Hey all,
I recently downloaded avast 5.0. All of its features activate EXCEPT the firewall. It keeps telling me I need to activate it, which I know, but none of the buttons I click on to turn it on work - on any of the screens of the GUI app. Any ideas?
thanks much
Did you reboot after installation?
What is your operating system and Service Pack level?
This is a great book to get from the library or purchase:
http://ca.dummies.com/how-to/content/getting-a-close-look-at-firewalls.html
Purchase:
http://www.amazon.com/Firewalls-Dummies-Brian-Komar/dp/0764508849
What is your current security software? What were your firewall and AV and how did you remove them.
I rebooted several times after installation. First I downloaded the free version of avast. Then I upgraded to 5.0. Upon installation, 5.0 automatically de-installed the free version. I rebooted then. I then ran 5.0 setup again to install 5.0. Rebooted after that.
My operating system is Windows XP Media Center Edition, Version 5.1, Service Pack 3.
I’m not trying to do anything complicated here, just want to turn the firewall on.
What were you using as a firewall with free avast! 5.0 and were there any problems with that configuration? Were you previously using something like Norton or McAfee or similar security software? Sometimes they leave a residue that interferes with the installation of other products.
Wasn’t using any firewall software before. Did a scan from Norton/Symantec’s website but that’s it. Currently, I have my XP firewall on but that’s just so something’s on. The Avast firewall wouldn’t work before I activated the Windows firewall. The weird thing is, when I reboot with the Windows Firewall on, when the computer comes back on the Windows firewall is deactivated. Do you think I should uninstall and reinstall Avast?
@ the OP: just to make sure, did you install Avast Internet Security suite 5.0 (trial or paid)? … got the feeling that you just upgraded from 4.8 “home” to 5.0 “free”…and that you’re just prompted by Windows to install/activate a firewall…
Worth a try. Use the Avast! 5 uninstall procedure in the stickies on this subforum-sometimes strange things happen. ???
Well, I paid for the new Avast I downloaded and downloaded the free one from cNet. They’ve already charged my credit card, so I hope I didn’t get a free one. But there are features on this new one that the free one didn’t have it’s just that the firewall won’t turn on
You paid for avast! 5 right? I hope you got it from here, http://www.avast.com/internet-security
what’s the name of the program you installed now >>> setup file name exactly? and where did you get it from? you received a license file too from Avast right?
OK, now I’m nervous. The confirmation emails I got are from element5 and say “Thank you for placing an order with element 5. You have purchased a product
by ALWIL Software a.s…”
Did I get hosed?
Also, stickies? subforum? not sure what those things are.
I did get to this place from the help section of the software I installed, so that’s good, right?
So here’s the setup file name: setup_ais.exe I did get a license. The file is: License.avastlic
OK don’t get nervous, now I know what I wanted to know, you got what you’re supposed to have, AIS and the license, that’s fine, relax 
So the best thing you could do is uninstall, reboot, and reinstall Avast.
Got it. This whole thing’s just making me tense. I NEED my computer to work, for now anyway. I have 2 concerns:
1.) I paid $29.95 to upgrade to the 5.0 version from the free version, but on the website you directed me to it says it should be $39.95.
2.) I have done a Full file scan on my computer with the Avast! freeware and did the boot scan as well. Several .wrm files were found and deleted but still I occasionally have unwanted mozilla tabs opening up either by themselves or when I click on a link for something else - hence my desire for a better firewall. When these unwanted links appear (usually a survey of some kind) I close the window and immediately delete the related cookies.
By the way, thank you for your help and patience.
sounds like you also need to clean your system better, installing a firewall won’t solve this sort of issues, it depends on your browsing habits. Download this:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php (it’s free)
do a quick scan with it, and let it clean your system
Did it! Did a quick scan, it found some baddies removed what I could, rebooted and rescanned and it said the rest were gone too. Yay. Thank you for the tip. I’ll do a full scan tonight.
So . . . uninstall and reinstall avast to make the firewall work?
So . . . uninstall and reinstall avast to make the firewall work?
yes and use this:
http://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility
to make sure there’s nothing left from the bad install, then reboot and reinstall.