Thanks DocJohn.

My computer did slow, but I'm pretty sure that was due to not having all those windows updates (for several months because they crashed my computer.)

I've had issues before when downloading/installing an additional antivirus program with the one already on the computer running full tilt. I only go to the antivirus site when in the "off" mode on that.

Right...about the firewalls. I have to constantly turn off the window's defender one to allow avast to operate effeciently (or I have other problems too, you know how that goes.) But I couldn't find any more to turn off for AVG to work.

I'm sticking with avast!

Sigh. This has been an issue I didn't need these days. But I'm up and running, and my network is quite smooth (but that's another issue I will figure out once my brain returns!)

Thanks all for comments ... it's tough enough to be trying to figure things out, but alone is frustrating.