Something positive seems to have occurred.
Ran the freeware version of Malwarebytes Antimalware, and 3/4 of the way through, my system froze, (it found some malware related to what seemed to be good product: Java,
and after a reboot, the Avast updated correctly.
After that same reboot, ran Lavasoft Adaware also, and it found a few malware cookies.
Ran Malwarebytes again and system seems clean, for now.
Got this from the recent Malwarebytes log:
Database version: 6224
Windows 6.1.7600
Internet Explorer 9.0.8080.16413
3/31/2011 10:55:08 AM
mbam-log-2011-03-31 (10-55-08).txt
Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 165342
Time elapsed: 10 minute(s), 30 second(s)
Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 1
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0
Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\{A078F691-9C07-4AF2-BF43-35E79EECF8B7} (Adware.Softomate) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)
So, again .................... for now all seems well.
After latest reboot due to Windows 7 IE 9.0 update, when I manually checked Avast update, the message indicated my engine and virus definitions are up to date.
Just ran manual update once again and all seems fine: and the No proxy setting and always on setting are in place.
Thanks for all the help to all who responded.
Will update in a few days,
Cordially,
RJL