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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: blowtorch73 on September 28, 2012, 10:26:59 AM

Title: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on September 28, 2012, 10:26:59 AM
I have had a full scan running for 65minutes and yet the bar shows that only 6% of the scan has been completed. Is this normal for the pro version?
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on September 28, 2012, 12:12:18 PM
Have you made any changes to the pre-defined Full scan default settings ?

Have you done a Full scan before and was that similar in duration ?

Personally I feel a Quick scan is more than adequate as it covers the more critical files/areas, the Full scan goes to the next level of risk.

- With a resident on-access antivirus like avast, the need for frequent on-demand scans is much depreciated. For the most part the on-demand scan is going to be scanning files that would be otherwise be dormant or inert. If they were active files then the on-access file system shield would be scanning them before being created, modified, opened or executed.

I have avast set to do a scheduled weekly Quick scan, set at a time and day that I know the computer will be on. If for some reason my system wasn't on, no big deal I will catch up on the next scheduled scan.

###
I see from your signature that you have SAS and MBAM are either of these resident on-access ?
If SAS Pro has resident scanning enabled try it disabled when avast is scanning.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on September 28, 2012, 01:29:14 PM
Have you made any changes to the pre-defined Full scan default settings ? .................No.

Have you done a Full scan before and was that similar in duration ? ...................Yes, but it took just over an hour.

Personally I feel a Quick scan is more than adequate as it covers the more critical files/areas, the Full scan goes to the next level of risk. .............I always do a quick and a full scan but may now take your advice and do a quick only.

I have avast set to do a scheduled weekly Quick scan, set at a time and day that I know the computer will be on. ...........I didn't know that this could be done but will look into it now!

I see from your signature that you have SAS and MBAM are either of these resident on-access ? .............Not sure what this means.
If SAS Pro has resident scanning enabled try it disabled when avast is scanning. ............I use SAS as an on demand scanner only.

Thank you for your reply. The scan is now complete and took 2hours and 55 minutes ie it took an hour to complete 6% and a further 2 hours to do the remaining 94%.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on September 28, 2012, 02:03:25 PM
Its weird that this time frame has almost tripled, yet you have made no changes.

Have you defragged your Hard Drive recently ?

Check the settings in the Full and Quick Scan, More Details, Settings, Performance, ensure that the following are checked (enabled), Speed up scanning by using the persistent cache (default setting) and the Store data about scanned files in the persistent cache (not a default setting). The latter option should help in speeding up scans subsequently.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on October 01, 2012, 04:40:55 PM
Thank you for your reply. In the slow scan, the store data was unchecked and now is, and in the full scan, the persistant cache was unchecked but now is. I have never ever tried to alter the settings or even accessed them before now.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on October 01, 2012, 04:46:58 PM
Got an e-mail today:
'Miroslav Jensic entitled [#QQR-920679 Slow Scanning'.
Did it come from this site?
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on October 01, 2012, 04:49:26 PM
Thank you for your reply. In the slow scan, the store data was unchecked and now is, and in the full scan, the persistant cache was unchecked but now is. I have never ever tried to alter the settings or even accessed them before now.

Strange that the 'Speed up scanning by using the persistent cache' as it is a default setting.

Hopefully it will speed up future scans, but this may take a couple scans to have fully populated the persistent cache.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on October 01, 2012, 04:53:54 PM
Got an e-mail today:
'Miroslav Jensic entitled [#QQR-920679 Slow Scanning'.
Did it come from this site?

I don't think so as the title seems to have a support ticket reference at the start of it. Though I have never needed to log a support ticket entry, I don't know if that is the correct reference ID.

If it were from this forum then I would have expected it to be posted in the topic.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on October 01, 2012, 05:48:03 PM
Googled Miroslav Jensic and up came Miroslav Jansic a Bosnian poet. Didn't open the e-mail and transferred it to junk.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on October 01, 2012, 06:26:14 PM
The question really is did you create an avast support ticked about this problem ?

Of course it may have been referred by one of the moderators, but that is unknown, but I have seen responses when the report to moderator link is used (but normally it is in the topic).
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on October 01, 2012, 07:49:54 PM
The question really is did you create an avast support ticked about this problem ?

