Orange letter "A"

[g67]

When I turn my computer on there is an orange letter "A" over the avast icon in the taskbar.  And when I place my cursor over it it says my computer isn't protected. After about 30 seconds the "A" goes away and my "system is secured"
I was wondering what causes this. The computer is a slow netbook with windows XPsp3. Thanks.

[YoKenny]

Go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then Forum Profile Information then Signature: and put information about your system just like my signature so that helpers can offer pertinent advice.

If you say it is a slow netbook then that's probably how it works correctly.

[essexboy]

The secondary shields - P2P, Mail etc load after windows to save stress on the system.  So for a short period they will not be on

[Pondus]

The computer is a slow netbook with windows XPsp3.

This could be the answer, just slow start up

you could try some hous cleaning, it may help
CCleaner http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner  (remember to remove the " tic " if you dont want the toolbar)
Defraggler http://www.piriform.com/defraggler

[g67]

My system information is.
Toshiba NB 205 Intel Atom CPU N280 @1.66GHz

128 Gig of free space--1 Gig of ram.
Malwarebytes free
Spyware blaster
Avast 5.0.462-100321-0

[Asyn]

My system information is.
Toshiba NB 205 Intel Atom CPU N280 @1.66GHz

128 Gig of free space--1 Gig of ram.
Malwarebytes free
Spyware blaster
Avast 5.0.462-100321-0

isn't that slow. had slower systems with less memory running avast.
seems that ur system loads a lot of unneeded progs on startup.
if u know how - clean it up. if not u could also accept the 30sec delay, since ur system is after all protected by avast.
asyn

[Pondus]

I am running avast internet security on a Lenovo S10-2 / Intel Atom N280 / 2G ram /
and it is running with no problem

[Jack 1000]

Depending on your systems age, version of Windows, memory, and Start Up Processes,  (30 or below is considered good.) there will always be a short delay upon reboot or startup before Avast activates its protective services.  The process is for the program to activate, than check for AV updates and apply them with a message.  If it's doing that, all is well and you have nothing to worry about.

Jack

[Asyn]

Depending on your systems age, version of Windows, memory, and Start Up Processes,  (30 or below is considered good.)

true.
also it depends, when u start counting the seconds...

[Mele20]

Bootlog XP will show you exactly when Avast starts...when each startup item starts..how many seconds, etc.  You could just use the trial version and then uninstall it.
http://www.greatis.com/utilities/bootlogxp/

I never worry about when an AV starts because I have ProcessGuard set to start extremely early in the boot process long before any AV starts.

[g67]

My system information is.
Toshiba NB 205 Intel Atom CPU N280 @1.66GHz

128 Gig of free space--1 Gig of ram.
Malwarebytes free
Spyware blaster
Avast 5.0.462-100321-0

isn't that slow. had slower systems with less memory running avast.
seems that ur system loads a lot of unneeded progs on startup.
if u know how - clean it up. if not u could also accept the 30sec delay, since ur system is after all protected by avast.
asyn

My computer is a Toshiba and it did come with a lot of their software on it. I think I need it though.
So I shouldn't worry about the "A" over the Avast icon in taskbar at startup?
Thanks for all the responses.

[Asyn]

My computer is a Toshiba and it did come with a lot of their software on it. I think I need it though.
So I shouldn't worry about the "A" over the Avast icon in taskbar at startup?
Thanks for all the responses.

1. some sw is needed other is just bloatware.
2. don't worry, if it goes away after startup.

btw: isn't your 'A' rather a '!' 

[waking]

So I shouldn't worry about the "A" over the Avast icon in taskbar at startup?

btw: isn't your 'A' rather a '!'  ???

I expect a closer examination will reveal that it's
a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark on it,
over top of the orange ball.