to stop a process from loading in Startup
.. should be simple if Avast is using a normal Startup entry (I use AVG75, but it should be similar). I take it you wish to avoid a long Avast scan when Windows starts, yes? If it is a short scan (such as memory-only), sometimes that is a good thing.
Open SSD ..
Mode ..
Advanced Mode .. click the Yes button .. on the left side select
Tools .. on the right side doubleclick System Startup (or click System Start
up if it is displayed on the left side under
Tools) .. now you see on the right side your Startup list (those programs that run when Windows starts).

Very colorful ..
Among the checked entries, find the one that is the Avast scan that you wish to have
not run when Windows starts .. If in doubt, try selecting the line you
think it is (do not uncheck it yet, simply click on the line to highlight it), then at the far right click on the infopanel switch (it has a triangle above and below it) .. this should tell you more about the entry .. read it all as sometimes there are scarey warnings at the top with the info for the legitimate product all the way at the bottom. If the info tells you that this is the long scan that you wish
not to run at Windows startup, go ahead and click the small box at the start of the line to
uncheck the box. Close SSD.
REboot Windows if you like just to make sure the long Avast scan is not running at Startup. Sometimes an AV program like Avast will run a long scan at startup if it notices anything unusual (like Windows does with ScanDisk if the system 'has not been shut down properly'). That is not the usual startup that most people prefer, however.
Doublecheck that the Avast 'resident' protection icon is active in the systray or Notification Area (?, not sure what the name is for it on the newer Windows). Check your Avast settings to make sure everything is okay (and if something like 'Run complete scan at startup' is still set there, unset it so there is no confusion). Sometimes a complete scan can take awhile, but 'short' scans may be a good idea and normal for a regular boot.
Hope this helps
