before you begin, have an image no larger than 150x150 saved and ready to upload.
nb: instructions below are for a windows based system.
at the top left of the screen below the main forums image ...
> click on the "User Control Panel" link
on the User Control Panel page ...
> click on the "profile" tab
> click on the "Edit avatar" link
> click on the "Choose File" button ...
navigate to the place where you have saved the image you would like to use as your avatar ...
> click on the chosen image ...
> click on the "Open" button
> click on the "Submit" button ...
you now have an avatar associated with your profile