1. Was v.5.0.594 an upgrade from a previous build or a clean install? If this was an upgrade, what was your prior version? Have you changed the default settings other than the Mail Shield (I read your prior posts)?
2. What other security software do you have on your machine? What prior antivirus (AV) did you have on your machine?
3. Do you have sound on your machine other than with Avast?
4. Are your Windows Security patches up to date? Are your Avast definitions up to date?
5. Is the date and time correct on your machine?
Also, you may want to hide your email address by going to the top of the page to PROFILE > Account Related Settings > click the box to Hide Email Address from Public. This way spammers and others cannot harvest your email address.
Depending on your responses, it is possible you may need to do an
uninstall and clean install of Avast to fix your problem:
1. Save a copy of newest version of Avast (5.0.594) for the version you need and save it to your HDD:
Free – http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_free.exe
Pro – http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_av_pro.exe
AIS – http://files.avast.com/iavs5x/setup_ais.exe
2. Download the Avast Uninstall Utility, aswClear5.exe http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility and save it to your HDD (it has uninstall tools for both 4.0 and 5.0).
3. Disconnect from the Internet at this time.
4. Uninstall Avast through "Add/Remove Programs" through Control Panel.
5. Boot into Safe Mode and run the Avast Uninstall Tool.
6. Reboot twice.
7. Clean your computer up (clean up cache, temporary Internet files, etc.).
8. Install the newest version of Avast and reboot twice.
9. Get Internet access and update Avast definitions.
10. Register your copy or add the license key for Free, Pro or AIS.
11. Reset your settings, if needed.