Hi Avanti63
I'm sorry none of my suggestions have worked for you.
I do understand your frustration.
I do believe you when you say that Avast has caused your hard drives to not power down since they were powering down before.
I used to use Windows Me like you... how do you like that operating system btw? Personally I did not like it, as it had a lot of bugs and little annoying problems with certain services and programs not running and functioning correctly. Windows Me was one of Microsofts WORST operating systems I'm sorry to say.
However... that does not mean you should not continue to use it based on my little opinion!!
May I inquire if you have, for instance... gone to Microsoft Windows Update to download all the critical and needed recommended patches for Windows Me? I'm sure that there are PLENTY of patches for the Me operating system. Maybe even one patch that addresses the power setting issue you are now having? Just because you were not having the hard drive problem before...does not mean that Microsoft has already addressed that issue?
That might be something to look into?
I am however curious to see if this problem could be re-produced on "YOUR" computer with another operating system? Windows Me is very much like Win98SE...except Windows Me looks a little nicer. However, I would not go THAT far unless this hard drive shutdown issue is critical for you. I never power down my hard drives when my PC is turned on. I might use those power saving functions if I was leaving my PC on 24/7.
All my best to you Avanti63!
And if you have not done so... see if there are critical and recommended updates for your PC. There COULD be one specific patch for a power setting problem?
I really don't know though.
Good luck my friend.