Try email without anti virus interference. Windows safe mode will allow you to try it out. Sounds like your anti virus simply stays asleep, as it places itself in the processing chain it is always the first possible fault to remove. Click on your operating system for instructions on how to start in safe mode: [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-including-safe-mode Windows 8], [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-7 Windows 7], [http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-computer-safe-mode#start-computer-safe-mode=windows-vista Windows Vista], [http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/boot_failsafe.mspx?mfr=true" Windows XP], [http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1564 OSX]

I thought of this possibility. But . . . 1) the behavior just started recently and did not occur previously and I was using the same anti-virus program throughout and 2) I reinstalled my anti-virus program some time after the behavior started and this had no effect on the behavior.