[2282] Freezes on XP [Fixed]

[Asyn]

Hi, I get occasional freezes here on XP.
In case you want/need any logs let me know.

Cheers,
Asyn

[DavidR]

Whilst I'm not using the 2282 beta (but the current 2280 release), I occasionally get freezes on my XP system. This generally happens after start up, when I have started working almost immediately. When this freeze happens nothing other than a hard boot (power button on desktop for 5 sec).

I just wonder if this is when your freeze ups happen (if this may be related).

[REDACTED]

I had the exact same symptoms with the most recent Avast home release.  Random freezes at start up. I'd have to hard reset my PC.  I've just uninstalled Avast and trying another product now to see if things go better. 

[Asyn]

1. When this freeze happens nothing other than a hard boot (power button on desktop for 5 sec).
2. I just wonder if this is when your freeze ups happen (if this may be related).

1. Hi Dave, same here.
2. It happens randomly, unfortunately I couldn't find a pattern yet.

[DavidR]

1. When this freeze happens nothing other than a hard boot (power button on desktop for 5 sec).
2. I just wonder if this is when your freeze ups happen (if this may be related).

1. Hi Dave, same here.
2. It happens randomly, unfortunately I couldn't find a pattern yet.

I'm just wondering if isn't all of the avast background updating going on near boot swamping the system, VPS, Streaming, emergency update checking, scanning, etc. etc.

For me in the regular 2280 version, if I start working (commonly on Microsoft Excel) before the avast tray icon is even in place, that is the more likely time when it will occur. The big problem is there is no way to do a user forced BSOD to get data as nothing works, its all frozen.

[REDACTED]

I had set my avast to delay upon XP startup.. but that still didn't help.

As previously mentioned, I uninstalled avast, and I'm now using a different antivirus solution, and the random start-up freeze hasn't been an issue anymore.  Something is amiss.

[Eddy]

Just to test, I've installed XP/SP3 and all updates etc on the Oracle VM.
Installed the latest beta and haven't experienced any freezing at all after 3 days.

I wonder if it is a combination of avast and used hardware(driver) that is causing it.

[Asyn]

The big problem is there is no way to do a user forced BSOD to get data as nothing works, its all frozen.

Yes, let's hope the devs find another way to track it down.

[bruce_b]

My old Dell Dimension 8200 P4 XP Pro with SP3 and all other updates to date, does that now and then. At first, I was thinking old hardware. Now it seems it may really be a bug in Avast which I had not considered as it usually behaves itself. I think it usually happens very early after bootup, probably while Avast is doing it update routine.

[av20]

I've had the freeze on the stable version (12.3) shortly after startup -- Most likely too occur first boot of the day when updating, and after logging in and starting to work quickly after startup.  I'll see what happens in the beta after a few days.

Anyone know if the "Background Intelligent Transfer Service" (BITS) is used by Avast?

I was experimenting using process explorer and the network disconnected.  Every startup caused BITS to start (BITS startup set to manual, default for SP3).  Uninstalled Avast, and BITS did not start.

Decided to try setting BITS startup to automatic just in case Avast uses it under certain circumstances and it was having issues during starting the BITS service.

[DavidR]

@ av20

Lets not get too far off topic here in the avast beta sub-forum.

BITS is most commonly used by Windows Update. A search for your "Background Intelligent Transfer Service" returns many hits, but I don't believe avast uses BITS. Given what BITS does transferring data in the background when bandwidth isn't being used, doesn't sound like avast are following that point.

[Asyn]

Looking good, so far no more freezes with 2283.
I'll monitor it for some days before I mark it as fixed.

[av20]

I had zero freezes with the previous 2282 build, but I also changed the Background Intelligent Transfer Service startup from manual to automatic at about the same time.  I tried to make it freeze by logging in with the hourglass cursor first thing in the morning, during disk activity, etc.

Installing the 2283 build later today.