Outlook very slow to load first time when Avast 4.8 running

[brooke]

For me, when Avast 4.8 is set up for Outlook/Exchange protection, the very first time I start Outlook, it takes 15-20 seconds.  The 2nd and higher times take about 2 seconds.  With Outlook protection turned off, it takes a few seconds on first launch.

With an earlier version of Avast, the first launch of Outlook took about 6 seconds, which is acceptable; but 20 seconds is becoming a nuisance.

I do already have "scan archives messages on open" unselected, so that isn't it.

Any suggestions?  Slow opening of Outlook on first launch was why I ditched Norton and McAfee and switched to Avast in the first place.

[Lisandro]

Just to be sure, can you try to remove old traces of Norton and McAfee?

1) Remove NAV through Add/Remove programs from Control Panel. Boot.
2) Use Norton Removal Tool for Windows 2000/XP/Vista. Boot.
3) Install avast! (or repair the installation) and boot.

This article provides the steps to remove SecurityCenter from your computer.
http://ts.mcafeehelp.com/faq3.asp?docid=71525
Also for direct download: http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/VSCleanupTool.exe
and http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe (2007)

If you need, you can find many free versions of these registry cleaners here:
http://www.snapfiles.com/Freeware/system/fwregtools.html

Sometimes, McAfee won't be completely removed if, before, you do not uninstall Avast, including the use of its "Uninstall Application" if necessary (www.avast.com/eng/faq-install-uninstall-avast.html).

[brooke]

I've never installed Norton or McAfee on this computer since it had a fresh OS install -- only Avast and AVG (to test out AVG).

This slow launch of Outlook (Outlook 2000 SP3) on first launch is still the case after the latest Avast program update (4.8.1195).  It takes 27 seconds on a machine with a 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo on first launch.

Time for 2nd launch seems to depend on how long it is between launches and on whether or not I previously have anything memory intensive running.  1st launch is always about 25 seconds or more.  2nd launch right away is only a few seconds.  If I wait a while and do some other tasks between 1st and 2nd launch, 2nd launch can take 10 seconds.

[Lisandro]

brooke, test the latest 4.8.1201 version of avast.
Which is the size of your Outlook.pst file?

[brooke]

Interestingly, after the lastest auto patches from Microsoft, the load time for 1st load is now 10-15 seconds, which is completely acceptable.  It is 10 seconds or so if I do 1st launch of Outlook a while after booting the computer (say, 1.5 minutes or later) and 12-15 seconds if I do it shortly after booting (say, right after the hourglass on the mouse pointer goes away).

My outlook.pst file is 779MB in size.

So, for me, the lengthy 1st launch of Outlook seems to have gone away.

Many thanks to those who suggested solutions, and sorry to have used people's time.

By the way, I recommend Avast to people who ask me which antivirus program to get (such as on forums for games I play, such as the multiplayer WWII combat sim Aces High).