@ Chris C
Try the windows Start, Run, type ‘services.msc’ without the quotes, check the entry for avast! Antivirus (executable file is ashServ.exe), it should be a Startup Type: Automatic, if not click Start, then change it to automatic and reboot.

Let us know what it was and if the above resolved it.

Outlook/Exchange is only required if you are using MS Outlook (not express) or MS Exchange, so if not disable/terminate it. What it is waiting for is MS Outlook to start, so it could be waiting a long time if you don’t use it.