Sudden PC shutdown when running Avast

[xdauphin]

Hi all,

I use Avast Home 4.7 on Windows XP (SP2).

I was recently unable to perform any complete scan because my laptop suddenly shuts without any warning message. No error message when booting afterwards.

I tired to find any incriminated file but it seems to happen randomly.

Has anyone got this problem before ?

Thanks in advance

PS: I also use Skype and MSN

[lukor]

I have the same problem. Every time I do something on my computer, it suddenly turns itself off and I can't work anymore. HEEEELP!!!!!

I have a suspision it does not have whatsoever connection with avast! however avast! is installed. Chocholo?

[rassel]

When you turn on your laptop keep pressing F8 and it will show some choice for you to choose and what you need to choose( if im not wrong it is the last one) is disable restart when system failure( something like that) and see thats any message given from it when its trying to restart.thats all that i can do.

[xdauphin]

Hello,

Thanks for the answer.

Sudden PC shutdown also occurred when having videos on Skype (incoming and outgoing). So I think the problem may not be with Avast!, or at least with its compatibility with other softs such as skype, windos live messenger, µtorrent, etc .

Any known problem with those ?

Thanks

[Lisandro]

Sudden PC shutdown also occurred when having videos on Skype (incoming and outgoing). So I think the problem may not be with Avast!, or at least with its compatibility with other softs such as skype, windos live messenger, µtorrent, etc .

No incompatibility as far I know.
Are you sure your computer is clean, without virus?


Also, check the folder <avast>\data\log
Are there any files called unpXXXX there  (where XXXX is a random number)?
If so, send them to vlk (at) avast.com
They may contain more information about the problem (maybe a link to this thread).


Are you using Windows XP?
If so, please, go to folder \windows\minidump and send the newest (recent) .mdmp files for analysis.
Better if you can compress (zip) them and add some information about the BSOD and the link for this thread. 

Send an email to any of these addresses:
vlk (at) avast.com
rypacek (at) asw.cz

Or upload to the any of these anonymous ftp servers:
ftp://ftp.asw.cz/incoming
ftp://www2.asw.cz/incoming

[xdauphin]

Hello,

Thanks for the answer,

I do have unpXXX files in the <avast>\data\log folder (they are actually .mdmp), but I don't have any .mdmp files in the \windows\minidump folder, I only have a .dmp file.

Do you still want this one ?

Thanks

PS : BSOD ?

[Lisandro]

Do you still want this one ?

Not me, but Vlk (Alwil team).

PS : BSOD ?

Blue Screen of Death: the ignoble blue screen that appears when a Windows computer crashes.

[MauriceW]

xdauphin,

Is it possible your laptop is overheating?

* Avast scans take about 80% of processor time
* Skype videos would also be a busy time
* Torrent downloads are also busy.
* Unlikely, but skype might be using your PC for general services
Just a thought.

Maurice
 
 

[Lisandro]

Just a thought.

Good shot Maurice.

[xdauphin]

Maurice,

Sounds like a good explanation,

But how do I do to prevent this ?

Thanks

[Lisandro]

But how do I do to prevent this ?

There are tools that manage the fans (for instance, http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/SpeedFan.shtml), but in notebooks, the better will be contacting its manufacturer and fix any trouble with the fans.

[CharleyO]

***

There are also external laptop / notebook coolers that sit under them and provide extra cooling.

From this search ...

http://g.s.scandoo.com/search?hl=en&q=laptop+cooler&btnG=Search

... is this listing of several coolers ...

http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&q=laptop+cooler&um=1&ie=UTF-8

... but you can also look at some of the other search results in the first link given.

I hope this helps.


***

[MauriceW]

xdauphin / lukor,

Some time ago when ambient temperatures were in the upper 30s (Celcius),
I had similar problems with an ACER laptop, when the underside of the case was almost too hot to touch.

I took the back off and cleaned the dust from the fan (which didn't do much good).
Now it sits on two pieces of wood to give about 20mm clearance underneath.

You could get "Motherboard Monitor" from a number of sites offered by Google
and see if it reports temperatures over about 50C on the CPU.

Good luck,
Maurice

P.S. It might be worth searching the manufacturer's site for specifications about max. allowable temperatures.