Avast Free problems on XP SP3

[Tobur]

In April I had Avast Free 18.2.2328  running smoothly on Windows XP SP3. I updated to 18.3.2333 and  AvastUI.exe process jumped to  99% CPU. Tried Repair, change and reinstall - and various other suggestions -  to no avail. Uninstalled finally.Today, in a moment of weakness, I installed the latest version - guess what? CPU 99%! Is there any way to revert to an earlier version which was running sweetly?

[DavidR]

Well the latest avast version is 18.4.2338 (is that what you meant) and that is what I have installed on my XP Pro SP3 desktop and no issues.

EDIT: typo.

[Tobur]

The latest version according to Release History is 18.4.2338. Searching reveals that many people are having similar CPU problems but I haven't been able to find a solution - despite trying various suggestions.l

[DavidR]

Thanks, edited my typo on the avast version.

Unfortunately I haven't experienced the problem, I don't know if that is down to my setup or not.

I run a very minimal avast installation, if I use the installation file, I always do a custom install and am very selective on what components I allow to be installed.  Or I run the program update from the tray icon or the UI, that generally shouldn't bring any surprises.

However these additional components shouldn't be running under the avastUI.exe, but under the AvastSvc.exe or possibly the aswidsagent.exe processes.

[loungehake]

Always install from the offline installer in the way that DavidR advises and if successful KEEP the offline installer file, suitably renamed, until the next successful installation of a succeeding version. Actually I advise keeping rolling backups of the last three successful offline installers, suitably renamed, if there is available space to store them.

As for what Avast can do, I wish that it maintained availability of the last three offline installers for the very reason that Tobur has started this thread.

I have long believed that Windows systems can develop minor flaws in their internals which are the cause of such events as Tobur is experiencing. These can disappear all by themselves and so allow later versions of Avast to install without subsequent problems in use.  Windows is full of bugs and probably also brief temporary faults and yet has the miraculous ability to continue to operate satisfactorily.

I have two Windows XP SP3 systems running Avast Free 18.4.2338 and find it to be the best and most reliable Avast version yet.  This also goes for Windows 7 and 8.1.

[Tobur]

Thanks for reply and observations. I have finally abandoned Avast after many years of use because almost every program update seems to bring new problems which invariably take much time and trouble to resolve. I will, however, continue to be interested in efforts to solve this high CPU problem to see if anyone comes up with a REAL solution - I think I have tried all those suggested so far!