Okay, I ran Avast Free full scan again. What happens is the big screen shows scan in progress but stuck zero percent. I minimized the screen and the smaller screen popped up in the bottom right corner indicating 48% complete. Reopened large screen refreshed it to 48% also. Periodic minimizing and reopening of large screen updates the progress while the small scan monitor seems to show actual progress.
Avast found one think from omnitech PC Diagnosis that came pre-installed when the computer was new in 2012. Apparentlt this company used to contract as tech service for microsoft. After contract expired they cloaked themselves as microsoft tech support even putting chat link pop-ups in front of pseudo microsoft help sites. They were sued by microsoft.
Anyway, I would have had to click on the PC Diagnistics exe file while on line to give them access which I never did. The file had not been touched, as far as I know, since the computer was new.
After research I decided the best action was to remove PC Diagnostics via Add/Remove Programs.
Malwarebytes found 24 potentially unwanted programs which as far as I can tell were all related to Ask toolbar which I do not and never had. A little late night reading about it and I decided to quarantine all 24.

I wonder if my stubborn refusal to upgrade from W 8.1 to W 10 leaves me a bit vulnerable due to any microsoft lack of focus on 8.1 PC users.

Does the noise in your head bother me ?