I'll never understand why: When AVG is running a virus scan, it causes my computer to lockup--or, more specifically, open programs/windows on the computer. Right now I have it set in the middle, which means it goes back and forth between causing lockups and not causing lockups, but I could set it so it takes a longer time to scan, but not cause as many lockups, or a shorter time to scan, but cause a lot of lockups. When AVG is checking for updates, it interferes with the Internet, at least on my computer, causing pages to take a bit longer to load. I'm sure it's not only with AVG, though, and it happens with any security program, but I still don't understand it.
I don't have that issue. I have the up-to-date free version of AVG, fyi. Granted, I don't run scans as often as I should, so maybe I just never noticed. I would imagine other programs popping is AVG checking it and the programs reacting to it? But I've never seen or heard of that actually having to happen during a scan.
I just have it scheduled to run scans daily at 8:00 AM (if my computer happens to be off/on sleep at that time, it'll run the scan when my computer's on/awake again). That way I don't have to worry about forgetting.
A virus scan consumes system resources, which in turn cannot be allocated to your other programs/processes. The simple solution would be to just run the scan before you turn off your computer and configure some auto-shutdown settings.
Right now during the week I just leave my computer on and have my mom put it to sleep when she comes home for lunch, but that will end this week since it's the last week of spring quarter. As for the automatic shutdown, I'm not sure if my computer even has that.
There are programs out there that can turn off your computer after a set period of time. See if your virus program has a "shutdown once scan finishes" type option though, or just leave your computer running.
It does, yeah. If I do go that route, the only problem will be I'll have to do it manually and remember to do it before heading off to bed. I could set it to do it automatically at 1:00 AM daily, sure, but many times I'm up until or after 1:00 AM. I could also set it to 2:00 AM or 3:00 AM, but I don't want my computer on that late, unless I'm staying up that late, of course. I don't think it's good for computers to stay on 24/7.
Would once a week be sufficient? If so, I could just bare with it one a day a week--maybe Saturdays, the last day of the week. Edit: Yeah, I'm talking about my desktop, Luxord.
Yeah keeping a PC on for 24 hours at a time will do no harm (at least I have been able to do so with three PC's I've built). As for virus scans, once a week should be fine. However if you are not comfortable with that, then do it once every 3-5 days. It's really your call.
Considering there are various ways to do so for free, and that modern computers don't get weighed down by them in terms of performance. There is no reason not to.
