this thread. You just don't get it, do you?

Over and out for me, I don't understand anymore what can be the issue here.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: igor on June 12, 2009, 10:26:29 AM
No, adam didn't describe anything, just posted a program name (naturally, I supposed it's one of those installers that ask you to close all running programs, without any reason). OK, you did - in one sentence, which I admit I didn't read because you reopened a months old thread and seemed to mostly troll, so I didn't really check the posts very carefully.

Anyway, if the Paperport installer really behaves like described, I'd call it a (very strange) bug in it. Why the hell would it need avast! off, if the resident protection is disabled (even that shouldn't be necessary)?
Personally, I certainly wouldn't install such a tool - and I believe we certainly won't be implementing any special avast!-disabling features just because of this crap (the first one I hear of - no other software has similar problems...)
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Lisandro on June 12, 2009, 01:13:40 PM
5. Don't you agree that it's better to just kill avast services for a while than do the uninstall and install for it?
No, for sure not. There isn't *any* reason to disable the antivirus while installing whatever you want...
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: DavidR on June 12, 2009, 03:21:17 PM
Whaaat?

"Is there a way to shutdown AVAST entirely?
When I stop all of the avast services it still leaves ashDisp.exe running."

that is in the FIRST POST! Doesn't that mean he has tried to stop scanners the way you suggested? Well if it doesn't I did try that and it didn't work, only working option was to be able to KILL ALL AVAST PROSESSES. What is so hard to understand stopping scanners did not help at all for the problem??

Despite saying I intend to not to waste any more time, for your education as you said/quoted.

Quote
"Is there a way to shutdown AVAST entirely?
When I stop all of the avast services it still leaves ashDisp.exe running."

This indicates to me that the original poster Adam had successfully stopped the avast services.

For your further education the ashDisp.exe is the avast icon and plays no part in the avast protection, it merely acts as the link to the GUI and Providers (which are dead as the Adam had stopped the services).

Obviously another wannabe blind.  ???
<snip>

As one of the avast developers I think his knowledge of avast and why it shouldn't need to be disabled to install a program, is far from blind. I would have to wonder what it is that, that program does that it doesn't want your anti-virus running to get involved in, what is it hiding.

I have had avast installed for a little over 5 years and never had to stop avast to install another program, if a program insists I disable my AV, I do want to know why and don't just take their word for it. If they can't give a reasonable and valid reason the application is history, it won't get installed.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: veepee78 on June 12, 2009, 09:01:51 PM
Also I was going to stop wasting my time, but had to attach these images. Before and after stopping Avast on access scanner. Few lines disappeares but not enough.

So http://www.nuance.com/imaging/paperport/paperport-professional.asp this is very dangerous application and no one who uses avast shoud not use it? right.

I don't know why those processes are on the list but I like to stop them all. There is ignore option also, but then something might go wrong with installation.

If there is a way to stop remaining ones without taking self defence off and using task manager, feel free to advise.

Sorry for trollish language, but I just can't understand why it's so hard just tell the steps to temporarily kill avast..
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: onlysomeone on June 12, 2009, 09:11:14 PM
I would press the "Ignore" Button...
But I'm no specialist  :-\

Don't think that there should be any problems...
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: veepee78 on June 12, 2009, 09:21:47 PM
Probably it would work, but if I like to kill apps on my computer, I should have rights and measures to do so. If someone else would not, it's he's/her's decision. I don't like to be questioned and ignored when I hit facts on the table. And that's what happened here..
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: onlysomeone on June 12, 2009, 09:27:00 PM
Hmm... I find it interesting that there are also Firefox, Outlook and PowerDVD on the list...
But I'm afraid, I can't really help you.

I don't know any other way than the one you described with disabling self-defense and killing the services manually...
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: veepee78 on June 12, 2009, 09:41:31 PM
yeah, list is quite weird but that's the way it is. Anyway problem solved and issue pointed out.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: deriven on October 01, 2009, 04:35:29 PM
DISCLAIMER:  My situation is apples to this post's orange installation software issue.  But the post helped me so...

I had to register and reply for this situation because you ALL are correct here.  You should NOT need to stop the system and yet the answer provided by veepee78 solves an issue -- one I had as well.

My company uses avast Server Edition and love it.  I needed to change the email address that receives virus database update notifications.  I couldn't make the change in the control panel and enhanced control panel.  (I tried.  I clicked Alerts > SMTP among other options to get to that address to no avail.  Clicking the SMTP button in the Alerts tab does nothing.  Perhaps it shouldn't.  You certainly can provide a different solution.  I don't mind a better way.)  Anyway, I've heard I could uninstall/reinstall avast in order to update this entry.  Didn't like that option nor believed it was the only option.  Found several posts on here dictating where the avast4.ini file exists and its many tokens.  Tried to edit the SMTPLogTo token and hit save but the file was in use.  (Duh!)  I tried to stop the providers and save: same issue.  Lurked more in the forums and found a post where someone suggested to stop all services in the MMC Services panel.  I did and found that the aswDisp.exe file was still open and that I could not stop it in the Task Manager.  "Access Denied!"  Fair enough.

