Thanks everyone. This morning on boot-up avast! is happy and running. I don’t have an explanation of why.

@mchain - The service was present, but stopped. Attempting to start the service resulted in the following msg:
Windows could not start the avast! Antivirus service on Local Computer
Error 1053: The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion

@Vytasb - I did do a clean install as you suggest earlier in the thread.

They say time heals all wounds. I just didn’t expect the saying would apply to my computer.