roj,
This worked:
<< run the ashDisp.exe program (it´s in C:\PROGRAM FILES\ALWIL SOFTWARE\AVAST4 directory). It should bring the icons up again. If they disappear after restart again, make a shortcut to the ashDisp.exe file in your Start-up folder. >>
A short cut was put on the taskbar, too.
Truth be told, I got so fed up that I uninstalled AVAST and installed AVG. It was so inferior that it was uninstalled after the first scan and AVAST was reinstalled. That’s when I did a search of their website and found the solution to the problem. I used ANTIVIR for quite some time, but it doesn’t come close to AVAST. I’m sold on it.