I have no recollection of having done so :-\, but having a severe memory problem, that is par for the course for me.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on October 01, 2012, 07:56:04 PM
 :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ David, I am really, really sorry. Went back and opened the deleted e-mail and low and behold, it was a support reply. I had raised a ticket and the reply was from Miroslav Jensic at Avast Software.

PS He provided the following link which fully explains the persistant cache and store data items:

http://blog.avast.com/2010/04/25/how-to-make-the-full-system-scan-6x-faster-in-10-days/
 
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on October 01, 2012, 08:31:51 PM
Am now running a full scan again after the changes to the persitant cache and the store data. The results from this mornings scan were as follows:
Run time: 2h.59m
Files: 462192
Folders: 54420
Data tested; 150.8GB

Will post the new scan result later.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on October 01, 2012, 09:58:35 PM
:-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ David, I am really, really sorry. Went back and opened the deleted e-mail and low and behold, it was a support reply. I had raised a ticket and the reply was from Miroslav Jensic at Avast Software.

PS He provided the following link which fully explains the persistant cache and store data items:

http://blog.avast.com/2010/04/25/how-to-make-the-full-system-scan-6x-faster-in-10-days/

No problem, easy to forget if there is a bit of a delay.

The instructions I gave are basically what is outlined in the link that they gave without being so long winded and related to the current avast version (as the article is quite old, but still relevant).

As I mentioned it may take a few scans to see the full benefit.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on October 01, 2012, 11:52:56 PM
Post persistent cache and store data changes scan:
Run time: 1h.10
Files: 465222
Folders: 54657
Data tested: 151.5GB

Although the scan time was down about 60%+, the most surprising thing as far as I am concerned, was the speed which started off at around 80MB+ but ended mainly about 20-30MB (not that I know what difference this makes).
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on October 02, 2012, 12:54:58 AM
I generally don't bother monitoring the scanning rate MB as that will change as the scan progresses and when it hits different file types and sizes. The only things that I monitor are the overall scan duration and the amount of data scanned (GBs).

So you are seeing a massive change when using the persistent cache, scan duration for what should be the same amount of data scanned.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on October 02, 2012, 01:17:40 AM
That information in isolation is meaningless with no data/information to compare against.

My quick scan only takes around three minutes, that too is meaningless as my system specification is likely to be different to yours, as is the amount of data scanned and if you have made any changes to the default settings in the quick scan.

You can only really compare a scan duration against your own previous scans.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on October 02, 2012, 11:30:39 AM
So you are seeing a massive change when using the persistent cache, scan duration for what should be the same amount of data scanned.

All down to you David, thank you so much! :)
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on October 02, 2012, 11:37:35 AM
That information in isolation is meaningless with no data/information to compare against.

My quick scan only takes around three minutes, that too is meaningless as my system specification is likely to be different to yours, as is the amount of data scanned and if you have made any changes to the default settings in the quick scan.

You can only really compare a scan duration against your own previous scans.
You beat me to it david, I was just going to say that :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on October 02, 2012, 11:52:40 AM
So you are seeing a massive change when using the persistent cache, scan duration for what should be the same amount of data scanned.

All down to you David, thank you so much! :)

You're welcome.

<snip quote>
You beat me to it david, I was just going to say that :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[

You have to be fast on the avast forums, they are very active ;D
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: blowtorch73 on November 18, 2012, 04:16:53 AM
Just changed over to Avast Internet Security and the first full scan has been running for well over 2 hours with just 16% scanned. How can I speed this up????
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on November 18, 2012, 11:51:24 AM
You don't say how you changed over to AIS if this was a clean install or possibly even an install over the top ?
There is a possibility that the Persistent Cache (as previously mentioned) has to be built up again. avastUI, Scan Computer, Scan (that you want to do) name, Settings, Performance, Persistent cache (check both options to use and crucially store). You can also increase the Scan priority,but that would have a greater impact on system performance.

You don't mention if you have changed any settings from the defaults ?

