Avast WEBforum
Other => General Topics => Topic started by: JanetA123 on June 08, 2013, 01:58:49 AM
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Please help! I've been using free Avast for about a year and I really appreciate it for being Free BUT, my PC always freezes up while Avast sends updates. It took me a while before I caught on, but there's no doubt in my mind now that this is the cause. Any suggestions?
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What other security are you running? What is your OS? Are you on dial up on high speed internet?
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Also, amount of RAM installed and how long this has been happening. Which numeric version of Avast?
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Thanks Aventador and Simion for your replies. I'm a Newbie and don't know the answers to your questions, I'd have to look them up. But, no worry, today when I visited the forum and tried to find which thread I was in yesterday, I accidently found similar questions to mine and many replies. Good to know I'm not alone in this query. BTW I found these related q&a's in ""Child Boards - Beta- Discussion about new beta
Moderators: igor, pavels, lukor, lukas.hasik"" Thanks Again :)
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You're welcome. The beta board is for posting issues with a pre-release (beta) version of Avast. Normally, any issues found would be resolved before the products final release and would therefore not affect you. Were you able to resolve your issue with the information you found?
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Well, I read all of the Q&A's in that thread but all I gathered is that I'm not alone with that question. Except most of the users are dial-ups and I'm on fast internet cable, so I didn't totaly relate. To answer your question LOL, no I didn't find an answer, I just know now that Avast takes 5 - 10 mins. whenever it sends an update, slows everything down or even freezes, finally it sends that window saying it just updated. Like the others, I wish it would show some sign on screen to let the user know what its doing so the user won't start ctrl/alt/del trying to get the system to respond. Such a waste of time. For now I'll just live with it. Any help would be welcomed. I'm using Windows XP. BTW I changed my on screen name to JanetsQueSera. Thanks for hearing me out :)
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Well, I'm also on XP with high speed internet but my Avast updates are unnoticeable and take < 1 minute. Perhaps if you answer Aventador's and my initial questions we could help you find a solution, or at least a cause.
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Thanks so much for your patience with me Aventador. I think I found the answers to your initial questions. My OS and Avast info is the following;
Microsoft Windows XP, Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 3, Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz 3.06GHz, 496 MB of RAM. avast! Free Antivirus Program version: 8.0.1489 Virus definitions version: 130609-1 Number of definitions: 4.666.933. I use fast Internet from my cable provider. More than a year ago AOL had McAfee running but I discontinued that so I could use Avast. Let me know if you need any other info.
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I'm sorry --- I called you Aventador :-[ I meant Simion
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Thanks so much for your patience with me Aventador. I think I found the answers to your initial questions. My OS and Avast info is the following;
Microsoft Windows XP, Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 3, Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.06GHz 3.06GHz, 496 MB of RAM. avast! Free Antivirus Program version: 8.0.1489 Virus definitions version: 130609-1 Number of definitions: 4.666.933. I use fast Internet from my cable provider. More than a year ago AOL had McAfee running but I discontinued that so I could use Avast. Let me know if you need any other info.
Wow...............Your system is severally old and out dated. Your pc is around 10 years old if not more. 4GB of ram is standard now a days. Never mind only having 500MB of ram. You can upgrade your ram for cheap but considering you processor speed you wouldn't gain much.
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I would increase your RAM at least to 1GB. Meanwhile you can make sure you do not have any McAfee renmamts in your system. Apply MCPR.exe from here: http://mcafee-removal-tool.com/ and reboot your system. Then repair Avast! just in case.
How to repair Avast!
Start > Control panel > Add & Remove programs > select avast! and click " Change/Remove ". Look for " Repair " > Next. Reboot when finnished.
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Here is great place to find the right ram for your pc. Remember that by the years end Microsoft is shutting of support for XP. So you might want to start budgeting yourself into a new pc. You can get a brand new laptop for under $400 off Amazon.
http://www.crucial.com/
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...Remember that by the years end Microsoft is shutting of support for XP...
Precisely support ends April 8, 2014. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/endofsupport.aspx :'(
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Thanks for posting your system information, JanetsQueSera. You did a fine job.
