Avast WEBforum
Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Satsuko on February 25, 2006, 09:23:18 PM
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Hey,
avast suddenly started slowing down my computer. :/
Whenever I start a program it scans thousands of files (.dlls and everything probably used by that program while starting) and my computer usage goes up to 100% which means I can't do anything else while waiting for a simple program to start. Program starts take very long now, too.
I don't know if it scanned all those files before when starting a program or refreshing the desktop or anything, I just noticed it as my pc started to slow down a lot.
There have been no changes on my computer as far as I know - no new stuff installed or else.
I use Windows XP with SP2 and avast! 4.6 Home Edition.
Any help?
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What is your Standard Shield sensitivity, Normal is the default and that gives the best compromise between performance and protection. If you increase that more files will be scanned.
What is your firewall ?
I assume you would see something similar on boot, do you have any other security programs running on boot, e.g. anti-spyware, etc. ?
Somehow or other I doubt it scans thousands of files when you start a program, can you give examples of the Scanned Count: before and after launching a program ?
What program is it that you launch that would have this kind of file access activity that would require avast to scan the file/s ?
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Everything is on Normal.
I'm using Zone Alarm 6.1.737 and nothing else, only AdAware and SpyBot which I have to start manually. Nothing else should run on boot but Zone Alarm and avast!.
I don't know how many files exactly are scanned but I think it's a lot. As far as I know it scans only while starting a program like I start Firefox or Outlook Express and it scans files before I see the program and when Firefox is running it doesn't scan anything anymore? Concerning Outlook Express it scans the incoming mails which is perfectly fine and which doesn't slow down the pc.
It scans the files whenever I start any program, be it Firefox, Outlook Express, Trillian, Winamp or any other program.
I start Trillian and it scans trillian.exe, files located at c:\windows\system32, quicktime files, .dlls like vfwwdm32.dll and even the trillian.ink located on the desktop ... I think it were 10 to 20 files. :/
Like I said it happens with all programs and everything I do .. but I think it didn't a week before? I never noticed my pc being so much slowed down by avast!. I don't know what happened and like I said I don't think I changed anything. :/
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What is your Standard Shield sensitivity, Normal is the default and that gives the best compromise between performance and protection. If you increase that more files will be scanned.
Can you answer David's question?
Edit: sorry, I see the first line now :-[
Any other change in the default avast settings?
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When I start firefox I thing avast scans about 20+ files, there are a lot of files being opened by firefox on start, extensions, user.js, profile info, etc.
For me even on boot the total files scanned is between 250 and 300, so I can't see where all this activity is coming from simply by opening a program.
As I have said avast only scan files that are accessed it doesn't just launch into scanning files. Perhaps if you monitor the start and end Scanned Count: as I mentioned to get a better idea of numbers and enable 'Show detailed info on performed action' that will show what file are being scanned. This may give a clue as to why they are being scanned if you see anything that may give an indication of what is causing it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/for-dwr/ShowDetailedAction.jpg)
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Welcome to the forums, Satsuko. :)
What Icons are in the Taskbar after start-up is completed?
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Hey,
avast suddenly started slowing down my computer. :/
Whenever I start a program it scans thousands of files (.dlls and everything probably used by that program while starting) and my computer usage goes up to 100% which means I can't do anything else while waiting for a simple program to start. Program starts take very long now, too.
I don't know if it scanned all those files before when starting a program or refreshing the desktop or anything, I just noticed it as my pc started to slow down a lot.
There have been no changes on my computer as far as I know - no new stuff installed or else.
I use Windows XP with SP2 and avast! 4.6 Home Edition.
Any help?
I too have been experiencing this slow-down. I recall it occurring after upgrading from 4.6.744 to 4.6.763, nut cannot say for certain as I've been putting up with this for a while and just recently started investigating. I have since uninstalled and reinstalled several times trying to ensure clean environment, but still I get slow-down with most program starts. It seems to be intermittent, however. In some cases opening an app is slow, close and re-open and it opens fine, but the close and re-open some time later and it's slow again - the slowness affects entire machine as stated in original post.
1.4 ghz, 768 mb, XP SP2, XP Firewall on, MS Antispyware (yes, I've tried shutting MS Antispy to no affect on PC performance).
Any suggestions?
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Hi Folks,
I've have to agree with the poster as well... I've noticed the slowdown only since I updated to v4.6.763 ..