You also don't give any idea how long a full scan took previously ?
Title: Free? Yes. But why such a slow scan?
Post by: JohnMWoods on November 25, 2013, 10:19:20 PM
Avast pro antivirus free -- REALLY? 3 hours to only get to 6% of the total "QUICK" scan! Why so slow?
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: Eddy on November 25, 2013, 10:30:31 PM
Telling speed/time and such doesn't mean a thing without more details.

John,
don't change the topic of a thread please.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on November 25, 2013, 10:46:08 PM
Avast pro antivirus free -- REALLY? 3 hours to only get to 6% of the total "QUICK" scan! Why so slow?

3 hours is extremely unusual - However, no one can say as we don't know anything about your system, Operating System, CPU, RAM and size of HDD and data to be scanned ?
Did you make any changes to the default settings for the Quick scan ?

Another crucial question is - Have (or did) you another Anti-Virus installed in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?

Note: There isn't an avast! Pro antivirus program that is 'free', do you mean you are using the avast! Pro antivirus trial version (30 day free trial) ?
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: JohnMWoods on November 26, 2013, 01:37:05 AM
Thank you for your response and I am sorry for being vague in my post and for the delay in getting the blanks filled in. This is a very old Dell Inspiron 1200; XP Pro SP3. 1.3GHz, 760MB RAM and the HDD is 40G with a scant 23 percent free space . It is the trial version, yes. Sadly, MS Security Essentials is still installed on the machine. I am helping out my friend who is determined to keep using this computer. As I type this note, the progress is only at 21 percent. And forgive me to the high-on-his-horse creep who cautioned me not to change topics in a single thread, but 21 percent after SO many hours does indeed constitute SLOW SCANNING, ergo, this IS the appropriate thread you self-centered, ill-mannered malcontent. Keep up with those poorly placed admonishments and you will scare people away an creep factor alone.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: DavidR on November 26, 2013, 01:55:43 AM
The second resident AV being installed would throw a spanner in the works, duplication of scanning being just one issue.

Having two AVs on an old system which is probably low on system resources (CPU and RAM) is likely to compound this further.

Aside from the above there can be times when they could conflict as they fight for control, a bit like two dogs fighting over a bone. Lets say avast is going to open a file for scanning, the second AV sees this request and its low level driver locks the file and scans it before allowing the first scan to proceed.

A worst case scenario is that the two low level drivers lock up.

PS Eddy is not saying it is the wrong topic or off-topic, but that to even begin to help we need more information (such as I asked). You did change your Posts Subject (from that of the Topic), anyone that responds directly to your post, would retain the subject title that you gave (so it can get confused), which is different to the Topics Title.

Something that you should know, A) most of the people who help in these forums are volunteers and B) many of them don't have English as their first language, so meaning/intent can become confused.

So getting irate and throwing around insults doesn't help keep the topic civil.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: Swarm on December 07, 2013, 07:55:55 AM
Hi guys, also having slow scanning problems since installing Avast 9 Free, upgrading from version 8.  Scanning a small file, 1.6MB, which previously took only seconds with version 8, now taking 15+ minutes to complete.

No other AV installed
No changes to system since installing version 9
System: Toshiba laptop, AMD E350 1.6GHz, 4GB, Win7.

Also, anyone know whats the go with the "????"; for example, if I go to Scan and open the drop down list to select type of scan there are 4/5 scan types and about 20 entries labelled ????.  Also shows up when running file scan, i.e. right click on file select scan with avast, scan window opens, as with version 8, but window remains empty and a taskbar popup appears with the % complete bar and  the msg "???? / Running"

Noticed a few other quirks as well, almost as if version 9 hasn't quite been finished off.

???? is four question marks ? ? ? ?
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: COMPUTIAC on December 16, 2013, 06:08:40 PM
I have exactly the same problem, with the exception of the  ???
Whenever I download some thing, I save it to the desktop, then scan with Avast. It used to take seconds to do this. Now it takes several minutes. 
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: Para-Noid on December 16, 2013, 06:24:09 PM
I have exactly the same problem, with the exception of the  ???
Whenever I download some thing, I save it to the desktop, then scan with Avast. It used to take seconds to do this. Now it takes several minutes.
Your problem is not the same. That said there are many variables to consider.
Size of file, packer settings, etc. One thing you may want to do is to update to
v2014 2010b http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=142550.0 "use the custom install option".
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: COMPUTIAC on December 16, 2013, 06:34:03 PM
Why do you say it is not the same problem ? It is the same.

