Changing the ashServ.exe Priority

[DeeKay]

Neatly explained in this thread, each time Avast feels like updating and scanning something, the whole system jams. The two main issues for me at least are:
A. On an update, the system freezes for a few seconds, unfreezes, and freezes again, until I finally get the update message.
B. Upon turning off a P2P file sharing software after a good day of it working, Avast actually takes minutes to scan the files, making the computer unusable till it's done.

My main question is whether something can be done about that or whether a solution (an update of some sort) is in development.
It also seems that while the process' priority cannot be changed via the Task Manager, other programs can (like TuneUp Utilities). Now, if that suppose to stay at High for security reasons, then this creates another issue.
Edit: Scratch that. The process pulled itself back up.
Edit #2: Fixed the link, thanks.

[DavidR]

Your link doesn't work, this one does.

forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=26549.msg277087#msg277087

This is also a relatively old topic which may not be related to your question now as there have been program updates since then (avast 4.7.942 was the version in use at that time, 4.8 may well stop you doing that because of the self-defence module). One of these updates limits the CPU usage used during an 'Automatic', a hack to keep it below 30% (only works on non win9x, winME OSes) so for me even prior to my new system I didn't see any intrusion during auto updates.

However there is no such restriction in Manual or Ask updates as it is assumed that since the user having initiated the update there is no need to restrict the CPU activity.

The update is both cpu and ram intensive as it carries out integrity checking, the actual download doesn't take long, but this checking does, depending on your system spec, ram, cpu, HDD, OS, etc.

So this begs the following questions:
What is your OS ?
What version of avast are you using, the latest is 4.8.1201 ?
What type of update is your avast Update (Basic) set for Auto, Ask or Manual ?
What are your system specs ?

[DeeKay]

Oh. Forgot about the specs. Terribly sorry.
Operation system: Microsoft Windows XP SP2.
Avast version: 4.8.1201.
Update settings: Virus database set to Automatic and the program one is set to Ask.
System specs: Athlon 64 3200+, 1GB RAM.

[Lisandro]

The update processing run at low priority, using less CPU resources. There's a code in the updater that limits the CPU usage to 30% maximum, i.e., when the update is taking place, the updating process take at most 30% of the CPU (or, if you're using a dual core machine, 15%).

[DavidR]

Oh. Forgot about the specs. Terribly sorry.
Operation system: Microsoft Windows XP SP2.
Avast version: 4.8.1201.
Update settings: Virus database set to Automatic and the program one is set to Ask.
System specs: Athlon 64 3200+, 1GB RAM.

You shouldn't be experiencing any lag with your system specs (which is greater than my old system and I didn't experience that), certainly not with the virus signature update set to automatic. So my only assumption is there might be something else getting in on the act, probably another security application.

What other security software are you using ?

Another possibility is one of timing, when does this happen, shortly after boot mostly or at other times ?

P.S. your link still doesn't work, try it, just hover your mouse pointer over it and you will see it has two http :// parts. Strange things happen when you wrap an http in the url tag it adds another one to the front, if you discard the inner one.

[DeeKay]

The only other security application I've running in the background is SpyBot.

[DavidR]

You could try disabling the Tea-Timer, resident element of S&D and see if that makes any difference.

Your link now works, you have cracked the URL tag now

[Lisandro]

I don't think SpyBot will cause (with avast) freezes.
Are you using uTorrent as P2P application?

[DeeKay]

I tried disabling Spybot's modules and it didn't help. eMule is the only program causing a minutes-long scan.