Enter this post.  I agree with you that avast need not be stopped.  But I still needed an answer to help find a logical solution and relay the message here for future development purposes, if any.  So I followed veepee78's one-step solution (with all services stopped) and it didn't work.  But heck, nothing worked when I stopped the services in services.msc.  (This is where the evangelists and tech support are correct.  You shouldn't need to stop it and stopping it may cause more factors.)  So I started the services back up and un-did veepee78's solution.  The avast4.ini file is still in use and I'm still out of luck.  Lastly, I re-instated veepee78's solution (which is an avast feature, meaning it was put in there for a reason by the devs).  I could save the file.  Success!  Of course, I unchecked the checkbox right afterwards to be sure.

After that, I tried one more time to make an edit to the ini file and hit save.  Once again, file was in use.  So that completes my observation.  I hope that helps others and that the responders in the forum keep providing solutions regardless of conflict.  Conflict brings correction through compassion and compromise.

The quick and dirty...

1) You should NOT need to stop the services for any reason.  You may have to stop the providers on extreme cases.

2) You can check the "Disable avast! self-defense module" in the Troubleshooting section of Settings... on extreme cases.  But this is a troubleshooting "feature" that should be unchecked after you evaluate your situation.

3) When all else fails, the tech support, evangelists, and community are not the enemy.  Try to post your issues (and responses) without slander, sarcasm, or the like.  All thought should be welcome if it is removed of commentary.  Otherwise, it only expands the thread with many tangents.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: kb7 on October 06, 2009, 11:36:42 AM
i ran avast once, don't like how it operated. it's that simple. i want to get rid of it. to delete it, i need to shut it down first. same problem as everyone else--the quit button has been disabled. there really should've been a disclaimer, b/c this is ridiculous. all these people want to shut it off, so they should be able to shut it off and/or get rid of it, and it shouldn't be difficult to do.
the fact that these avast "enthusiasts" have such a roundabout way of answering questions, and because i've read where it literally took several attempts to get the answer the user wanted, makes me feel that avast is a shady program. i'm the user--did you or did you not make it for the user? therefore i should be able to uninstall it easily if i so desire.
i finally shut down avast and when i went into the system, found it and sent it to the trash, it refused to delete. it says it can't--com.avast.MacAvast.MAD is in use. WHY is this part of it in use? i want to shut the whole thing down and get rid of it. i don't want and don't need restrictions put on me and would rather use some other antivirus that doesn't give me such problems shutting it down or deleting it if i don't like it!! have some respect, avast-makers.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: DavidR on October 06, 2009, 02:37:28 PM
If you didn't like it the uninstall is your course of action.

If you want to shut it down temporarily, our concerns in asking why is to ensure that the user remains protected. Many programs suggest shutting down your AV before you install them and that frankly is crazy, the time you most want your AV running is when installing applications.

If it isn't for a temporary reason, but to try and use it for on-demand scans only then simply shutting down the resident functions isn't enough. avast is designed as a resident on-access scanner so it also starts low level drivers to be able to act early enough to prevent files executing before being scanned.

To try to stop these low level drivers from running, there is no GUI option (as we said it is designed to be on-access)

I can't speak of your experiences of the removal of the Unix/Linux/Mac version of avast as I have never used it.

It would have best been addressed in the specific forum relating to the Unix/Linux/Mac version of avast, which is totally different to the Windows version (as it isn't resident I believe), where the points above relate to the windows version and no doubt other topics you have read.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: greyshade on October 06, 2009, 03:26:18 PM
<off-topic>

DavidR,

Just wanted to acknowledge your remarkable restraint and dignified response in the face of totally unwarranted provocation.

It always pays to be polite, more so when you are under fire... and you have so admirably demonstrated this old-school principle.

This forum (and it is a whole education in here) will always remain a popular place with more people like you... and thankfully, there are quite a few.

~cheers! to all the evangelists. your stock just rose.  :)

</off-topic>

Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: puck on October 06, 2009, 10:24:55 PM
I stumbled upon this thread via google because Avast was keeping me from cleaning up my start up programs.   I used Startup Inspector to do this and it was not functioning properly while avast was running, even if avast was 'paused'.     Avast was not allowing Startup inspector to apply any changes to the start up list while Avast was running.  I kept getting an error message when trying to make the changes that said that it could not make any changes and said something about avast.  I do no recall the exact error message and did not write it down unfortunately.  I did try stopping all the various avast modules and that did not work.  I then tried to kill its processess to no avail.  It was at that point that I found this thread.