I can't do anything else when it's updating as it seems to freeze my system. When downloading Thunderbird email, all applications are frozen until it's done scanning. I've been running with Avast for over a year now, and this last update is the one i've noticed the big difference.
Avast normal mode: Standard Shield, *NetworkShield, Instant Messaging
Avast custom mode: Internet Mail, P2P Shield
Avast disabled: WebShield, , Outlook/Exchange
My System:
IBM 2153E3U, AMD K6-2, 350 MHz, 40gig, 256mb;
WinXP-Pro SP2, MSN-9 dialup, U.S.Robotics Modem (5660A-BP), TCP Optimizer v2.03,
Firefox v1.5.0.1, Thunderbird v1.5, IE 6.0.2900.2180 (Windows updates only);
SPF v5.5.2710, Avast v4.6.763, SpyBot-S&D (No Teatimer), Ad-Aware SE,
SpywareBlaster, CCleaner, RegCleaner, Webroot SpySweeper (not run resident, scans only),
A-Squared Free, Windows Worms Doors Cleaner
Love the service tho and wont switch, maybe just go back to previous version..
Rgds
Sherri
*Modified after reading up on this Forum ;D
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SherriBabee,
I have no problems with downloading megabytes of Thunderbird email with the current versions of avast & Thunderbird - my system (which is now over 5 years old) doesn't miss a beat.
Thunderbird is very inefficient in the way it manages mail folders. I think you might find that downloading your Thunderbird mail will be a lot faster if you:
1) Empty the trash mail folders.
-then-
2) Compact all of your mail folders (and set the option to compact regularly to save space).
By the way are you having avast scan the mail you download with the Webmail extensions?
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Hi Alanrf
Yes, using Webmail extensions, but I only have 1 email currently installed in TBird at the moment, having problems with sending mail.. Nothing to do with Avast tho...
The slowdown tho was prior to installing TBird tho...
As far as the TBird, thats just an error on my part or Corrupt profile...
Are you thinking that the extension(s) are the problem, this 1 in particular for getting/sending email?
(I do keep a rather tidy empty box lol ... Only cause I got just the 1 acct going currently, and have the Compact Folders setting on the default, 100 kbs I believe)
Oh and I don't run anything else on startup besides Avast and Sygate either
Rgds,
Sherri
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SherriBabee,
sorry the question about the Webmail extensions was by the way and I am certainly not suggesting that is part of the slowdown (we can take having that mail scanned by avast offline).
The most important issue to get across to you is the absolutely essential role of emptying trash folders and compacting other mail folders to avoid excessive scanning overhead by antivirus solutions (including avast).
Really this has nothing to do with scanning the email - it is an issue for avoiding overhead in the Standard Shield when the mail folders are being updated.
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Alanrf
Naaaa, no problem.... Like I said, maybe it's my profile is corrupt.. But I did notice when it updates when I first signin it was harder on resources.. Thats the main thing I noticed from the start when the I updated the version to 4.6.763
Tks Sweetie, :)
Rgds
Sherri
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Well, by only starting and opening Firefox it already scans 692 files which takes a long time.
My pc freezes, too, when starting Outlook Express and downloading mail.
I'm also using version 4.6.763 - maybe that's the problem?
After start-up there are 2 icons of avast in the taskbar.
I've also noticed that my pc takes a very long time to start now, I see the "Windows XP" screen for like 5 minutes and then a black screen for a minute and then finally the log in screen. After clicking on the username it takes a while to complete the start, too, and sometimes it freezes after clicking on the log-in username.
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I see the "Windows XP" screen for like 5 minutes and then a black screen for a minute and then finally the log in screen. After clicking on the username it takes a while to complete the start, too, and sometimes it freezes after clicking on the log-in username.
For me, it seems:
1. Hardware incompatibility or drivers missing. Can you check into Control Panel > System > Hardware, if any device is being deactivated?
2. Antivirus & Firewall & other low level program interaction or incompatibility. I need more info about your programs and system to help ::)
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There is nothing deactivated in Hardware, seems like everything is working normal.
I had Norton on my pc before but it should be deinstalled now, though I have no idea if there are still parts of Norton somewhere on my computer..
Concerning antivirus and firewall I only use avast! and Zone Alarm. Other stuff started on booting: Windows Audio and other Microsoft stuff, some Symantec Network Driver Service (at least msconfig says so - this is something concerning Norton, right? :/).
