Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: n01clueless on April 18, 2013, 10:32:54 AM
-
I've noticed that boot time (Vista) is noticeably longer with Avast 8 than Avast 7. According to Soluto Avast takes around 40 seconds to load, much longer than anything else.
I just wondered if others have found this. If it's normal, that's fine.
-
I use vista 32 bit, boot time no longer here.
-
I've noticed that boot time (Vista) is noticeably longer with Avast 8 than Avast 7.
Sorry, I can't say anything to the boot time of Vista, but the boot time of W2000 is longer since avast!8, too!
Some members of the forum could make the boot time faster with a clean install.
What was your way of installation: over the UI or did you make a clean install?
-
Thanks for the reply Sky. Clean install to answer your question. I also made sure there were no remnants by using rezjor's cleanup tool. In fact, the 40 sec I gave above was relatively good. The average Avast load time according to Soluto tends to be over 50 seconds.
Any other suggestions would really be appreciated.
-
Try delaying the Auto Update check - In avast8 you need to edit (using notepad) avast5.ini the [InetWD] section of the, C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\avast5.ini. Win7, Vista location, this folder may be hidden.
- Broadband connections, add this line:
AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120 and
AssumeAlwaysConnected=1 if not present (or edit AssumeAlwaysConnected=0 to AssumeAlwaysConnected=1)
[InetWD]
AssumeAlwaysConnected=1
AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120
When complete save the changes, avast's self-defence module will ask for confirmation, etc. answer Yes. You can extend this duration if required.
-
Thanks for the reply Sky. Clean install to answer your question.
Oh, ok. I thought, this could be the reason. I updated via UI.
@David,
do you know, if these settings will be included in the next/new version of avast!8?
Or do you think, a slower boot time is an individual problem of a few users?
-
These settings have been available via the avast5.ini file for some considerable time, so I rather doubt they will be incorporated within the UI or default within the program. Since we are already on avast8 I can't see this coming in an incremental update, when this isn't a massive issue effecting lots of users.
I can't speculate on what a users system/problem might be to cause a slower boot; that would require detailed information on that users system (spec, programs running, especially security based ones).
-
Try delaying the Auto Update check - In avast8 you need to edit (using notepad) avast5.ini the [InetWD] section of the, C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\avast5.ini. Win7, Vista location, this folder may be hidden.
- Broadband connections, add this line:
AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120 and
AssumeAlwaysConnected=1 if not present (or edit AssumeAlwaysConnected=0 to AssumeAlwaysConnected=1)
[InetWD]
AssumeAlwaysConnected=1
AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120
When complete save the changes, avast's self-defence module will ask for confirmation, etc. answer Yes. You can extend this duration if required.
In Avast5 notepad I couldn't find InetWD or Broadband connections (Vista).
-
There is no Broadband connections as such, that is my paragraph title to show what switches/parameters are used (the bold text).
The InetWD is a section heading and will have [square brackets] around it.
If that isn't there you can't be looking at the right file as that has to be there as should be the AssumeAlwaysConnected parameter.
Can you post the full path and the file you are looking at ?
Check the attached image it is what is in mine, you have to scan a long way down that file to get to the [InetWD] section.
-
Thanks for the help. I've got the path as far as C:\ProgramData\AVAST Software\Avast\ but then all I've got is Avast5, which looks nothing like yours. I can't see Avast5.ini. anywhere.
-
Windows is probably hiding the .ini file type after the avast5 name, in the file 'Type' column it is a configuration settings file. It is in that location in my win7 system, which should be the same as for Vista (which I don't have).
It is quite a large file for a text file, 20KB on mine, so you really have to find the section either scroll down or use the search in notepad looking for [InetWD] in the avast5.ini (configuration settings) file.
-
Under Avast 5 properties it says name: avast5.ini and Type: Configuration Settings, so this is the Vista equivalent of what you've got but, having searched, there is definitely no [InetWD]. It's also a much smaller file than yours, only 9 KB.
-
I had to add that line in the avast5.ini file.
Don`t know if that worked.
-
Whilst a smaller file size isn't an issue, as a recently installed version of avast and little or no changes to the avast default settings wouldn't result in many changes to the avast5.ini.
I honestly don't know what is going on with your avast5.ini file, but I believe that [InetWD] section has to be there, though if no changes are made to the avast defaults it may not be required, but I do find it strange. I have given out this instruction many times and you are the first to report that the [InetWD] section isn't present.
Some changes you can make in the avastUI > Settings > Updates tab:
- Update Parameters, set that to 'My computer is permanently connected to the internet.
- Scroll further down to the Details section and expand that, reduce the 'Auto-update interval to say 180 (3 hours).
- Scroll down to the Proxy Settings (expand that) and change that to 'Direct connection (no proxy).
These change should be reflected in the avast5.ini [InetWD] section.
-
Good. Those UI changes have now added the [InetWD] section at the bottom of avast5.ini (believe me, it wasn't there before). It shows AssumeAlwaysConnected=1, reflecting, as you said, the UI changes, but not AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120. So, presumably if I add this manually as per your first post this should hopefully reduce load time?
-
Yes you have to add that as per the original instructions, it must be in the [InetWD] section and before the next [ ] section heading, probably best to place it on a new line below the AssumeAlwaysConnected=1 entry as in my first image.
-
Thanks. Have you had any problems trying to save it? The Avast warning pops up - no problem, but then Windows tells me the file can't be created and to check the path and file name are correct.
