i have used avast in the past(old machine) after a few updates i always had trouble with the email.
would not let me send
so question during the set up it ask you what is the email provider,if i do not set one will avast still scan email because it is a file running thru machine?
or will this allow a virus to slip thru
We will need to know more to be able to try and help.
Please Help us to Help you - User’s FAQ - we need more information to be able to help fully. A visit to the - thread will give you a lot of useful advice and an idea of the information needed to Help you fully.
Re read the avast help file ‘Setting up the Mail Protection’ section. Then run the Mail Protection Wizard again, ensure that your email program is closed first.
HTH David
thanks for the info i got the mail working ok
now when it tried= to update i get the message
htt server error 302
the package is broken
running windows xp
256 ram pent 4
I’m not the “mailman” here ;D so I leave it to others to help you. But I do know other things. 256Mb is very low to run XP. I suggest you put another 256 in it. You can also “strip down” XP from unneeded services. Blackviper has some very nice information on that http://www.blackviper.com/
As long as the mail appliciation safes the mail as file on your HD it should be scanned as long as you have the on-access scanner running. Some mailers safe the file without extension, if yours is one of them, you need to change a setting in Avast
256mb should be JUST fine. You need to make sure you have all unneeded services and background processes unloaded. When running XP on 256mb of RAM you needs to make sure it’s on a diet. 
I have an Athlon XP 1600+ with 256mb of RAM and XP is running great.