How to stop blocking specific application connections

[Para-Noid]

The OP states he is using Free. 

[Gopher John]

The OP states he is using Free. 

Yep, I overlooked that.  It does sound like a firewall issue, but it's not Avast's firewall. 

[Para-Noid]

The OP states he is using Free. 

Yep, I overlooked that.  It does sound like a firewall issue, but it's not Avast's firewall. 

I'm not so sure. The OP claims that "I was asked by Avast whether to allow it to open connections".
The "asked by avast" is what's bugging me. It doesn't sound like Free and it's been a long time since I used AIS.
Right now I'm thinking along your lines that it's probably a firewall issue.

Could this be related to the AIS firewall or a third party firewall?
The OP didn't give much info. OS, other security software, what/which version of avast?

I hope they allow Bob to put up a sticky about the information we need so we can give solid help.
With the sticky labeled "read this before posting".

[Gopher John]

Except for the "free Avast" in the first post, everything else sounded like AIS.  I don't see anywhere else in Avast except the firewall that mentions packets and denying access to the network.  Only Pirs01 can clear it up, and only when he gets over his confusion about what Avast product he is running.

[Para-Noid]

Only Pirs01 can clear it up, and only when he gets over his confusion about what Avast product he is running.

+1 And he's nowhere to be found?