Thanks for the info, and did download beta that you suggested. It still didn't work. so I have been playing with different settings on different software and I think i have found the problem (fingers crossed). I have dial-up...all that i can get out here in the Sierra Mountains. I also have an accelerator for loading pages faster. Seems under options in the tool section of my Outlook Express then go to Connections, then change, then settings the Proxy server is checked, but not the bypass proxy server for local addresses. When I checked this box and then reinstalled for Avast Mail Protection everything works fine...hmmm. Everything is set up according to avast mail protection now and is working fine...so far. I guess this wasn't an avast problem or maybe a combination.
Thank you for your input, i appreciate your time. Maybe this will help others that think Avast is the problem.
Dc