AVG 8.0 slowing down my PC

Ever since I updated from AVG 7.5 to AVG 8.0, my computer, particularly internet related matters, have become reaaaaaaaaaaaaly slow. Even an AVG scan on my little hard drive that used to take 2 hours now takes 9.5 hours. Opening a new site in Mozilla takes forever.

I followed some instructions the AVG forum gave to another user, but those things did me no good.

They advised, and I did:

1. Ran Ccleaner several times until it showed no more issues,
2. Checked my hard drive for file/system errors by running chkdsk,
3. Full defrag
4. Downloaded AVG from free.grisoft.com with teatimer off.
5. Restarted comp. many times.

I'm still slow as slow can get. AVG and spybot say I'm infection free.

Additional info about my PC:
a) Info Needed for All Problems

Windows version. - XP
AVG version and virus db version - 8.0.138,
Other antivirus software installed - upgraded from AVG Free 7.5
Other protection software installed - Spybot S&D - up-to-date.


b) Additional Info needed for specific problems

E-Mail related problems - Slowness. But it's not the only thing that's slow, everything seems to be.
Email Client you are using - mail.yahoo.com through mozilla firefox
Firewall software installed - None
Internet connection type - Broadband
Who is the provider of your Internet connection (your ISP) - Streamyx

Virus and other infection problems - None

Update problems - None

What's causing this slowness and how can I resolve it?

Thanks for your help.

 

AVG 8.0 runs scans all the time on everything you do online. For example: lets say you go to Google and do a search for 'video cards'. The new AVG will scan each web site listed in the results from Google whether you visit the site or not and does it's best to visit each site "invisibly" and quickly navigate it as if an actual user was visiting the site. It does this for 'safety' reasons so it can tell you what sites are probably safe or not. This not only slows down your connection (if you don't have at least 5 or 10 meg broadband connection) but it generates HUGE amounts of un-necessary network traffic worldwide. Here's a link originally posted by MG member studiot that explains this:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=1436&tag=nl.rSINGLE
AVG calls it "Link Scanner Technology" and it is only one of the many new 'features' of AVG8.0. More info about Link Scanner can be found here:
http://www.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1189?fht=51-1188#faq_1189
AVG8.0 also has the "Security Toolbar" which can also contribute to slower web surfing. More info is available here:
http://www.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1188#faq_1188
Here's some info about AVG slowing down your PC:
http://www.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1187#faq_1187
AVG tech support http://www.grisoft.com/ww.support-technical
AVG8.0 (and other versions and products) FAQ section http://www.grisoft.com/ww.faq
There's several features you can turn off in AVG 8.0 that will help speed things up; primarily Link Scanner and the email scanner, and uninstalling or disabling the Security Toolbar should help too. I'm no longer a supporter of AVG since 8.0 came out. I used to recommend it (I never used it on my home PC, not even 7.5) but no more. I've been using Avira's AnitVir for about 3 years and it's still my favorite. Give it a shot:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/AntiVir_Personal_Edition_8_d955.html
Some people complain about AntiVir's splash screen that comes up once every day or two when the program installs updates, but to me it's no big deal; just click 'OK' and it closes. Big whoop. To me, it's a tiny price to pay for excellent free virus protection, but some folks have a huge problem with it. I don't.

I hope this helps! Good luck!

[dlb]
:major

 

Are you using a router? If not, then have no firewall protection, right? If so, you're inviting trouble in every second you're on the Internet.

Re: AVG 8.0, when I installed it, I elected not to install the links scanner feature. dlb posted more details on features that can cause AVG to impact performance. I've been using it for over two months now and I can say my XP system is running better with it than it did with AVG 7.5. But, again, I think this really depends on how you install it, on what features you use.

 

Thanks dlb, what a helpful reply!
How do I uninstall or disable the Security Toolbar?
I disabled email and link scanners. If that speeds things up, i'll stick with avg just cuz i'm tired of all the time it takes to deal with security on a computer. If we're still trudging along, I will try Anti Vir. Since you're recommended it, I assume you're content with it. Do you use antivir along with spybot. i'm using avg and spybot and just maybe my fortress is a bit too impermeable! :^)

thanks again to all who have tried to help.

 

Right, dlb already included a link on how to disable AVG security toolbar. here it is:
http://www.grisoft.com/ww.faq.num-1188#faq_1188