Seand,
In the startup tray where the Avast icon is located, I double-clicked the icon and it brought up the "Avast, On-Access Scanner’ window. On the left hand side of the window is a list titled: “Installed Providers.” I highlighted the Outlook/Exchange (version 4.1-357) and then went to the Provider Configuration and clicked the “Custom” button. It brings up the “Resident Task Settings.” The first tab is “Scanner.” I then had the option of checking “Scan Inbound Messages” and/or “Scan Outbound Messages” and/or “Scan Archived Messages on Open”(This is the one I left ‘unchecked’). Further down on that same window (Scanner Tab) I had the option of also checking "Scan Message Bodies,’ which I checked for added precaution. It seems that having Avast NOT scan my ‘archived messages’ gave it ‘less’ work load.
So far, it has not given me any more problems. (Crossing what fingers I have left to cross…lol).
This may have been my ‘only’ problem. But, from what I can read, it happened to many of us at approximately the same time frame and with different ‘causes.’ It sounds entirely too ‘conincidental.’ Again, methinks there is something ‘afoot’ that we haven’t detected, yet.
I will be keeping tuned in, periodically, to see what others discover as this ‘mystery’ unravels.
My heartfelt thanks to everyone that responded and gave suggestions and methods on how to solve this problem.
Hugs to all

LeLe