Running 2 firewalls will deteriorate performance. The 2 firewalls will fight each other. However, there should be a firewall running before allowing your computer to connect with the internet. If Avast has a firewall, then one of these firewall should be disabled. If Avast does not have a firewall, by all means, run the Windows firewall, Your computer may connect with the internet during boot-up, or immediately afterward, if software settings are set to check for updates, and if your internet connection is "live" at that time.

I'm not sure I understand the problem, Gringo. Are you saying that the recovery partition/reserve is completely gone from your system? That it was accidentally removed/deleted? Off the top of my head here are a few of thoughts. > Perhaps the hard drive is failing. If that's the case...back up your system asap and get a new hard drive. > If the hard drive is OK...the only way I know to get the recovery partition back is to do a reinstall of your operating system...from scratch. If this is required...again...back up to a disk whatever you want of your existing system because a reinstall will return your system to what it was when it came out of the proverbial box. > You can try sfc. /scannow from Command Prompt as Administrator. It might help but I don't give much hope for it. However...the end result of this type of scan might give you an answer...or a clue...as to what's wrong and why it disappeared. If you get more facts...please post them. I doubt that this problem had anything to do with Avast but I wasn't looking over your shoulder over the last several days when you've been dealing with the Avast issue. Translation...I don't know what you did before you ran the Avast tool I posted.

I agree, it's definitely not necessary to uninstall the old antivirus software before downloading a new one. But before installing the new one, for sure. fredda, at the risk of stating the obvious, Windows XP is no longer supported from a security standpoint and using it does entail some risk. So long as you are using this PC for general purposes only and not for essential uses with any Win-only software, I would seriously consider installing Linux (a different operating system that's available for no cost) to replace XP. Start a new thread on that topic if that may apply to you, there are other contributors here (not me) who can provide helpful guidance.

I've used Avast for a number of years, and have been very happy with it for antivirus protection. I have heard nothing bad about the Avast browser, but don't use it because I like Chrome. The Avast browser does have built-in protections that Firefox doesn't. My suggestion is to download it and try it since you're not restricted to having just one browser (I have four browsers on my computer and switch around sometimes). After you download, you can easily export all of your Firefox bookmarks over to the Avast browser, and then they will be in both places regardless of which one you want to use. Their VPN is reliable and easy to use. Whether you need one depends on whether you are concerned about the fact that your ISP can view everything you do online and can sell the data they collect from tracking your activities. VPNs also help protect you from having data stolen or intercepted when you are trying to use a public wi-fi system, like at the airport. VPNs also have other security advantages. Here is a good article that explains how VPNs work and how they can help protect you online: What is a VPN?