How to Perform a Boot-Time Scan with Avast! Anti-Virus

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How to Perform a Boot-Time Scan with Avast! Anti-Virus

Avast! Anti-Virus is a robust program that offers a boot-time scan. This is a scan that runs prior to the Operating System fully loading drivers, startup programs, or other places where viruses or trojans can hide from scanners.

I searched the Avast site and could not find a simple link demonstrating how to enable the boot-time scan, so I did a few screen captures and put together this FAQ.

Note: If you are still using version 4.x of Avast, my previous FAQ for that version can be found here.

Start the Avast user interface from the Start Menu, by double clicking the orange Avast icon in the System Tray, or double clicking the desktop shortcut.

1) In the left column, click the Scan Computer link.

2) Click the Boot-time Scan link.

3) If you are going to do this, do it right and select to scan All harddisks.

4) Again, why bother if you don't scan for Potentially Unwanted Programs (often those borderline viruses such as malware and spyware programs). And since viruses do hide in .ZIP or other types of compressed/archived types of files, so be sure to also check the second box to scan inside of them.

5) Once clicking on the Schedule Now all you need to do is a system restart. If anything is found during the boot scan the prompts are self explanatory, read them and follow their advice.

Note: The boot-time scan is not available to 64-bit versions of Windows. This FAQ was created on a 32-bit Windows 7 system using the Snipping Tool for screen captures.

Installation Tips: If connected to the Internet with anything but a Dial-up connection, be sure to get into Settings/Updates and select both Automatic Update settings as well as "My computer is permanently connected to the Internet." I also go to Sounds and uncheck the sound for Automatic Update. It can be a little unnerving when nobody is using the system yet it starts talking! Sounds in version 5 are no longer profile specific, so any user account (and it need not have administrator rights) can change sound settings for all accounts.

Disclaimer: Schmahl World Computer Assistance is now a reseller of Avast software. To inquire about purchasing any of Avast's products please visit the contact page for ways to get in touch for licensing or other questions about Avast products.