As already mentioned you do need more RAM, and crucial.com is a reliable and trusted source for this. While it is true that Microsoft will be ending official support for XP next year, there are many satisfied XP users like myself who will continue to use it. This "XP underground community" will provide the necessary tools, updates and service packs to keep your system safe online. Heck, I still use a Win 98 system online with very few issues, none of which are security related. If you choose to install your new RAM yourself (it's easy with a desktop) there's a good tutorial with video HERE (http://www.wikihow.com/Install-RAM). Good luck!
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You can upgrade your ram for cheap but considering you processor speed you wouldn't gain much.
What's wrong with the processor speed? A 3.06 Ghz processor is quite adequate for Win 8, let alone for Win XP. Stop spreading FUD!
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You can upgrade your ram for cheap but considering you processor speed you wouldn't gain much.
What's wrong with the processor speed? A 3.06 Ghz processor is quite adequate for Win 8, let alone for Win XP. Stop spreading FUD!
Her processor is ONLY a P4. It maybe a 3.06 but it still is at least 10 years old. When someone's system is that old they are better off getting something new. The cost of the parts is more then a new pc. No one is spreading FUD. A fact is a fact. She is asking why her system is slow. Its slow cause its old an outdated. That is a true fact. You cant turbo charge a Yugo.
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Simion! Where have you been? When I logged onto the forum today I found 2 users offering their advice. I liked 'Aventador''s suggestion to add more RAM to my PC so I was going to do that next after I tried following "iroc9555"s advice to be sure none of McAfee was left -- his quote- Meanwhile you can make sure you do not have any McAfee renmamts in your system. eApply MCPR.exe from here: http://mcafee-removal-tool.com/ and reboot your system. Then repair Avast! just in case.-- SO that's what I did (I only got so far as clicking on the website ) :'( That brought me on a terrible ride, the worse being it installed Norton, took 30 mins. to scan - then froze in the middle. When I stopped everything and reloaded an AVG Search was replaced as my default and who knows what else was replaced. Of course, my luck, Avast sent an upgrade which froze everything again. OK so now I'm replying to you. Your news sounded very encouraging and I'm ready to take you and "Avendator"s advice. I am looking forward to getting more RAM -- don't know if I'll try it right away. But just in case you don't hear from me for a while- who knows what else was added to mess things up? Don't mean to blab - but I have a chronic pain illness,and other matters I need to deal with which I've put on hold while trying to work out my computer's problems. I'll still check this thread of the forum to see if any immediate help makes sense. I have faith that things will work out :) ---- What's a FUD? sounds like a swear word in computer language -- I'm getting giddy - bye for now.
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...I tried following "iroc9555"s advice to be sure none of McAfee was left -- his quote- Meanwhile you can make sure you do not have any McAfee renmamts in your system. eApply MCPR.exe from here: http://mcafee-removal-tool.com/ and reboot your system. Then repair Avast! just in case.-- SO that's what I did (I only got so far as clicking on the website ) :'( That brought me on a terrible ride, the worse being it installed Norton, took 30 mins. to scan - then froze in the middle. When I stopped everything and reloaded an AVG Search was replaced as my default and who knows what else was replaced....
Janet.
Sorry if something went wrong with my instructions, but... How in this world you ended up installing Norton and AVG search from the link I gave you ? That link was to run MCPR.exe which is McAfee removal tool. Nothing else.
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Simion! Where have you been?
I work for a living. ;D
That brought me on a terrible ride, the worse being it installed Norton, took 30 mins. to scan ----
I clicked iroc9555's link and was appropriately directed to McAfee's uninstall tool. If you've had other strange happenings like you described, you may want to follow the instructions HERE (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0), then start a new topic on the viruses and worms board (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?board=4.0) and attach your logs to your post. A malware expert will review your logs and assist you in removing any malware found.
What's a FUD? sounds like a swear word in computer language --
FUD = frigged up data.
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You can upgrade your ram for cheap but considering you processor speed you wouldn't gain much.
What's wrong with the processor speed? A 3.06 Ghz processor is quite adequate for Win 8, let alone for Win XP. Stop spreading FUD!
Her processor is ONLY a P4. It maybe a 3.06 but it still is at least 10 years old. When someone's system is that old they are better off getting something new. The cost of the parts is more then a new pc. No one is spreading FUD. A fact is a fact. She is asking why her system is slow. Its slow cause its old an outdated. That is a true fact. You cant turbo charge a Yugo.
