Thanx for the replies. Other security programs installed are, and still are, lavasofts ad-aware, spybot search and destroy, left windows firewall on and router uses nat. This particular machine had avast, and only avast, installed on it for antivirus protection. New harddrive as well. 6.0.1125 was installed as a whole package, not an upgrade. When I uninstall, I do it from add/remove programs in control panel as well as delete any left behind folders in program files folder and any folders in windows folders as well as delete obsolete registry entries linked to the program. Still, the WebShield does not load sometimes. However, I have found that the MailShield was not installed? I have reinstalled avast again making sure that the MailShield was chosen...crossing fingers and hope this resolves the issue?!