Windows 7 Action Centre keeps showing a flag and telling me that Automatic updates are off and its recommended that I turn it on. I do this but some time later (haven’t really taken notice of the interval) the flag and the message are back. Is this caused by updates to Avast or is there another setting in Avast that’s causing this?
Avast doesn’t interfere with Windows updates that I know of so the problem will lay elsewhere, some information about your system would be a start including when the issue became apparent and if it was noticeable after any recent updates, what other security software you have installed “Firewalls - Antiviruses - Antispyware/Malware”
avast! doesn’t turn off windows updates but, there are infections that do.
You may want to follow the steps outlined at:
https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.msg451454#msg451454
Doing this will let let a Malware Removal expert help you solve your problem if it’s a virus that’s causing the problem.