Sorry, you're wrong again. My XP has a P4 processor at 3.0 Ghz and is lightning fast. From the specifications provided, the OP's problem is insufficient RAM.
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iroc9555 I just sent a reply and it was lost cuz there were more messages sent in the mean time. I probably hit an ad on that page being careless from trying too hard right now. THANKS guys, I'll catch up later.
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I clicked iroc9555's link and was appropriately directed to McAfee's uninstall tool.
Simion. Thanks for confirming it.
What's a FUD? sounds like a swear word in computer language -- ....
FUD is an acronym for Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. Also, this way is less vulgar ;)
iroc9555 I just sent a reply and it was lost cuz there were more messages sent in the mean time. I probably hit an ad on that page being careless from trying too hard right now. THANKS guys, I'll catch up later.
Things happen :o However, if Norton was installed accidentally, now , and unfortunatelly, you need to uninstall it. The same for AVG Search.
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Step by step instruction to do a clean install of avast! can be found at:
http://goo.gl/VLXde (http://goo.gl/VLXde)
Hope that helps. :)
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Okay guys (iroc9555,simion,aventador), I'm back to try again. I was just successful in removing Norton and a program called Open it, I didn't see AVG Search. BTW I used Windows Remove to do this. Then I looked for McAfee in my programs and didn't find it - so far so good. Then I clicked on http://mcafee-removal-tool.com/ based on yesterday's discussion. It certainly looked like the right place to be... but when I clicked Download a program called Z Zip began loading - then it wanted me to say open or save, asked me again, then asked me to accept Ts&Cs - I think thats exactly what happen yesterday, so I closed all the windows before anything else was loaded...and here I am. What to do? should I go ahead and repair Avast!, should I go to the site to add more RAM? I'm just going to wait and see if y'all could help me any further--if you have a chance. Thanks!
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Ok JanetsQueSera. I think I know now what is going on. You are mistakenly clicking the add with the green "Download". unfortunately these are tacticts done in web sites. What you should have done was to read the article and you would have seen an URL address in blue that said:
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe
You can click the address above and download the MPCR.exe program to your desktop or a place where you can find later on to execute.
after you apply MPCR.exe, you can follow Bob3160's guide for a successful Avast! instalation, or follow mine:
1.) Very important to remove all remains of other AVs installed before Avast. Use this site to execute uninstall utilities for other AVs.
http://singularlabs.com/uninstallers/security-software/
2.) Download and save to your desktop aswclear.exe (http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility)
3.) Download and save a fresh copy of Avast! to your desktop.
http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/avast_free_antivirus_setup.exe
4.) Open Avast! > Settings > Troubleshooting > Uncheck " Enable Avast! self-defense module ".
5.) Uninstall Avast! normally through Control Panel > Programs & feature ( Vista, W7 ) or Add and remove programs ( XP ). Reboot. If you can not complete this step, continue with step # 6
6.) Even if you were able to uninstall Avast! in step # 5, it is important to run aswclear.exe in safe mode for any Avast! you may have had before, e.g. v.6 o v.7, and then for v. 8. Reboot into normal mode after uninstall.
How to use aswclear: http://www.avast.com/en-us/faq.php?article=AVKB10#idt_02
NOTE: aswclear has the ability to make your system go into Safe Mode. Just run it in normal mode and follow instructions.
7.) Reinstall fresh copy of Avast! and reboot.
Be aware. Avast! will offer Chrome during installment. Remember to opt-out if you do not want it.
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iroc9555
First thanks so much for your time explaining all this to me. I successfully uninstalled all McAfee products. Now I'm on your step 1 but don't know what to do on this site (seems to be many options to click). If you have a chance could you help me? Plus later down you mention Chrome, if I already have it should I uninstall that first before reinstalling avast! ?
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Just follow the steps he has laid out. He posted hyper links to each program. Just click on them. As far as Chrome..............Its Google browser and it safer and better then IE7 or 8.
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Step 1 if only if you have had installed any of those security programs. You have there the instructions and the tool for each program so that you can uninstall them thoroughly. For example, you said before that Norton was installed accidentally. Also you explained that you uninstalled it through "Add and remove programs" so to make sure that no left over remains, you should run [26a]. This is the link for Norton removal Tool:
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe
About Chrome. During installation or afterwards when you reboot the Avast! installation, it will show a window with the options to install Google Chrome as your default browser, and tool bar. see image Since you already have it, the window might offer Google Drive, either way just untick the little boxes that way you can not go wrong.
