Hi,
I have the 5 processes running (ashdisp, ashmaisv, ashserv, ashwebsv, ashupdsv).
I'm running XP SP2, using the SP2 Firewall. Security Center reports Avast and the Firewall are running.
The only other things i have are antispyware programs - Spybot S&D, Adaware, MS Antispyware and Spyware Blaster.
Before Avast i've used Norton and AVG, i've been using Avast a long time since without this problem.