Seems like there are a lot of other useless programs started - I'll deactivate some now and try to restart and see if my pc still starts or if it won't... though I doubt this'll change anything.
(edit: ok, no major changes.. still takes a long time to start and avast slows/freezes the pc)
Is there a program or something to list all processes that are started on booting?
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Is there a program or something to list all processes that are started on booting?
Hi
Here's a program that I use, small download too... Installs an Icon in your Control Panel, Doesn't loadup on startup per say, but it shows you whats starting and what Key it's running from, changes can be made to it too, moved or deleted. I like this one, but there are others out there too
Startup Control Panel by Mike Lin v2.8 *Freeware*
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
Rgds,
Sherri
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This link is worth looking at which is for a program removal tool, which can remove the remnants of a number of different Norton Programs:
Removing your Norton program using SymNRT (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039?Open&src=&docid=2001092114452606&nsf=nav.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl=)
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Satsuko,
I guess I mis-stated my question above and now that others have also joined in ... and Sherri has mentioned a freeware program ... I should restate my question. Also, David has mentioned a removal tool for Norton because that sorry program leaves all kinds of junk when uninstalled in the normal manner ... as does any other Symantec program.
And to All,
What I wanted to know is what programs other than avast are running in the taskbar. Many of you have stated that you only have one or 2 programs running. This seems unrealistic to me.
In addition to the program Sherri mentioned, you can also try the free What's Running ... www.whatsrunning.net/ ... which will give you an idea of what programs, processes, etc are running on your computer. I suppose the one Sherri mentions does similar things. With What's Running, the last tab on the right ... Startup ... has 26 items listed that startup when my computer is booted and there are 12 icons in the task tray. The amount of Drivers, Modules, etc are much higher.
While I am not trying to say that in any way the recent update to avast is not a contributing factor, what I am trying to suggest is that perhaps there is more going on at the start-up on all of your computers than some of you might realize. With the recent update of avast, maybe some of these computers are beginning to get close to running low on resources. I am an "applications junkie" and sometimes on my old computer, I tend to get it "a little heavy" on startup items. This new computer has not a problem in that area though if I do get a certain amount of stuff running at startup, I will notice a little slowdown in startup time.
Actually, even on the old computer, I do not notice a difference in startup time with the most recent avast update. The old computer is an AMD 750 Duron with 512 mb RAM. This new one is in my signature below. Oh, and some of you are probably running services you do not need. This takes up CPU cycles and memory which slows down your computer.
Remember, I do not know how computer savvy any of you are so please forgive me if I step on a toe or 2. It is not intentional. And, of course, I may have missed a thing or 2. ;)
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Norton should be fully removed now, finally.
The problems remain, though.
I have 7 icons in the taskbar, 2 avast!, Zone Alarm, that Volume-thingy, Sound Effect, FreeMex (some RAM-check program) and an icon to "remove hardware save(?)" and that's it.
I have lots of Windows/Microsoft Services running on startup which I can see in msconfig but I don't know which ones are needed and which ones aren't so I didn't change a thing there.
Using ctrl-alt-del it tells me I have 33 processes running right now. When starting any program cpu-usage goes up to 100% which is mainly caused by avast! and the starting program.
The problem shouldn't be my computer - 1024MB RAM and 2,5GHz and the hdds aren't that full - still 33% left of free space on c:\ and around 30% on d:\.
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Hi CharleyO,
Naaa, nothing taken personal here ;D I've become a Security 'Junkie' tho lol (also a "Gadget-a-Holic" too) ... I hardley even play on the NET these days, always hoping around Forums to learn all I can :)
Here's what I have going at the moment, just to show you what is running.. (see attachment)
I did go back to the "On-Access Protection Controls" tho and made some adjustments and well see what happens over the next few days... I have them as I posted early most in Normal mode and 2 in Custom mode.. Oh and on the Email scan, I don't scan outbound emails, figure they should be scanning as it comes Inbound (seen that somewhere)...
So see, in general im not running many programs while im surfing... Have a couple other startups I neglected to mention, i.e... UPHClean, WindowsEnabler which show as running processes (those are fairly small on resources) and these 3: "Disk Idle Optimizer", "Tweak-UI" and "Bug-Off", but these last 3 don't show active in "Task Manager", I guess they run Undercover ;D
I'll keep ya's posted...
Tks Folks 4 the assistance :)
Rgds,
Sherri
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Just in case - HijackThis log.