I have AIS 2014 and since it updated from ver.8 I've had this problem. Your link leads to a Beta version.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: Eddy on December 16, 2013, 06:42:36 PM
No, it doesn't have to be the same.
Each system is different.
Each person is running other applications.
Each person has made other settings.

And no, it is not really a beta version.
The stages are:
1) Developer version.
2) Alpha version.
3) Beta version.
4) RC (Release Candidate).
5) Final / official release.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: COMPUTIAC on December 16, 2013, 06:52:23 PM
OK then, the problem is similar. Is this a better term ?  Now, how do I fix this ?
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: Para-Noid on December 16, 2013, 06:54:16 PM
Why do you say it is not the same problem ? It is the same.

I have AIS 2014 and since it updated from ver.8 I've had this problem. Your link leads to a Beta version.

I notice you are running both avast and SAS Pro at the same time.
Not a good idea because SAS Pro has a resident anti-spyware module
which has been known to cause/create conflicts with avast. My advice is to
disable the real-time protection in SAS but leave the auto-update enabled.

edit: What file? What are your settings? What other security software?
        What else is running on your machine? What is your CPU speed?

        Like I said too many variables!
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: COMPUTIAC on December 16, 2013, 06:59:00 PM
Hi, thank's.
The real-time protection in SAS is disabled and updates are on auto.

Edit: updated spec's.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: Para-Noid on December 16, 2013, 07:08:25 PM
Hi, thank's.
The real-time protection in SAS is disabled and updates are on auto.

How are our scan times after running several scans?
Are they improving? Both quick and full scans?

Your downloads are scanned by the file shield.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: COMPUTIAC on December 16, 2013, 07:16:00 PM
Hi, thank's.
The real-time protection in SAS is disabled and updates are on auto.

How are our scan times after running several scans?
Are they improving? Both quick and full scans?

Your downloads are scanned by the file shield.

Full and quick scans are very fast, they are not and never were the problem.

When I download a anything, from anywhere, I save it to the desktop. Then, right click on it, this give a choice to scan it with Avast or SAS or MBAM.
Scanning is with Avast is like cement going thru a funnel, very slow. This takes several minutes at the least.

When I scan with either SAS or MBAM, scanning is very fast, maybe a couple of seconds.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: Para-Noid on December 16, 2013, 07:50:19 PM
Are the files packed or unpacked?
By default avast scans only certain packers.
GUI>Settings>Active Protection>click on the file shield "sprocket"

If unpacked and your right click scans are still slow you may need to do a repair.

edit: My right click scan are finished instantly.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: COMPUTIAC on December 16, 2013, 08:01:19 PM
My settings are the same as yours.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: COMPUTIAC on December 17, 2013, 05:19:30 PM
Updated to 2014.9.0.2011 today. Still have the same problem !

Is there any way to fix this ?
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: COMPUTIAC on December 18, 2013, 01:09:24 AM
No one has a way to do anything about this ?
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: drake127 on December 18, 2013, 01:42:21 AM
You can send us a process dump of AvastUI.exe and AvastSvc.exe while it scans. We can look where it wanders.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: COMPUTIAC on December 18, 2013, 01:43:57 AM
You can send us a process dump of AvastUI.exe and AvastSvc.exe while it scans. We can look where it wanders.

OK, how do I do this ?
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: drake127 on December 18, 2013, 01:47:46 AM
In Task Manager, right click the process (you might check to show processes from all users) and select "Create Dump File" or similar. Send me the resulting files (kominek _at_ avast.com) or upload them somewhere and send me links.
Title: Re: SLOW SCANNING
Post by: COMPUTIAC on December 18, 2013, 02:15:53 AM
I made the file C:\Users\COMPUT~1\AppData\Local\Temp\AvastUI
but can't find it. If I enter this in the start box, windows says it can't open it. How do I find it and copy it ?