I did what veepee78 suggested, turn off Avast's self protection and then killed avast completely.  Startup Inspector then could apply any changes I wanted and now I've returned Avast to its original state.  I wonder if it might have worked by only disabling the self protect.  I did not think to try that at the time.   I thought I'd pass this on for anyone that may care.   I also would argue it is not unreasonable as a computer user/owner to expect an easier way to shut down any software, regardless of what my reason may be.  
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: DavidR on October 06, 2009, 11:51:40 PM
The avast self-defence module should only protect avast's files, registry entries, startup items, etc.

It doesn't effect other startup entries. The only startup item if we're talking msconfig type startup items, then the ashDisp.exe (avast tray icon) is the only user startup item.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: puck on October 07, 2009, 01:52:08 AM
I'm sure you are right but that did happen.   I consistently received an error message whenever I tried to apply any changes and the message indicated that avast was the problem.  Only after I killed avast could I commit any changes.   I can't explain why this happened (I'm not sure) but it did indeed happen and Avast, as best I can tell, certainly played a role in the problem. 
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Tangento on May 17, 2010, 01:06:49 AM
How about this:

Some of us have older PCs on which we sometimes require the freedom to shut down certain running processes in order to conserve system resources. In addition, some of us are musicians who sometimes like to disconnect from the 'net, shut down some processes and record our instruments. Then there are gamers, etc. Right now my task manager is telling me that Avastsvc.exe is sucking up about 28,728K. "Silent/ Gaming Mode" does nothing whatsoever to alter this, AFAICS. Disabling the shields actually increased usage. For people like us, it is extremely frustrating to have an otherwise great program like Avast making nazi-like decisions for us, as to which programs we can & cannot shut down when we need to. EVERY INSTALLED PROGRAM should provide an option to temporarily disable (meaning to actually disable) or close the program, or to at least allow this to be accomplished from the task manager.

Fire away, evangelists!
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: CharleyO on May 17, 2010, 11:43:59 PM
***

Welcome to the forums, Tangento   :)

Your computer must be very old for you to have those problems. I built mine in 2004 and have no problems such as you describe above. See my signature below for the major system specs.


***
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Tangento on May 18, 2010, 02:14:53 AM
Hello Charley,

Thanks for the welcome. Yes, it's a pretty old box, about 2003.

Looking at my post, I don't really see any problems listed.

I just want to be able to shut off the program.  :-\
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Tangento on June 02, 2010, 09:21:06 AM
So no other Avast/ Stepford people care to weigh in on this thing? ;D
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: igor on June 02, 2010, 10:43:56 AM
How many of the services running on your system provide a direct option to disable them? None maybe?
You can go to Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services and stop it.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Lisandro on June 02, 2010, 01:34:02 PM
I can't understand why users insist on disabling the essential services/programs of the computer precisely when they're most needed... ::) ::)
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: katesmom99 on June 24, 2010, 04:18:26 PM
I found this thread while searching for a way to temporarily shut down Avast. My 4 year old grandson likes to play an online game called Webkinz Jr (www.webkinzjr.com). When I log in to his account, the site starts to load and then hangs and will not finish loading. From some searching, I discovered that this is a known problem with Avast. It was suggested that I exclude 11 urls in Avast. I did this, and it still wouldn't load. I wanted to shut down Avast to see whether the site would load. Of course, I found that I couldn't do that. I did try pausing everything, but Webkinz Jr would still not load. When I uninstalled Avast, Webkinz Jr loaded perfectly.

Webkinz Jr is a game that my grandson has been playing for some time. I am not afraid of it doing anything to my computer. (And, yes, I worked in the computer field for 25 years, so this isn't simply an uninformed opinion.) I was initially looking for a way to resolve the problem so that I could continue using Avast and still allow my grandson to access Webkinz Jr. After reading the posts in this thread, I have changed my mind. I really object to the "we know what's best for you" attitude I found here. I can understand that you don't want to make it easy for novice users to shut down protection where they may not know what they're doing. But to make it impossible for ANY user to completely shut down Avast without doing an uninstall strikes me as unnecessarily paternalistic. I have switched to another anti-virus program, and I will no longer be recommending Avast to others.

I would suggest that you go out and buy a Webkinz Jr animal (to get a log-in code) and do some work to make it possible for your program to coexist with Webkinz Jr. But that's your call. It won't be a problem for me any more.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: CharleyO on June 25, 2010, 05:08:03 PM
***

I can't understand why users insist on disabling the essential services/programs of the computer precisely when they're most needed... ::) ::)

+ 1


***
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: senselocke on July 08, 2010, 10:54:52 AM
New user, new poster here.