Any other question you are not sure, be free to ask. Read the instruction for aswclear. It is essential to run it for Avast! 6 and 7 if you had them installed before, and then you run aswclear for Avast! 8.
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hey iroc9555, its late but wanted to tell you I was able to follow it all. System was freezing still. Might be a few things, Windows Defender? can I get rid of that with the removal tool? I think I can and will do tomorrow and will pass by you a couple of other ques. 'till then - thanks! 'night!
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Windows Defender can be uninstalled via Add/Remove Programs. So now the plot thickens cause your running Windows Defender along side Avast when your system is very very old. The more programs running in real time the slower your system. Especially with insufficient ram. The uninstall tool is to only uninstall Avast. Hence the Avast Uninstaller reference. The other uninstall tool he linked you to is to uninstall Norton and that is it.
Sometimes you may not be able to uninstall Windows Defender but you can disable its real time protection. Here is an article to follow.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/15788/how-to-uninstall-disable-and-remove-windows-defender.-also-how-turn-it-off/
Please again keep in mind that you can spend hours and days tracking this down. Possibly weeks. But sometimes its best to cut your losses and move on. Meaning looking into a new pc. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Just some friendly advice. When a customer comes to me with problems such as yours I never wanna take there money. Pay me $100+ to look at and repair there pc or for less then $400 buy a new pc. We will do our best to help you here. Thats what we our for.
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hey iroc9555, its late but wanted to tell you I was able to follow it all. System was freezing still. Might be a few things, Windows Defender? can I get rid of that with the removal tool? I think I can and will do tomorrow and will pass by you a couple of other ques. 'till then - thanks! 'night!
Bad luck. Since you are running Win XP, you can uninstall Windows Defender through "Add and Remove program ". No removal tool is required. I was also wondering what else you got there ? As mention before eventhough your CPU (Pent IV 3 Ghz) is enough to handle XP and whatever you throw at it, you do not have enough memory RAM. It is just like Aventador and Simion told you. As a matter of fact it is border line. Avast! needs at least 512 MB RAM. Now we can mitigate this a bit while you get some extra RAM by removing or stopping from starting automatically some of the programs.
Ok First. You can order some memory modules and have them at home in a couple of days for +/- $ 30 or less through http://www.crucial.com/ as Aventador told you.
Second. Look through your programs; Messenger, Skype, games, P2P, printer, any program that you can start manually when you need it and go to settings and deactivate "Start with Windows" If not, you have to go to Windows services and set them to manual start. This is not an easy task for someone with limited computer knowleged so if you got someone that can do it for you better still.
Third. Do some maintanence to your Computer; Uninstall Toolbars and programs you do not use or need, clean your temps, check your hard disk and system for errors, and defrag. You can find how to do all these in Google.
Fourth. Like Aventador told you, it would be a good idea to start saving for a new comp. Being your old faithful companion for all these years, it could failed anytime now; CPU, power supply, ghrafics card, hard disk. These components are very expensive if not impossible to find for an old computer.
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OK, I just did some major cleaning - then I copied some words from the advice y'all been giving me, and googled them. The best place I've found some easy to follow instructions is from how to geek.com. Gee- I'm starting to feel like a Geek! ;D Anyway, this will all take some time to do. In the mean time I will probably buy a little RAM until I decide what to do for a newer pc. I may come by to bug you now and then, infact there is a question that's been gnawing at me. This has been happening even since I've first used Avast. When it's done scanning I read the result file and there are a ton of files listed as ""not been able to scan file is archived"". It may be a BIG deal, or I may be able to shrug it off - anybody?? Listen, you guys have been great THANK YOU!!
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Your scanning results are completely normal.
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.......Gee- I'm starting to feel like a Geek! ;D.....
...... there are a ton of files listed as ""not been able to scan file is archived""....
.......Listen, you guys have been great THANK YOU!!
To learn is the only way to be free to do what you want with your comp.
Files that were not able to be scanned are just that either because they are corrupted or need a password. If Avast! find an infected or suspesious file or a malware, it will let you know and you will be able to send it to the Virus Chest.
You are welcome ;) Good luck.