1. Uninstall Avast!
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/be5d0190-7bdc-412e-b342-04471a2f56ca1033.mspx
2. Restart your computer
3. Test your connection.
4. Regardless, reinstall Avast!
5. If you can't connect with it uninstalled, then obviously that will not be the culprit. (skip to step 7)
- If you could connect properly with it uninstalled, you still may be able to connect when you reinstall it.
6. If you can't connect with it reinstalled, then you need to uninstall again, and get a different anti-virus program. I recommend AVG Free Edition.
7. Assuming none of that worked...
?? - Have you tried a system file check?
System File Checker checks that all Windows files are where they should be and that they're uncorrupted.
1. Open a Command Window in Administrator mode: * click
Start
* click
All Programs, then
Accessories
* right click on the
Command Prompt option,
* on the drop down menu which appears, click on the
Run as Administrator option.
* If you haven't disabled User Account Control you will be asked for authorization. Click the Continue button if you are the administrator or insert the administrator password.
2. Start the System File Checker
* In the Command Prompt window, type:
sfc /scannow,
* press Enter.
* You'll see "the system scan will begin".
The scan may take some time and windows will repair/replace any corrupt or missing files. You will be asked to insert your Vista DVD if it's needed.
If the SFC scans without finding any problems, you will receive the following message: "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations".
Close the Command Prompt Window when the job is finished.
The Microsoft version (with extra stuff) is here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833
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And then there is ...
•
Error-checking - Error-checking performs read and write tests for every sector of a disk. If an area of the disk is detected as bad or failing, Scandisk attempts to move the data in that area to a new area and to mark that area as bad, meaning it will not be used in the future.
Find Error-checking most easily by right-clicking over any disk in Windows Explorer. Choose Properties, then the Tools tab. The first option is Error-checking, which is also known as Scandisk or Check Disk. Select both checkboxes, automatically fix and attempt recovery, and then click the Start button. Most of the time, you are likely to get a message that this cannot be run at this time because the disk is in use. Click the Schedule Disk Check button. Most scheduled tasks run after Windows Vista has completely started; this one runs at boot time before Windows Vista loads. See also the sidebar "Command-Line Alternatives to Scandisk and Defrag."
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/bc1393cf-9f9c-79c7-0f91-9337c2c41f811033.mspx
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And once again, if none of that worked...
-- I would personally uninstall a few of those troubled programs, after backing up settings/documents/etc. Then reinstall and see how they respond.
Sorry it took a bit to respond. Life calls.