john,
It seems as though your email settings have changed.
I assume that the problem arose after installing AVAST....Yes?
Please run the AVAST Email Wizard which you can access from the Start/Programs/Alwil-Avast folder.
Avast will reset the server address for email to 127.0.0.1 and use Port 25 for POP3 and Port 110 for SMTP.
When you run the Wizard, make sure you select "Protect all mail accounts (present and future), and insure that you check to have BOTH incoming and outgoing mail scanned.
If you DO NOT HAVE AVAST INSTALLED....
download version 4.1.280 from
www.avast.com and install it.
Run a full scan and see what AVAST detects.
You will be given options to Delete/Move to chest if a virus is found. This should take care of your problem.
Good luck.
Techie