This is pathetic, all of you "evangelists" and "technicals". The OP asked a specific question, and got zero help. And to make matters worse, you insinuated he/she was wrong to want to do what they wanted to do. Or, even better, called people asking for your help liars, insinuating your program is perfect, doesn't need to be shut down, doesn't hog resources, doesn't block installs, doesn't interfere with things it's not supposed to. Instead of telling everyone how wrong they are, how about figuring out why your program is doing these things it's not supposed to do, and fix it?

It shouldn't matter what program they were using, why they wanted to do this, or how "dangerous" it was to disable it--YOU ALL KNEW THE ANSWER AND HELD OUT ON GIVING IT. It's insulting, ridiculous, and, if this is the sort of "help" on offer, seriously makes me consider uninstalling the program right now.

I am on a family computer, that's a P.O.S. I installed Avast to try to clean it up, as buying a new computer is not something everyone can do at a whim. But Avast was using over 85% of my CPU, on idle. I had to kill the bastard. Considering I had no AV running at all for years, stopping it now is not going to cause world war 3--but even using the "disable defence" I had to play whack-a-mole in the Task manager to get the bugger to finally die.

Here's a tip, "evangelists"--if I install an anti-virus program, I expect certain things, namely, that it play nicely. Not allowing users to shut it down EVEN WHEN THEY WANT TO is not playing nicely, it's rather rude. Then, when a poster comes here asking for help, you do nothing but belittle or ignore them, telling them they don't really need to, and reading the riot act. Shame on you. It's not your job to question why, just give the answer.

Now, I have Avast finally killed, so I can start backing up my crappy computer. You might have noticed, but the sky is not falling, WW3 is not broken out, and Jeebus is not returning, so obviously, killing Avast is not fatal. If you seriously want your program to become a contender in the AV space, you had better pull your collective heads out of your bums and start being humble, respectful, and helpful, and stop being arrogant, elitist jerks.

Oh, and install a damn "kill" function--I don't hit that red "X" button and expect to tickle a program, I want that bastard to die. And please, don't lecture me on why I shouldn't--it's not your job to tell potential customers what they shouldn't want to do, it's your job to tell them how to do it. Grow up, get off the horse, and start being helpful, or shut up and let others who are helpful do your job. But don't preach to everyone about how superior and perfect your obviously intrusive and buggy program is.

~senselocke, a severely irked new poster
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Lisandro on July 08, 2010, 01:29:30 PM
This is pathetic, all of you "evangelists" and "technicals". The OP asked a specific question, and got zero help.
Just read the first reply of David with full information on disabling avast.
On contrary, the OP came and never came back. That's what botters me most...

Or, even better, called people asking for your help liars, insinuating your program is perfect, doesn't need to be shut down, doesn't hog resources, doesn't block installs, doesn't interfere with things it's not supposed to.
Nobody is denying avast issues. What we can't understand is the reason to disable.
avast does NOT need to be shutdown. Any other antivirus needs it. Change the antivirus, change the hardware but do not think that disabling the antivirus is the way to go.

Instead of telling everyone how wrong they are, how about figuring out why your program is doing these things it's not supposed to do, and fix it?
Fix what?

It's insulting, ridiculous, and, if this is the sort of "help" on offer, seriously makes me consider uninstalling the program right now.
I think I'm losing my time here...

start being humble, respectful, and helpful, and stop being arrogant, elitist jerks.
Who's being unhelpful, arrogant, elitist here? Did you participate a little in the forums? Do you know where you are? No, you don't.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: VanHelsing on July 15, 2010, 04:05:02 PM
I need to run Combo-Fix but im having trouble shutting Avast 5 down. I have shut it down on th tool bar but Combo Fix says there is still a scanner running in the background.  According to the prompts in Combo-Fix it is dangerous to run the program with anti-virus running in the background.  Please advise on how to proceed.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Lisandro on July 16, 2010, 03:11:41 AM
Right click the 'a' orange icon.
avast! shields control.
Choose a time to disable the protection.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: VanHelsing on July 16, 2010, 03:44:42 PM
I right clicked on the "A" in the taskbar and chose close indefinitely.  When I tried to run Combo-Fix it said there was still an Avast scanner running in the background.  Should I just un-install Avast and then do the Combo-Fix?  Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Lisandro on July 16, 2010, 05:55:53 PM
No. Maybe it is detecting the drivers loaded. If you disable all the shields, the protection is gone.
Does Windows Security Center (Action Center) alert you don't have antivirus protection?
I think it's safe to run ComboFix in this situation.
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: VanHelsing on July 16, 2010, 06:05:25 PM
Yes the Windows Security Center does come up and tell me that I do not have AV on.  Ok so cool.  I will run Combo-Fix now. Better to be safe than sorry. Thanks!
Title: Re: Howto shutdown AVAST completely
Post by: Lisandro on July 16, 2010, 08:47:07 PM
You're welcome. Please, post back.