Avast WEBforum

Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: Tipton on January 20, 2004, 06:02:24 PM

Title: My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 20, 2004, 06:02:24 PM
Ok, this post is typed with all due respect for Avast AV, and its creators! My wife and I recently both un-installed Norton AV from our PC's. The reason was, because of recent Symantec issues, and our subscriptions were up soon. She installed AVG free on her system, and I installed Avast home edition on mine. We have both been using these AV's for about two weeks now.  AVG seems to work well on her system, and does what she wants. I however find that Avast is far more configurable, both in its look, and in its scanning process. I like the fact that it has verbal announcements, different skins, scans fairly fast, and just looks good on my system!  ;D However, there are two things that I dislike about Avast. One thing I already mentioned here in another thread on the forum. My shutdown time has increased after installing Avast. And of course my re-boot time also suffers. Not that big of a deal, but AVG does not produce this issue. Maybe Avasts resident scanner is more complex than AVG's, and more time is required to shut it down, I really don't know. I even terminated the resident scanner before shutting down, and it still took awhile. The second thing that I have noticed with Avast installed, is that my hard drive occasionally chugs away during the time I am using my PC. This will happen while I am sitting idle reading a web page, and not even navagating with my system. I use imaging software, so to test this issue, I imaged back to before I installed Avast. The hard drive churning vanaished. Again, this issue is not present with AVG.

Anyway, those are my two beefs with Avast, but other than that, I would go so far as to say that Avast blows AVG out of the water on all other aspects of the software. I even like it alot better than Norton AV. I would consider buying the pay version of Avast, if only to get the script blocker. My only concerns, are the two items I mentioned above.

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: galaxyclass on January 20, 2004, 06:40:31 PM
I don't know enough about Avast to explain the shutdown speed compared to AVG, but the hard drive activity you mention might be Avast creating the VRDB (Virus Recovery Database) which is used to restore your files to their original state if they are damaged, you can set the VRDB to run while your comp. is idle (like when you were reading a webpage) or when the screen saver kicks in. When it's running you'll see the "i" icon in your task bar will animate, it's updated every 3 weeks by default. I'm sure this is why but if the guys from Alwil could confirm. :)
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 20, 2004, 06:44:17 PM
The hard drive activety occurs at every computer session. It is just an occasional hard drive churning that happens off and on, the entire time I am using my PC. And like I mentioned, it will happen when my system is just idle as well. I realize that hard drive activety occurs when you are actually clicking on items, and navagating around, but this happens during idle time as well.

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Vlk on January 20, 2004, 07:23:36 PM
So it's not the VRDB?
Try disabling the VRDB and see if it helps.

Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 20, 2004, 07:37:13 PM
Well how often does the VRDB run? Is it every three weeks like mentioned by notdarkyet ? I would really like to figure it out. I can live with the slower shut down, but the hard drive churning is a bit annoying.

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Lisandro on January 20, 2004, 08:16:37 PM
Well how often does the VRDB run? Is it every three weeks like mentioned by notdarkyet ? I would really like to figure it out. I can live with the slower shut down, but the hard drive churning is a bit annoying.

Douglas

Yes, Douglas, 21 days is the default (you can change the [VRDB] section of avast4.ini file. More information about the avast4.ini file you can see here (http://www.avast.com/forum/index.php?board=2;action=display;threadid=1647)).

How do you connect to the Internet? Maybe avast! settings for update have to be configurated too... (just a shot in the dark because or the 'churning').  ;)
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 20, 2004, 08:33:23 PM
I connect to the internet using DSL. I have the updates set up for automatic. I have had no problems at all with virus def updates.

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Lisandro on January 20, 2004, 08:38:07 PM
I connect to the internet using DSL. I have the updates set up for automatic. I have had no problems at all with virus def updates.

