sorry if im in the wrong area. i have a problem. any help would be appreciated please. i had downloaded the free version of avast a while back in the fall. i dont even remember when. i could never uninstall it so i finally just bought a 1 yr subscription tonight. i got my new key and since i still had avast on my system , i didnt download it again, so i clicked on avast and put in the new key. it opened up to the skin but i cant start a scan. nothing. i then thought maybe i need to download a new version. so i downloaded it again, frrm the link i got in my email that contained my installation directions and my new key. it downloaded, i restarted my pc. i saw the avast icon in my lower right hand screen, which wasnt there before…but it has a red circle on it and an error message. i clicked it and followed the directions on fixing the problem…but none of that worked. im wondering…i did finally just see how to uninstall avast…i guess i have to download something, bc i could never uninstall it using add/remove. should i uninstall it all together. install again and then use my key. if i uninstall it, will my key still work. so sorry if i sound stupid lol. not the savviest with computers. there is no phone number im seeign for support…so i cant call with my questions. also, if none of this works…will i get my money back.
This forum is for the server version of avast, hopefully one of the moderators will move it to the avast 4.x Home/Pro forum is the one for the free version (or paid pro version mow you have bought a license).
However, simply buying the license is unlikely to resolve the fact it isn’t working with the free version. I assume that you registered the free version and entered the key that you were sent by email ?
The red circle over the avast icon is commonly cause by having another AV installed or remnants of one on your system.
Have (or did) you another AV installed in this system, if so what was it and how did you get rid of it ?
I would suggest a clean reinstall.
Download the latest version of avast Pro (if you didn’t save the one you downloaded) and save it to your HDD, somewhere you can find it again. Use that when you reinstall.
Download the avast! Uninstall Utility, find it here and save it to your HDD.
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Now uninstall (using add remove programs, if you can’t do that start from the next step), reboot.
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run the avast! Uninstall Utility, reboot. If step 1 failed it may be necessary to run this from safe mode, once complete reboot into normal mode.
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install the latest version, reboot.
ok…thanks so much for replying.
i figured i had to uninstall and reinstall…just wanted to make sure it was okay to do.
so…i went to that link. this is what came up when i clicked on it and ran it…
the protection module is enabled. operation cannot be completed. either run program from windows safe mode or go to settings and troubleshooting and disable self protection.
i right clicked on the avast icon, went to program settings, troubleshooting and clicked to disable self defense module.
but still…i get the same message about the avast protection module being enabled and i cannot run the program to uninstall it.
am i doing something wrong…
so sorry for the questions!!!
Read step 2 again about running the uninstall utility from safe mode.
See this tutorial, booting into safe mode http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml
thank you very much for your help. 
everything is fine now.
No problem, glad I could help.
Welcome to the forums.