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Satsuko,
I guess I mis-stated my question [snip]
What I wanted to know is what programs other than avast are running in the taskbar. Many of you have stated that you only have one or 2 programs running. This seems unrealistic to me.
[snip]
While I am not trying to say that in any way the recent update to avast is not a contributing factor, what I am trying to suggest is that perhaps there is more going on at the start-up on all of your computers than some of you might realize. With the recent update of avast, maybe some of these computers are beginning to get close to running low on resources. I am an "applications junkie" and sometimes on my old computer, I tend to get it "a little heavy" on startup items. This new computer has not a problem in that area though if I do get a certain amount of stuff running at startup, I will notice a little slowdown in startup time.
Actually, even on the old computer, I do not notice a difference in startup time with the most recent avast update. The old computer is an AMD 750 Duron with 512 mb RAM. This new one is in my signature below. Oh, and some of you are probably running services you do not need. This takes up CPU cycles and memory which slows down your computer.
Remember, I do not know how computer savvy any of you are so please forgive me if I step on a toe or 2. It is not intentional. And, of course, I may have missed a thing or 2. ;)
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No worries - you never know who your dealing with on these forums. I personally have the following programs listed in the tray (as well as sound, power, network, hw removal): Avast, MSantiSpyware, ypops, and intelligent manageability (hp monitoring tool). This is the same setup as I had with previous versions. I might also add that with previous I was able to run all prividers in HIGH withot any ill affect. Now with v4.6.763 I have intermittent "slowness" with everything set to normal.
Since reading this thread i've played around a little bit more and although not a huge improvement was gained, I feel performance has improved by disabling all feedback (silent) in all providers and disabling animations (although with this setting the avast icon continues to spin???) and sounds .
It is curious - Since this problem began I decided to rebuild my machine as it had been over a year of installing and uninstalling apps and it was time to clean up. The rebuild was without any other AV installed (unlike the previous build which had had several installed in my search for a sound product). However, the intermittent performance issue continued.
I have not tried to revert to 4.6.744 (although I do still have the source). Not bothering me that much, and I figure the benefits of the new version outweigh this side affect. However, I feel this issue is worth Alwil investigating. I have seen other threads around this topic sice the release of 4.6.763.
Still a good product, that I'll stick with for a while longer - Cheers
1.4ghz, 768mb
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I experience significant slow down of my PC while online. This only occurs after I have been booted up for 15 minutes or so,, like a cache filling up or something. I am sure it is avast, because when a web page hangs, I can stop the avast program and the web page will come to life again.
Anyone getting anywhere with figuring out what the problem is?
Really annoying and time consuming -
falconx
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Falconx:
1. Please, resize your avatar to 100x100 for instance, it's too heavy for dial-up users and for display.
2. Other, we need more info: which is your operational system, other security program installed, which browser are you using...
3. Check the last file scanned (left click the 'a' blue icon and click details) in each provider... any clue about them?
4. Which is your Standard Shield sensitivity? High or Normal?
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Hope the new avatar size is better.
OS - XP Pro
ZoneAlarm
IE
Shield normal
Sorry can't give you the last file scanned,, had to turn Avast OFF to work.
I know folks don't like to hear that there are problems with their programs, but, lets face it. If you are getting this many complaints and/or questions, there IS a problem.
I know as a "newbie", I was having a hard time following ALL the messages, replies & threads that have been created on this topic.
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It is now several months since the original post by the sender. But, I have just come across this, I'm new, and I too having been suspicioning that my computer has slowed down some. My 'home' laptop is a HP with an AMD Turon chip + 2 gigs of memory. My work laptop is a HP also with the ML-32 AMD chip. Both seem to have slowed down lately. I have been reading articles that seem to indicate that some virus software slow down the operations? Is Avast one of the offending parties??
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Sorry can't give you the last file scanned,, had to turn Avast OFF to work.
For sure it's not normal have to disable the antivirus to work.
You have a conflict or a problem.
Any other antivirus installed in the past?
Are you using ZA free or Professional?
I know folks don't like to hear that there are problems with their programs, but, lets face it. If you are getting this many complaints and/or questions, there IS a problem.
We? Who are we here?
I love troubles ;D. I'm an user like you and I'm here to help :)
I know as a "newbie", I was having a hard time following ALL the messages, replies & threads that have been created on this topic.
But it's not easy to 'guess' what's wrong with your computer... just complaining about avast won't help...