Hi Beagle :
I, like you, have had my Windows Automatic Updates
turned "OFF" for quite some time. However, I remember
that they usually come out the Wed AFTER the 2nd Tues
of each month. To be aware of WHAT Updates Microsoft
is releasing, I subscribe to their "Email Alerts" which has
a brief description of each one. When I visit their Update
site, I click on each "offering" & read its description.
At present time the only one to avoid is KB 905474. Since
it has been quite some time you have been there, you
may not have the necessary KB 892130, also known as
the "Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool", so it
would be wise to look in your "Add/Remove Programs"
for its presence . Is it there ? Without it, Microsoft will
NOT allow its other Updates released after it to be
downloaded onto a computer. It is possible the lack of
its presence may have "triggered" something in your
computer when Avast released its Updates around
Aug 18 !? Best to check as much possibilities as possible.