It's important to like your Anti Virus...

If you don't like Avast get rid of it. I would suggest Microsoft Security Essentials it's what I use. It's simple and effective, no registration no red tape. Install it and forget about it.

First download Microsoft Security Essentials from here http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/default.aspx

Click the orange thing on the page then Choose operating System. This will download the Set- up file. Once that is done run the Avast uninstall tool as seen in the link below. Once the tool finishes uninstalling Avast, your computer may reboot to remove all files. When the desktop returns double click the Set-up file for Microsoft Security Essentials that you downloaded previously.

Here is a link that might be useful: uninstall-utility

Jane, I can recommend MSE also. I use it and have found it is the simplest AV software I have used. The only problem I have had is something changes the auto scan setting to the default setting. I set the scan for daylight hours instead of 2 AM because I turn my PC off at night. That's no real problem

Vala I think you will find that MSE is set by default, but changeable as you have found out, to scan at 2 a.m. or when the computer is next ran. So you are quite safe even if it does reset to default settings

Thanks owbist, I really like this software, the most trouble free that I have used.

AVast scans everything as you do it so you really don't need it to scan like you used to the other types of AV. I set mine up on screensaver mode, that way it comes on and scans my pc when my screen saver comes on and when I go back to use the pc it stops where it was and then resumes again next time the screen saver comes on.

How did you even schedule AVAST to scan? That is NOT normal for AVAST to be doing full scans like that you had to have some how changed the default settings.
My question is are you sure it is doing a full scan? could you be seeing it turning and think it is doing a full scan when in actuality it is simply doing real time scanning as it should be. The icon will spin and say scanning anytime you go to a new web page as it scans that page, it will do it when you go to email, it will do it if you download something. It does real time scanning as you are working.

Thanks all and Zep I think I'll give MSE a try. I haven't because I thought it wasn't for XP which my machines are.

Raven, I know its scanning because it says it is. A window appears saying 'starting scan' (or something like that). It does this 2x a day. When I first turn on the computer and at 4pm. I stop the morning scan but let it scan at 4pm.

I can't find anywhere to change the setting. It worked fine for a few years, but the extra scanning started a few months ago.

Jane

2 Somethings you might try:

1. Click on the icon to Open the Interface > Settings (at the top) > Troubleshooting (low on the left) > Restore Factory Defaults.

and/or

2. Open the Interface > Scan Computer > Find 4 options (just consider the first 3) > More Details > Settings (low on the right) > Scheduling (low on the left) > see if this scan option is scheduled and if so then uncheck it.

Mine is version 6.0.1289 and my apolgies if you've already did the above.