Is this an Avast 8 problem, or what?

[westmaha]

I have been using Avast since v.5, at least, and v.7 was fine. Problems started as I "upgraded" top v.8. As AntiVirus, I don't have a negative reaction, but since v.8, my computer slowed down, and more important scanning is a drag. My computer is old, and there is no way around that, if I want to keep it (I am 81, and money does not grow on trees!), but things have changed to the point that I removed Avast three times since it came out, but nothing else satisfied me.
 I like to do a Custom scan, which other Antivirus programs do not offer to be scheduled. But the time that it takes to do a Custom scan is incredible. With Avast 7, I was going at a rate of nearly 10 MB/sec. Since Avast 8, it rarely, went over 3.0 MB/sec. And, the last scan did nothing for 41 min. I have about 55 GB on my drive, using WinXP-SP3, and my custom scan goes over 25 GBs. In the last hour, the scan has not budged from 94% ( % of what?), and has gone for nearly 3 hours.
 Other than scanning speed, Avast or my Computer, for that matter have been ok.
 Is Avast 7 still available? And working at the same rate as before? I succeeded in installing Avast 7, oce before, but Avast did not stop bugging me!

[bob3160]

I have been using Avast since v.5, at least, and v.7 was fine. Problems started as I "upgraded" top v.8. As AntiVirus, I don't have a negative reaction, but since v.8, my computer slowed down, and more important scanning is a drag. My computer is old, and there is no way around that, if I want to keep it (I am 81, and money does not grow on trees!), but things have changed to the point that I removed Avast three times since it came out, but nothing else satisfied me.
 I like to do a Custom scan, which other Antivirus programs do not offer to be scheduled. But the time that it takes to do a Custom scan is incredible. With Avast 7, I was going at a rate of nearly 10 MB/sec. Since Avast 8, it rarely, went over 3.0 MB/sec. And, the last scan did nothing for 41 min. I have about 55 GB on my drive, using WinXP-SP3, and my custom scan goes over 25 GBs. In the last hour, the scan has not budged from 94% ( % of what?), and has gone for nearly 3 hours.
 Other than scanning speed, Avast or my Computer, for that matter have been ok.
 Is Avast 7 still available? And working at the same rate as before? I succeeded in installing Avast 7, oce before, but Avast did not stop bugging me!

It might be a good idea if you told us what you're settings are for your custom scan. Someone may offer a suggestion as to how to
speed things up.

[westmaha]

It might be a good idea if you told us what you're settings are for your custom scan. Someone may offer a suggestion as to how to
speed things up.

You got it! Even before seeing your reply, I went to my Settings. And, I found changes which I had not made. Instead of the chosen Fast Scan, I saw the slow option. Also, I wanted to make some additions or subtractions to to the folders being scanned, and I saw nothing. I had noticed this behavior before, but not so extreme. So, I had to set up a new Custom Scan, presumably scanning the same folders as before, and the fast option. I got done in less than one hour, scanning half as many folders. Avast custom scanning may be good, but it is very unstable. I might as well take the Quick Scan, but, then Avast is no better than otherAntiVirus programs, in this feature.

[DavidR]

In all honesty, "I might as well take the Quick Scan, but, then Avast is no better than other AntiVirus programs, in this feature." I think you have the wrong view of on-demand scanning. The depth of the scan I would say is to a lessor degree not as important as detection.

- With a resident on-access antivirus like avast, the need for frequent on-demand scans is much depreciated. For the most part the on-demand scan is going to be scanning files that would be otherwise be dormant or inert. If they were active files then the on-access file system shield would be scanning them before being created, modified, opened or executed.

I have avast set to do a scheduled weekly Quick scan, set at a time and day that I know the computer will be on. If for some reason my system wasn't on, no big deal I will catch up on the next scheduled scan.

You also don't give any in details on your custom settings and what this instability is ?