The computer here with Avast starts in about 2 minutes including the scan which is not unreasonable in my mind. Your scan no doubt takes longer as the program needs to go online for the latest updates as well as run a scan. Being offline that much it is fair to presume he is always behind by at least one update.

The whole purpose of any safety program is to protect you from the unwanted so why not allow it to run? Perhaps hubby could start the computer as he walks by at some point prior to needing to use it?

What anti virus program did you uninstall before installing Avast?

you can not schedule a scan with Avast like you do some other programs, but the easy way to have it scan is to set the screen saver scan, anytime the screen saver is on the scan starts, it stops when you move the mouse then restarts where it left off when the screen saver starts again, that is how I use mine, if you go to the Avast site there are 2 pdf guides that you should read on how to use Avast and set up your scans and also to choose to do the boot scan or not.
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Document
How to Install, Configure, and Use Avast Antivirus
an excellent guide that answers most questions.

It is not a good idea to keep your pc turned off and disconnected from the internet, when you get on it and connect you then are way behind in updates not only for your antivirus but for windows.

Owbist - you're absolutely right, but I've tried to teach hubby to get his updates before he surfs, and scan for virus after. He's usually pretty good about it. It's just so different from what we're accustomed to--and different even from the version I'm running--which doesn't, so far as I can tell--run any scan until I tell it to.

Zep - we had AVG. Had a shop remove it so shouldn't be a conflict problem.

Thanx,
J

"Had a shop remove it"

Good that's what I wanted to.

What about a firewall?

Raven,

I didn't mean to ignore your post--just forgot to come back to it. Was going to explain that we have low-speed (as opposed to high-speed) dial-up, and leaving the PCs (we have three) on line when not in use doesn't work for us. speaking of low versus high-speed, please see my post re that.

Cheers,
J

Avast here on vista check for and updates virus definitions at each boot and while running every 240 minutes... that's the defaults from the install.

But it never scans as I don't use a screen saver so I pop it open sometimes when I'm planning on walking away after a reboot and set it to do a complete scan of all Hdd's and it says it will run at next boot,, runs a nice full scan outside of the windows environment!

Someday I'll maybe read and find the command line switches and make myself a shortcut to do it with a single double click. I don't particularly trust a virus scan inside windows.