The situation here is the same. I am an IT many companies including city halls. Our company has recommended Avast for years. I have seen 15 people with the same issue including myself. As most of my customers are paying for this service, it causes a problem for my company due to us recommending it. I don't care about the bickering going on in this thread, I just want an answer on what to do, where to go, or if needed, other antivirus programs that will do better. I have seen AVG slowing down computers, but not freezing. As for Avast, I sent in a trouble ticket to which I got no response. So I'll post the issues here. I myself, have the avast 7 free, with windows 7 ultimate 32 bit. I have seen this issue on avast pro also. These other systems have had Windows 7 pro and home, 32 bit and 64 bit. So what I have technically doesn't matter. I have tried uninstalling and re installing both the windows 7 and the avast but that did not work. I have tried having avast loading after everything else, did not work. I've tried disabling most of the services that avast runs, did not work. I've tried installing the basic components of avast when installing, did not work. I removed microsoft security essentials, did not work. My next step is to remove all updates for windows and check to see if the problem still exist. If it does then I will need another route or alternative antivirus to move the 8 years of customers to. If it doesn't then I can work 5 updates at a time. If anyone comes up with a solid solution before hand, it will be greatly appreciated. The reason I have stuck to avast is the boot time scan, but after the bickering on here, and and then no response from the ticket put in, I'm very dissatisfied and am really needing to renew the trust in this company.