avast 5 free - says I'm not completely protected. Help!

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Have installed latest Avast 5 Free, but it says I’m not completely protected & to reactivate ‘Agent Mail’ (French version). I try clicking on the reactivate button, but nothing happens! Does this mean that the free version doesn’t have this function & that I should buy the paid version? What do I do? Am I just dumb?

2

There are a few threads about this around, I too am having trouble with avast 5 on one of the computers in my home. We have 3 setup 2 are running sp2 and avast 5 fine, but the computer with sp3 the service just will not start no matter what is tried, red X on task tray icon saying your system is unsecured, annoying.

3

Have you tried a “repair” on avast?? If not, that might help. Go to the Control Panel → Add/Remove Programs → Choose avast and then choose Repair. Sometimes this has fixed problems that have cropped up.

If that doesn’t work then I would try the following:

  1. Download the awsclear.exe program from the avast! website.
  2. Uninstall your version of avast! 5.0 using the “Add/Remove Programs” in the Control Panel.
  3. Reboot your computer into “safe mode”.
  4. Run the awsclear.exe program.
  5. Reboot your computer normally.
  6. Install avast! 5.0 normally.

From reading the posts on the forum, I believe one of these two procedures should clear up your problem. Other than the above I can’t think of anything else . . . .

Good luck . . . .

4

Did you have any other antivirus program on the computer before avast & how did you remove it! Nortons & Macafees have removal tools to un-install them completly?. As remains of these will cause problems with Avast running!

5

I had already done a reinstall after using the clean up utility in safe mode, iv installed avast 5 after reinstall of windows. Repair doesnt not fix the problem, AV5 is currently still self disabled, also cannot start it via the services panel :-\

6

BradJ, isn’t your computer infected? Sometimes, avast can’t be correctly installed due to infections.
I suggest a full computer on-line scanning:
BitDefender
ESET NOD32
F-Secure

For detection-only, not cleaning:
Kaspersky
Trendmicro housecall

7

Thanks everybody (Gandalf, Bobo, Brad & Co.) - just hooked into forum now & read your suggestions. Will keep you posted about results.

8

Thankyou very much Gandalf - your 2nd solution worked ie. reboot in safe mode, install aswclear.exe, delete Avast, reboot normally & then reinstall Avast!

Do you think Free versions of antiviri like Avast are really that much inferior to their commercial brothers & sisters? Is it worth upgrading to Pro?
Through my work, I could have Kaspersky (professional) free (and completely legally!) - is it better to have this protection than the well-reputed Avast Free???

In any case thanks again for your help. One of the advantages of the WWW is that it regroups people’s generosity & willingness to help others (well it regroups everything, doesn’t it?). Ciao, Totodalbi.