Sorted - had to run as Administrator. Wish pop up had said that. Thanks again.
-
You're welcome, I keep forgetting about Vista and later requiring Admin privileges.
-
These settings have been available via the avast5.ini file for some considerable time, so I rather doubt they will be incorporated within the UI or default within the program. Since we are already on avast8 I can't see this coming in an incremental update, when this isn't a massive issue effecting lots of users.
I can't speculate on what a users system/problem might be to cause a slower boot; that would require detailed information on that users system (spec, programs running, especially security based ones).
OK, thanks David!
-
You can think what you want but i tell you honestly that the inetwd details aren`t in mine version 8 of avast.
I do use win7 64bit.
So i have inserted your details in the avast5.ini file.
-
add this line:
AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120 and
AssumeAlwaysConnected=1 if not present (or edit AssumeAlwaysConnected=0 to AssumeAlwaysConnected=1)
[InetWD]
AssumeAlwaysConnected=1
AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=120
Following up, after doing the above, there's possibly a slight improvement in load time but it's barely noticeable. Out of interest, would disabling say, webrep, software updater, adblocker, improve load time?
-
There is nothing to stop you increasing the delay as I mentioned in my original post.
With exception of the software updater, these options are unlikely to make much difference at boot as they are only running when your browser is up and running (and that shouldn't be running on boot.
The software updater may check its database, after the avast virus definitions update occurs as this is when the software updater database would be updated. So as you should be able to see this is a chicken and egg scenario, the software updater is unlikely to be doing anything until after the avast virus definitions update, which you are seeking to delay.
When you shut down your system presumably all programs monitored by the software updater would have been up to date (or you should have got a notification), so that shouldn't change when the software updater database would be the same. Only until the software updater database indicates that one or more of the monitored programs requires an update, then depending on your setting would it be likely to go looking for the update.
-
I would love to try this David. But no matter what I just can't fine avast5.ini anywhere. I have Windows set to show hidden files. I just can't find it. I'm using Avast 8 (latest version) and Windows 7 64bit.
-
Well it has to be somewhere as without avast5.ini avast would be a bit stuffed in some areas.
Do you also have windows show all file types or you won't see the .ini extension (file types) as by default it doesn't shown known file types (which is plum crazy, known to whom).
See image extract of my win7 system.
-
Yea I had it set to show all files. I see other .ini files without a problem. Just not Avast5.ini. I've even searched and the search returns nothing. The closest I can find to it on my system is Program Files/Avast Software/Avast/Setup/INF/V5/Aswnet,ini. But Avast 5.ini just isn't there. It's no big deal. I wanted to try your suggestion but the OP said it only made a minimal difference anyway. So it's ok. Thanks for your reply.
-
Not just to show all files, the crucial bit is show all file types, not just unknown ones. That is why I posted the image otherwise you may on;y see avast5 with no .ini but the Type column would show it as a Configuration settings.
Have you tried an explorer search for avast5.ini whilst it is in that location on my win7 system perhaps it could be in Users on yours. You could try making a change in the avastUI, Settings that would be reflected in the avast5.ini file which may create it if not present. AvastUI > Settings > Updates > Details and change the Auto-update interval from 240 to 120 minutes, that would need to be recorded in the avast5.ini.
Comparing against someone else's effect may not reflect your system so still worth a try.
-
Yes I have tried searching with Explorer. Still doesn't show up. The only thing similar to Avast 5.ini is what I listed in my previous post. It's no big deal. Thanks anyway.
Edit- I just tried your last suggestion of changing a setting in Avast 8 to see if Avast5.ini will show up. This did the trick. Not sure why it wasn't there before but I have it now. Thanks again.
-
You're welcome.
I guess if all of your avast settings are the defaults then there wouldn't be a need for the avast5.ini to store the changes, etc.
-
Under the heading [InetWD] I also have a line that reads "UseRAS=0" Do you have any idea what this means? My system boots up fast. But I'm trying to solve a problem where after each boot up Avast service hogs my hard drive for almost 2 to 3 minutes. This behavior started with version 7 and seems a bit worse in version 8. Once Avast 8 does it's thing my system is as fast as it should be. Didn't see this at all with version 5 of Avast.
-
It relates to dial-up and 0 = no/off leave it as it is.
-
Thanks again!
-
You're welcome.
-
So just to confirm the adding the line in the avast5.ini as per the guidance above and also at http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/security/3137-avast-5-configuration-for-faster-start-up.html (http://www.techsupportalert.com/freeware-forum/security/3137-avast-5-configuration-for-faster-start-up.html)
Worked for me on windows 7 64-bit.
I'm on a quad core machine with 12GB memory, so no slouch of a machine.
I was seeing load times for Avast of 220 seconds plus in soluto with v long boot time overall prior to this, and following the setting change we're looking at ~ 24 secs load time for avast.
I'd also tried the other fixes in terms of running the prefetcher setup in windows 7 which worked briefly following 6 reboots to train the OS again, but not so long after it went back to long boot again.
We'll see how this goes with more time.
I set
AlwaysConnectedWaitSeconds=360
Of course the file is stored in C:\ProgramData\Alwil Software\Avast5
Thanks folks
-
No problem, nice to see someone use the forum search function.
A bit weird that you see this slowness on boot with a fast system.
Thanks for the feedback.