Douglas

So, the only thing we have is the VRDB? Are you sure that the providers aren't scanning anything because, in background, some file is accessed by other program, you are making a silent backup, ... you know, are you sure the computer is idle?  :-\

Don't forget to configure your VRDB concerning to your needs.
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 20, 2004, 08:45:46 PM
I have the VRDB set up to run when the screen saver comes on.

Douglas ???
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: bassbag on January 20, 2004, 09:38:40 PM
Maybe worth using a prog such as taskinfo ?
http://www.iarsn.com/taskinfo_screenshot.html
that will shows cpu usage /mem etc read writes to disk , for each application opened,to pinpoint the culprit.There is a 30 day trial.
me
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 21, 2004, 12:41:39 AM
Is there any other comments as far as the slow shut down and re-boot that Avast creates when it is installed? It adds at least 20 extra seconds to the shut down. If I remove Avast, shut down is normal again. I have tried alot of the other AV's, and only one other one did the same thing as Avast. Thanks!

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 21, 2004, 01:21:28 AM
Shoutdown time has increased on my dell laptop bt 15 seconds but its a very small price for one great AV program ;D
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 21, 2004, 02:09:27 AM
So a longer shutdown after installing Avast, is a known trait?

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 21, 2004, 02:16:18 AM
To some of us it is. Its annoying but harmless.
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Vlk on January 21, 2004, 07:15:12 AM
Slow shutdown: does it help if you stop the 'avast antivirus' service right before shutting down the puter?

Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services.


Thanks
Vlk
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 21, 2004, 09:15:22 PM
yes it does.
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 22, 2004, 01:22:18 AM
 "does it help if you stop the 'avast antivirus' service right before shutting down the puter?"

I will have to give this a try when I get back to my PC. Problem is, it will take more time to shut down the service each time, than it will to just shut down and let it take awhile.
Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Vlk on January 23, 2004, 08:23:25 AM
So some people are saying it does help, some people say it does not. What about you, Tipton?

I'd really need to know if it helps.
Try stoping both of these services...


To solve the problem, we absolutely need more info from you guys...
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 23, 2004, 10:02:26 PM
Slow shutdown: does it help if you stop the 'avast antivirus' service right before shutting down the puter?

Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services.


Thanks
Vlk

Ok I am back home, and had some time to test some things for you guys. First let me say that I am in no way trying to put Avast AV down. I am just making some observations, and trying to help with the solution.

Ok I went into services and saw two items listed for Avast.

* Avast Antivirus

* Avast! iAVS4 Control Service

Ok, if I stop just the "Avast Antivirus" service, the slow shutdown continues. However, if I stop the "Avast! iAVS4 Control Service", I have a very speedy shutdown (under 5 seconds after the "windows is shutting down" text appears.

I hope this helps!

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Vlk on January 23, 2004, 10:11:34 PM
Was the speedy shut down WITH the 'avast antivirus' service running or were they BOTH stoped?
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 23, 2004, 10:25:29 PM
Was the speedy shut down WITH the 'avast antivirus' service running or were they BOTH stoped?

I left "Avast Antivirus" service running, and just stopped "Avast! iAVS4 Control" Service. Thats when I get my normal fast shut down. (around 5 secs.)

Stopping the "Avast Antivirus" service, and leaving "Avast! iAVS4 Control" Service running, does nothing. I still get a long(20 seconds) shutdown.

If you want my PC configuration, both hardware and software, let me know.

Hope that helps!

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Vlk on January 23, 2004, 10:28:12 PM
Then get rid of the iAVS Control Service! ;D

If you only log on to Windows as administrator, you don't need running this service at all. It's used as a container for the updating process because the currently logged on may not have sufficient rights.

Just set the startup type of the service to Manual, and you're all set!

Meanwhile, I'll try to find out more on why the service is slowing things down...


Vlk
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 23, 2004, 10:37:06 PM
Then get rid of the iAVS Control Service! ;D

If you only log on to Windows as administrator, you don't need running this service at all. It's used as a container for the updating process because the currently logged on may not have sufficient rights.

