I think it’s in reference to your emails not working, there’s been an issue regarding this in a more recent Avast release but has been reportedly fixed. So the re-install will probably address this for you.
Ok, I’m on it…thanks everyone.
You’re welcome.
You’re welcome.
I believe that a clean reinstall as suggested by Asyn is the next logical step.
When you are done with reinstalling Avast! you can ask Essexboy if sees anything unusual on your system 
If you would like that look at this tutorial https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53253.0
Scroll down to “Farbar Recovery Scan Tool” and follow the directions for that tool only.
Attach both FRST.tx and Additions.txt logs in your next reply.
As soon as you have done that we will notify Essexboy to help you.
Greetz, Red.
Thank you Rednose but I’m done with this. I’ve spent most of tonight trying to rescue my machine after following the advice to uninstall and reinstall. I ended up on what seems to be an Avast 2015 Beta, that played havoc with my machine (To put it mildly). This new version seems to have rolled back to the days when the Avast Taskbar circle revolved and checked each and every new site and email, thus extending my already slow computer to infinity. Thank God for System Restore…which took me hours. Motto…if it ain’t broke etc. Another wasted day in my overburdenned life!
Hmmm, except that the purpose of Avast is to actually check “each and every new site and email” and if this is not happening then your not completely protected. (point being if these things are not checked then you’re leaving your computer vulnerable by not allowing the AV application to do what it is intended to do).