Just set the startup type of the service to Manual, and you're all set!

Meanwhile, I'll try to find out more on why the service is slowing things down...


Vlk

Ha! I was wondering what that service was for. Yes I am the only Admin user on this PC. I am the only user period! This is a good work around. Thanks.

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Vlk on January 23, 2004, 10:40:54 PM
Meanwhile, I reviewed the source code of aswUpdSvc.exe I think I've found the problem.

Here is a (hopefully) fixed version: http://cat.asw.cz/~vlk/aswUpdSv.exe .

The only caveat is the avast's auto-correct feature that will cause the patched file to be soon replaced by the updater. But there should be enough time to check if it's working (i.e. stop the service, replace the file, start the service, and shut Windows down. Is it fast enough?  After reboot, avast will unfortunately replace aswUpdSv.exe with the original version from 4.1.335 distribution but that doesn't matter...).
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 23, 2004, 11:13:51 PM
shutdown time decreased by about 10 seconds for me with the patch
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 23, 2004, 11:16:35 PM
I read in your other post you may release another update early next week please include this updated file
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Vlk on January 23, 2004, 11:17:20 PM
You bet. :)
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: The Hurricane on January 23, 2004, 11:20:36 PM
I also tried the update same here it takes about 10 seconds less

Win ME
P III 800 Mhz
1GB RAM
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 23, 2004, 11:22:08 PM
Quote
You bet.
Thanks! hurricane Im glad it helps you too
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: gtirr on January 23, 2004, 11:28:42 PM
I tried the up-date and all I got was an error message telling me the "update failed because aswCmnS.dll was not found".
And where do you find iAVAS to turn it off?
gtirr
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 23, 2004, 11:30:15 PM
what i did was copy the file to the avast directory and then run it
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 23, 2004, 11:53:08 PM
So this fix will be in the next program update? If so I will just wait it out with that paticular service stopped.

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 23, 2004, 11:59:26 PM
yes the next update might be next week so it wont hurt to wait  ;)
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: gtirr on January 23, 2004, 11:59:42 PM
I.m still looking for the way to shut this service down..... :-[
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: .: Mac :. on January 24, 2004, 12:01:29 AM
I dont know a way to completly shut it down just pause it.
If I were you I would just wait till next program update. it only lasts till you restart your computer anyway
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: gtirr on January 24, 2004, 12:04:46 AM
Yea, you're right. :-*
It's no big deal anyway.
Thanks,
gtirr
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 24, 2004, 12:09:00 AM
I.m still looking for the way to shut this service down..... :-[

If you want the quicker shut down time, read eairlier in this thread about stopping the Avast! iAVS4 Control service.

Go to Start>Control Panel>Performance and maintenance>Administrative tools>Services.   Find "avast! iAVS4 Control Service".  Double click it, and then select stop. Then change it to manual.

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: gtirr on January 24, 2004, 12:47:11 AM
Tipton,
Thanks for the info!!!!
After doing that, all is back to normal. :)
And once you make those 2 changes, it does stay off and in the "Manual" setting.
Thanks again,
Russ 8)
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: Tipton on January 24, 2004, 02:11:55 AM
Tipton,
Thanks for the info!!!!
After doing that, all is back to normal. :)
And once you make those 2 changes, it does stay off and in the "Manual" setting.
Thanks again,
Russ 8)

I am glad it worked out for you! Now when the fix comes....you can turn that service back on!

Douglas
Title: Re:My two concerns with Avast!
Post by: S.Z.Craftec on January 24, 2004, 04:40:40 AM
I still don't have any of those shutdown problems you are talking about. With or without that patch (doesn't matter) my system shutsdown very quick. Probably is configuration related or something.

Anyway, I'm glad you all are happy now, and once again I was right:

I told you that there is no problem that Alwil crew can not fix !

BIG HURRAY !!!
for Vlk and Alwil

Cheers !